Trent Slutzky

Stevens Institute of Technology, Clarke (United States)

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About

Trent Slutzky is a researcher at the forefront of surgical robotics, specializing in the innovative integration of origami engineering with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided therapy. His work focuses on developing ultra-compact, foldable robotic instruments that can be deployed through minimally invasive incisions, dramatically reducing patient trauma and recovery times. Slutzky’s major contribution lies in creating MR-conditional origami joints using shape memory alloys (SMA), as demonstrated in his most-cited paper, "MR-Conditional SMA-Based Origami Joint" (2019, 42 citations). This work pioneered the use of foldable structures to slimline surgical tools for compatibility with the strong magnetic fields of MRI scanners, enabling real-time imaging during procedures. His earlier foundational study, "Origami Endoscope Design for MRI-Guided Therapy" (2017), laid the groundwork for disposable, low-cost origami endoscopes that can be inserted flat and then expanded inside the body. By merging origami principles with biocompatible materials and MRI-safe actuation, Slutzky is advancing a new class of smart, steerable instruments poised to transform image-guided therapy, making surgeries safer, less invasive, and more accessible.