Takao Hiraki
Papers
15
Total Citations
274
H-Index
8
About
Takao Hiraki is a pioneering researcher at Okayama University whose work sits at the intersection of interventional radiology and medical robotics. He is best known for leading the development of Zerobot®, a remote-controlled robotic system designed to perform precise needle insertions during CT-guided interventional procedures, including biopsy, ablation, and drainage. Since initiating this research program in 2012, Hiraki has systematically advanced the field through rigorous phantom, animal, and human trials, culminating in a landmark first-in-human feasibility trial published in 2019. His contributions address a critical clinical challenge: reducing radiation exposure to physicians during CT fluoroscopy-guided procedures while maintaining or improving needle placement accuracy. His most cited work (2017, 53 citations) demonstrated the robotic system's precision in controlled experiments, while subsequent studies validated out-of-plane insertion capabilities and multi-needle compatibility across ablation modalities. Collectively, his papers have accumulated over 250 citations, reflecting strong community recognition. Hiraki's broader impact extends to narrative reviews synthesizing the global state of robotic interventional oncology, positioning him as both an innovator and thought leader shaping how minimally invasive image-guided procedures will be performed in the coming decade.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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