Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Laura Castana is a leading figure in the surgical treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, with her work centering on stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and the integration of robotic assistance in neurosurgery. Her seminal 2012 paper, "Stereoelectroencephalography," with over 520 citations, remains a foundational reference for the modern revival of the Talairach and Bancaud methodology, detailing crucial technical implementations that have made SEEG a gold standard for invasive presurgical evaluation. Castana has been instrumental in advancing precision and safety, notably through her development of the Neurolocate frameless registration system for robot-assisted intracranial surgery. Her 2017 study, cited over 120 times, demonstrated the system’s superior accuracy compared to traditional frame-based registration in both phantom models and a large retrospective surgical series of 127 trajectories. This work directly addresses the critical need for touch-free, high-fidelity patient registration, reducing operative time and risk. More recently, she has continued to refine SEEG methodology, providing systematic technical nuances for image-guided robot-assisted electrode implantation. Through her pioneering contributions, Castana has not only expanded the accessibility of SEEG but has also set new standards for the safe, precise application of robotics in epilepsy surgery.