Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Masato Chiba is a pioneering thoracic surgeon whose work is reshaping minimally invasive lung surgery. His primary research focuses on reducing surgical trauma through innovative robotic and video-assisted techniques, particularly in anatomical lung resections. Chiba’s major contributions include the development and refinement of dual-portal robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (DRATS) and its evolution into neoDRATS, a novel technique that eliminates the need for a skilled surgical assistant by independently deploying all four robotic arms. This breakthrough, detailed in his 2024 paper, simplifies complex procedures and expands access to robotic surgery. His 2023 study on DRATS, with 9 citations, provided early multi-institutional evidence for this reduced-port approach. Chiba also co-authored a secondary analysis of the J-RATSIG 01 study (2025), which demonstrated that uniportal VATS significantly reduces postoperative pain compared to multiportal approaches—a finding with direct implications for patient recovery. With his work cited in emerging literature, Chiba is recognized as a key figure advancing the frontier of less invasive thoracic surgery, balancing technological innovation with tangible improvements in patient outcomes.