Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Yanick Douven is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of robotics and ophthalmologic micro-surgery, whose work has significantly advanced the precision and safety of vitreoretinal procedures. His primary research areas include robotic-assisted retinal surgery, instrument-integrated optical coherence tomography (iiOCT), and force-sensing cannulation technologies. Douven’s most impactful contribution is the development of a combined OCT distance and FBG force-sensing cannulation needle for retinal vein cannulation, validated in vivo (41 citations), which enables surgeons to navigate the delicate retinal environment with unprecedented accuracy. He further demonstrated clinical efficacy through the evaluation of an iiOCT-based distance sensor integrated with the Preceyes Surgical System, showing improved safety in robotic vitreoretinal surgery (26 citations). Beyond ophthalmology, Douven has been instrumental in the success of the Tech United Eindhoven team, contributing to multiple RoboCup Middle-Size League championships (2014, 2016, 2019). His work bridges cutting-edge robotics and clinical application, making him a key figure in the European robotics community, particularly in micro-surgical use cases.