Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Michael D. Ketcha is a leading researcher in surgical robotics and medical image computing, with a primary focus on advancing spine and orthopaedic trauma surgery. His key contributions lie in developing automated planning algorithms and image-guided robotic systems that enhance surgical precision and workflow. Ketcha pioneered a statistical atlas-based method for automatic pedicle screw planning, using active shape models to register lumbar spine anatomy from unlabeled CT scans—a technique validated in simulation and first clinical studies (41 citations). He further advanced the field by employing deep convolutional neural networks for robust 3D-2D registration of surgical instrumentation in intraoperative images, overcoming limitations of conventional model-based approaches (9 citations). His work extends to robot-assisted pelvic trauma surgery, where he developed fluoroscopic guidance systems that reduce repeat imaging during implant placement. Collectively, Ketcha’s research bridges the gap between automated trajectory planning and real-time robotic assistance, with applications in both navigated and robot-assisted procedures. His notable achievements include the first clinical implementation of automatic screw planning and the development of a fluoroscopically guided robotic assistant for pelvic fracture fixation, demonstrating significant potential to improve accuracy and reproducibility in complex orthopaedic surgeries.