Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Ethan Cottrill is a leading researcher in the rapidly evolving field of spinal surgery, with a primary focus on the precision, safety, and technological advancement of pedicle screw placement. His work has fundamentally shaped the modern understanding of how surgeons can achieve greater accuracy while minimizing patient and operator risk. Cottrill’s most impactful contribution is a landmark systematic review and meta-analysis of over 51,000 screws, which critically evaluated the accuracy of current placement techniques and has been cited over 160 times, serving as a foundational reference for the field. He has also been at the forefront of investigating radiation exposure during thoracolumbar fusion, quantifying the risks associated with different imaging technologies. A key theme in Cottrill’s research is the validation of novel surgical tools. He has published extensively on the comparative effectiveness of robot-assisted versus freehand instrumentation, and notably, he was involved in the first in-human report of S2 alar-iliac screw placement using augmented reality assistance. By developing new three-dimensional grading systems to assess robotic accuracy, Cottrill is not just evaluating current technologies but actively building the framework for the next generation of safer, more reliable spine surgery.