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About

Thomas J. Withrow is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics and otologic surgery, whose work has fundamentally advanced the precision and safety of bone-milling procedures in the temporal bone. His primary contributions lie in the design and validation of compact, bone-attached parallel robots for percutaneous cochlear implantation and robotic mastoidectomy—a high-risk procedure requiring millimeter accuracy near nerves and blood vessels. Withrow’s most influential work, “Design of a Bone-Attached Parallel Robot for Percutaneous Cochlear Implantation” (87 citations), introduced a microstereotactic frame that enables image-guided, minimally invasive access to the cochlea, reducing patient trauma. His subsequent studies, including “Robotic Mastoidectomy” (46 citations) and “An Experimental Evaluation of the Force Requirements for Robotic Mastoidectomy” (38 citations), systematically demonstrated that industrial robots can safely and efficiently automate mastoidectomy, while optimizing cutting parameters to minimize forces on the burr. These contributions, totaling over 230 citations, have established a new paradigm in otologic surgery—moving from manual, high-skill drilling to robot-assisted, reproducible procedures. Withrow’s work not only enhances surgical accuracy but also paves the way for broader clinical adoption of robotics in ear surgery, making him a key figure in the field of surgical robotics.