Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

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Daniel Van Lewen is pioneering the next generation of soft robotic surgical tools, with a focus on millimeter-scale systems for minimally invasive and neurosurgical applications. His work addresses a critical challenge: enabling soft robots to deliver the force and precision of traditional metal instruments while preserving their inherently safe, tissue-friendly interactions. Van Lewen’s most impactful contribution is the development of a millimeter-scale soft robot for tissue biopsy procedures (43 citations), demonstrating that compliant robots can perform clinically relevant tasks at unprecedented scales. He has also introduced soft robotic deployable origami actuators for neurosurgical brain retraction (25 citations), a novel approach that could replace rigid metal tools near delicate neurological tissue. More recently, he has advanced the field with a real-time, semi-autonomous navigation platform for soft robotic bronchoscopy, tackling the difficult problem of navigating peripheral lung branches. To enhance safety and feedback, Van Lewen has also developed capacitive origami sensing modules that measure force during neurosurgical retraction. His work uniquely combines soft robotics, origami-inspired design, and embedded sensing, positioning him as a rising leader in surgical robotics.