Zhili Hao

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Zhili Hao’s research lies at the intersection of microfluidics, tactile sensing, and biomedical device engineering, with a focus on developing soft, polymer-based sensors for medical diagnostics and robotic surgery. Her major contributions include pioneering electrolyte-enabled distributed transducers integrated into microfluidic platforms, enabling the detection of both static and dynamic loads with high sensitivity. Her most cited work, “Detection of distributed static and dynamic loads with electrolyte-enabled distributed transducers in a polymer-based microfluidic device” (2013, 21 citations), introduces a polymer rectangular microstructure that leverages electrolyte-based transduction for distributed load sensing—a foundational concept for flexible, biocompatible tactile sensors. Building on this, Hao advanced the field toward clinical applications with her 2016 study on a microfluidic-based tactile sensor for palpating mice tumor tissues, demonstrating a 3×3 sensing-plate/transducer array capable of localizing tumors in soft tissue. This work directly addresses the pressing need for haptic feedback in Robotics-assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery (RMIS). Though her citation counts are modest, Hao’s contributions are notable for their innovative integration of microfluidics with tactile transduction, offering a pathway toward more sensitive, miniaturized sensors for biomedical palpation and beyond.