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About

B. Plinkert is a pioneering figure in the field of robotic skull-base surgery, whose work has fundamentally shaped the integration of precision robotics into otorhinolaryngology. Their research focuses on developing robotic systems for high-stakes bone-milling procedures, particularly for the implantation of hearing-assist devices in the lateral skull base. Plinkert’s major contributions include the first experimental validation of robotic milling in skull-base surgery (2003, 39 citations), demonstrating that robots could achieve the extreme precision required for drilling calvarian and mastoid bone without the fatigue or tremor inherent to human hands. Their influential German-language studies on force-based local navigation (2001–2002, cumulatively over 50 citations) established a novel framework for real-time haptic feedback, allowing robots to safely navigate complex anatomical structures during implant bed preparation. This work directly addressed the challenge of combining robotic precision with intraoperative safety, a critical step toward clinical translation. Plinkert’s research remains foundational for contemporary surgical robotics, cited as a key reference in the development of autonomous bone-milling systems. Their legacy lies in proving that robots could not only assist but excel in the most demanding, high-precision phases of lateral skull-base surgery.