Thomas N. Robinson

About

Thomas N. Robinson is a leading researcher in the safety and efficacy of energy use in robotic surgery. His work focuses on the critical, yet often overlooked, problem of stray energy injuries—unintended tissue damage caused by electrosurgical instruments during minimally invasive procedures. Robinson’s major contributions include characterizing the mechanisms of monopolar stray energy and quantifying its risks in both robotic and laparoscopic contexts. His randomized controlled trial comparing stray energy injury in robotic versus laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (5 citations) provides pivotal clinical evidence, while his studies on constant-voltage versus constant-power generators (5 citations) and single-incision robotic surgery (4 citations) have advanced the engineering of safer surgical platforms. With his most-cited paper, "Energy in robotic surgery" (18 citations), serving as a foundational review, Robinson has established himself as a key authority on a hidden hazard in modern surgery. His work directly informs device design and operative best practices, making robotic procedures safer for patients worldwide.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Energy in robotic surgery

   18 citations · 2021
2. 2
   Monopolar stray energy in robotic surgery

   8 citations · 2020
3. 3
   Stray energy injury during robotic versus laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a randomized controlled trial

   5 citations · 2023
4. 4
   Robotic stray energy with constant-voltage versus constant-power regulating electrosurgical generators

   5 citations · 2022
5. 5
   Stray energy transfer in single-incision robotic surgery

   4 citations · 2020
6. 6
   Multiagent Task Allocation and Planning with Multi-Objective Requirements

   2 citations · 2021

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links