Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Hideyuki Kataoka is a pioneering surgeon whose work centers on advancing minimally invasive transoral surgery for head and neck cancers. His major contributions lie in the development and evaluation of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) using the da Vinci Surgical System, particularly for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. His foundational 2015 study on TORS for pharyngeal cancer in Japan (17 citations) established the feasibility of this approach, aiming to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes without compromising survival. To further refine the technique, Kataoka conducted a mechanical evaluation of a novel mouthpiece made from polyethylene terephthalate glycol (9 citations), addressing a critical need for optimized surgical access. Expanding the scope of transoral surgery, he also pioneered an ultrasound-guided transoral videolaryngoscopic approach for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer (9 citations), demonstrating a novel method to reduce complications associated with traditional transcervical and transmandibular approaches. Through these innovative contributions, Kataoka has been instrumental in bringing the benefits of robotic and endoscopic surgery to patients in Japan, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in head and neck oncology.