Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Toshiharu Furukawa is a pioneering figure in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, with a career marked by groundbreaking contributions to hepato-biliary-pancreatic (HBP) surgery and haptic surgical robotics. He performed Asia’s first robotic surgery in March 2000, a milestone that led to a clinical trial for governmental approval of the da Vinci Surgical System. His work on the master–slave combined manipulator (MCM) for laparoscopic surgery has been instrumental in reducing the technical barriers of minimally invasive procedures, enhancing surgical precision and patient recovery. Furukawa’s research also extends to haptic feedback systems, where he developed FPGA-based bilateral control mechanisms to improve tactile sensation in robotic surgery—a critical advancement for complex tasks like knot-tying in gastrointestinal wound healing. With over 120 citations across his most influential papers, his studies on robotic HBP surgery (45 citations) and manipulator design (37 citations) have shaped modern surgical practice. Furukawa’s vision, articulated in his 2000 review on robotic surgery’s future, continues to inspire next-generation surgeons and engineers, bridging the gap between clinical needs and technological innovation.