Shinichi Tanaka

About

Shinichi Tanaka is a leading researcher in surgical robotics, with a focus on microsurgical applications in ophthalmology and neurosurgery. His work centers on developing robotic systems that enhance precision and safety in procedures requiring manipulation at microscopic scales—such as vitreoretinal surgery and deep-brain interventions. Tanaka’s major contributions include the quantitative assessment of robotic versus manual microcannulation for retinal vein drug delivery, demonstrating clear advantages in accuracy and stability (41 citations). He also pioneered robust visual tracking algorithms for surgical forceps under a microscope, fusing kinematic data to enable high-level assistance like visual servoing and motion analysis (26 citations). His design of a miniature five-degree-of-freedom parallel robot for precise removal of the internal limiting membrane in the eye (17 citations) and his work on collision avoidance using virtual fixtures for neurosurgery in narrow cranial spaces (13 citations) further underscore his impact. With over 160 total citations across his most-cited papers, Tanaka’s research is shaping the next generation of robot-assisted microsurgery, offering tangible improvements in dexterity, safety, and automation for delicate procedures.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Quantitative assessment of manual and robotic microcannulation for eye surgery using new eye model

   41 citations · 2014
2. 2
   Impact of Robotic Assistance on Precision of Vitreoretinal Surgical Procedures

   27 citations · 2013
3. 3
   Robust Visual Tracking of Robotic Forceps Under a Microscope Using Kinematic Data Fusion

   26 citations · 2014
4. 4
   Design and development of miniature parallel robot for eye surgery

   17 citations · 2014
5. 5
   Preliminary study of needle tracking in a microsurgical robotic system for automated operations

   13 citations · 2013
6. 6
   Feedback methods for collision avoidance using virtual fixtures for robotic neurosurgery in deep and narrow spaces

   13 citations · 2016
7. 7
   Study on master manipulator design parameters for robotic microsurgery

   7 citations · 2012
8. 8
   Full state visual forceps tracking under a microscope using projective contour models

   7 citations · 2012
9. 9
   Hand-held multi-DOF robotic forceps for neurosurgery designed for dexterous manipulation in deep and narrow space

   7 citations · 2014
10. 10
    Minimum-jerk trajectory generation for master-slave robotic system

    5 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links