Papers
8
Total Citations
398
H-Index
6
About
Tom J. M. van Mulken is a pioneering surgeon-researcher whose work sits at the forefront of robotic supermicrosurgery and reconstructive plastic surgery. He is best known for leading the development and clinical translation of the first dedicated robotic system designed specifically for microsurgical procedures — a breakthrough that addresses the fundamental limitations of human hand precision and dexterity when operating on vessels as small as 0.3 to 0.8 millimeters in diameter. Van Mulken's most celebrated achievement is his landmark 2020 randomized pilot trial — now with 194 citations — documenting the first-in-human use of a dedicated microsurgical robot to treat breast cancer-related lymphedema, marking a defining moment in surgical history. This work was preceded by rigorous preclinical investigations published in 2018 (77 and 67 citations respectively), which established both the technical feasibility and the scientific foundation for robotic supermicrosurgery. His 2023 contributions further push boundaries, including the first integrated use of a robotic microsurgical platform with a 4K 3D exoscope. Through a cumulative body of work exceeding 400 citations, van Mulken has fundamentally reshaped how the surgical community envisions the future of reconstructive microsurgery, transforming what was once technically impossible into reproducible clinical practice.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2Preclinical Experience Using a New Robotic System Created for Microsurgery77 citations · 2018
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- 7A Dedicated Robotic System for Open (Super-)Microsurgery3 citations · 2021
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