Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Nicole Rotter is a pioneering head and neck surgeon whose research focuses on advancing minimally invasive transoral surgery through robotic and computer-assisted technologies. Her major contributions lie in developing and evaluating novel flexible endoscopic systems for treating cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the hypopharynx, upper esophagus, and larynx. Rotter’s landmark 2014 paper, "First use of a computer-assisted operator-controlled flexible endoscope for transoral surgery" (41 citations), demonstrated the first clinical application of this technology for a T2 squamous cell carcinoma, addressing anatomical and financial limitations of traditional transoral robotic surgery (TORS). She further expanded the field with her 2016 work on a hybrid procedure for total laryngectomy using a flexible robot-assisted system (25 citations), showing clinical benefits for patients. Her 2017 study on transoral surgery of the hypopharynx and upper esophagus (17 citations) extended the reach of these techniques. Rotter’s work has been instrumental in broadening the scope of robot-assisted head and neck surgery, offering less invasive options for complex tumors and reducing the burden of conventional approaches. Her innovative contributions continue to shape the future of transoral surgical oncology.