David Proops

About

David Proops is a leading researcher in the field of surgical robotics, with a primary focus on developing intelligent, sensor-guided tools for minimally invasive otologic surgery, particularly cochlear implantation. His major contributions center on the design and validation of a novel, hand-guided robotic drill for cochleostomy—the precise opening of the inner ear. Proops’ work demonstrates a critical shift from fully automated, arm-supported systems to a surgeon-controlled robotic tool that retains human dexterity while enhancing safety. His key innovation is a smart tactile sensing scheme that allows the drill to discriminate between tissue types, enabling it to automatically stop before penetrating the delicate endosteal membrane, a crucial step for hearing preservation. This work has been foundational in proving the mechatronic feasibility of atraumatic cochleostomy, with his most-cited paper (17 citations) establishing the robustness of the system. By directly comparing robotic and manual drilling, Proops has provided compelling evidence that robotic assistance can significantly reduce intracochlear disturbances, paving the way for safer, more effective hearing restoration procedures.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Robustness analysis of a smart surgical drill for cochleostomy

   17 citations · 2012
2. 2
   Feasibility Study of a Hand Guided Robotic Drill for Cochleostomy

   13 citations · 2014
3. 3
   Comparison on intracochlear disturbances between drilling a manual and robotic cochleostomy

   12 citations · 2013
4. 4
   Mechatronic Feasibility of Minimally Invasive, Atraumatic Cochleostomy

   9 citations · 2014
5. 5
   Minimally invasive, robot assisted cochlear implantation

   2 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links