Papers
88
Total Citations
4,448
H-Index
30
About
Jessica Burgner-Kahrs is a pioneering roboticist whose work has fundamentally shaped the field of continuum robotics, particularly at the intersection of engineering and minimally invasive medicine. Best known for her landmark 2015 survey "Continuum Robots for Medical Applications," which has accumulated over 1,490 citations, she has established herself as one of the foremost authorities on biologically inspired flexible robotic manipulators — systems modeled after biological structures like tentacles and snake bodies that can navigate complex, confined anatomical spaces. Her research spans the full continuum robotics pipeline, from mechanical design and tendon-driven actuation to sophisticated mathematical modeling and clinical deployment. Her contributions to transnasal surgery, intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation, and skull base procedures demonstrate a consistent commitment to translating theoretical advances into life-saving clinical tools. Work on extensible tendon-driven segments and follow-the-leader motion has expanded the dexterity and surgical applicability of these systems considerably. Beyond individual innovations, Burgner-Kahrs has produced rigorous benchmarking frameworks that help the broader research community evaluate and standardize modeling approaches, accelerating progress across the field. With a body of work exceeding 2,800 combined citations across her top publications, her influence on both the science and practice of surgical robotics is substantial and enduring.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Continuum Robots for Medical Applications: A Survey1,492 citations · 2015
- 2A Telerobotic System for Transnasal Surgery293 citations · 2013
- 3How to Model Tendon-Driven Continuum Robots and Benchmark Modelling Performance192 citations · 2021
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- 5A tendon-driven continuum robot with extensible sections128 citations · 2015
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- 8Robotic surgery for the sinuses and skull base85 citations · 2013
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