Michael Sommersperger
Papers
13
Total Citations
139
H-Index
6
About
Michael Sommersperger is a leading researcher at the forefront of autonomous robotic ophthalmic microsurgery, with a primary focus on subretinal injection for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD). His work masterfully integrates robotics, intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography (iOCT), and deep learning to achieve unprecedented surgical precision. Sommersperger’s key contributions include developing real-time tool-to-layer distance estimation and intelligent virtual iOCT volume slicing, enabling robots to autonomously navigate the delicate retinal environment. His research on deformation-aware control and physics-encoded graph neural networks addresses the critical challenge of tissue deformation during needle insertion, ensuring safer and more accurate drug delivery. With his most cited paper, "Real-time tool to layer distance estimation..." (47 citations), and a growing body of work accumulating over 130 citations, Sommersperger has established himself as a pioneer in image-guided robotic autonomy. He has also contributed to autonomous trocar docking (ColibriDoc) and motion compensation, tackling the full pipeline of vitreoretinal surgery. His achievements are not only advancing the feasibility of gene and stem cell therapies but also setting new standards for human-robot collaboration in the operating room.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3ColibriDoc: an Eye-in-Hand Autonomous Trocar Docking System18 citations · 2022
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- 6Towards Motion Compensation in Autonomous Robotic Subretinal Injections7 citations · 2025
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