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About

Yoke-Rung Wong is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and surgical instrumentation, with a primary focus on developing safer tools for microsurgical procedures. Her major contributions center on the design and fabrication of hybrid soft robotic grippers specifically engineered for delicate nerve manipulation, particularly in digital nerve repair surgery. Wong’s work addresses a critical clinical challenge: the risk of iatrogenic nerve trauma caused by excessive gripping force from traditional metallic forceps. Her most influential paper, “A Hybrid Soft Robotic Surgical Gripper System for Delicate Nerve Manipulation in Digital Nerve Repair Surgery” (2019), has garnered 36 citations, demonstrating significant impact in the field. This work, along with her foundational 2017 study on pneumatic soft grippers (26 citations), establishes her as a key innovator in intrinsically safe surgical tools. By combining soft pneumatic actuators with rigid components, Wong’s designs minimize stress points and over-gripping force, reducing post-operative complications. Her research not only advances soft robotics but also offers tangible solutions for improving patient outcomes in microsurgery, making her a notable figure in medical robotics.