Henry Phalen
Papers
8
Total Citations
89
H-Index
5
About
Henry Phalen is a robotics and biomedical engineering researcher whose work sits at the intersection of surgical robotics, image-guided navigation, and minimally invasive medical procedures. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to autonomous robotic systems for spinal interventions, particularly fluoroscopy-guided platforms for transforaminal lumbar epidural injections. His navigation frameworks leverage 2D/3D image registration and continuum manipulator (CM) shape estimation using fluoroscopic imagery alone — eliminating the need for additional tracking hardware and significantly advancing the practicality of intraoperative robotic guidance. These spine robotics papers have collectively garnered over 65 citations, reflecting their strong influence on the field. Beyond spinal applications, Phalen has demonstrated notable breadth, contributing to retinal microsurgery robotics, fiber Bragg grating-based shape sensing for surgical continuum manipulators, and even global health technology — developing automated mosquito pick-and-place systems to support PfSPZ-based malaria vaccine production. His work on soft robotics and underactuated compliant structures further illustrates his versatility. Across these diverse domains, Phalen consistently pursues a central theme: bringing precision, autonomy, and intelligent sensing to robotic systems operating in complex, high-stakes environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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