Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Naoki Ikenaga is a leading figure in the advancement of minimally invasive pancreatic surgery, with a particular focus on robotic and laparoscopic techniques. His work is centered on improving surgical outcomes for pancreatic cancer and other complex pancreatic conditions. Dr. Ikenaga has made major contributions by spearheading large-scale clinical trials that are defining the standard of care. He is the principal investigator of the JCOG2202 (LAPAN) study, a multi-institutional randomized phase III trial comparing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) to open surgery for pancreatic cancer, a study that addresses the critical question of oncologic safety. He also leads the WRAP Study, a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of polyglycolic acid mesh and fibrin glue in preventing clinically relevant pancreatic fistulas after MIDP. Beyond trial design, Dr. Ikenaga is a pioneer in surgical innovation, having developed a novel left-sided approach for wide pancreatic mobilization and demonstrated the feasibility of repeated robotic pancreatectomy for metastatic disease. His research on real-time telementoring with 3D drawing annotation is shaping the future of surgical education. With his work accumulating over 40 citations and appearing in top surgical journals, Dr. Ikenaga is actively defining the next generation of pancreatic surgery.