Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Justin Chan is a pioneer in the field of surgical robotics, with a focused expertise in developing flexible, minimally invasive systems for complex spinal procedures. His major contributions center on overcoming the limitations of traditional rigid surgical tools, which cannot navigate the intricate crevices of the spinal column. Chan’s foundational work, including his 2015 paper on a water jet cutting probe for flexible robots (6 citations), introduced novel methods for removing malignant tissue without the risks of high-speed rotating mechanisms. He further advanced the field with his development of a flexible robotic device for spinal surgery (4 citations) and a groundbreaking surgical robot platform featuring a novel concentric connector joint (CCJ) (2 citations). This CCJ design enables near-perfect concentric motion, providing six degrees of freedom for precise navigation around target tissue. Most recently, in 2024, Chan implemented active constraint control on this platform (1 citation), creating a functional position control system that enhances safety and accuracy. Though early in his citation impact, his work represents a critical step toward safer, more effective minimally invasive spine surgery, offering hope for patients with hard-to-reach cancerous growths.