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About

Makiko Suzuki is a biomedical robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of surgical robotics, medical imaging, and minimally invasive cancer treatment. Her research has focused primarily on developing innovative robotic systems to improve the precision and safety of needle-based procedures for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy, particularly radiofrequency ablation and needle biopsy. Suzuki's most significant contribution is the development of the palpation-based needle insertion method, a technique in which a robotic mechanical palpation probe localizes cancerous tissue using force and ultrasound imaging data while simultaneously minimizing tissue deformation and target displacement — longstanding challenges that compromise needle accuracy. Her 2012 paper on tissue preloading-based robotic needle insertion, her most cited work with 34 citations, demonstrated enhanced targeting performance in breast tissue, representing a meaningful advance in clinical applicability. Her earlier foundational studies, published in 2009, established the conceptual and experimental groundwork for this approach, validated subsequently through both in vitro and in vivo testing. Across her body of work, Suzuki has accumulated over 67 citations, reflecting a sustained and recognized contribution to robotic-assisted oncological intervention. Her research offers practical pathways toward reducing procedural error and improving outcomes for patients undergoing minimally invasive breast cancer treatment.