Boulder, COSept 2026 – PresentProject Manager
Medtronic Surgical Robotics Capstone
A 5 mm jointed robotic instrument for Medtronic’s Hugo RAS system. Work in progress.
The project
Medtronic’s Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system uses an 8 mm fenestrated grasping instrument: miniature pulleys and tungsten cables that actuate two jaws at the end of a long shaft. Medtronic asked our team to fit the same actuation and surgical capability into the 5 mm instrument class, with a 5.5 mm maximum outer diameter.
Success means a 5.5 mm device that runs on user input for at least 10 consecutive minutes. A smaller instrument means smaller incisions, and makes Hugo available to smaller patients.
My role
Project Manager · 9-person senior design team1Lead the teamLead the 9-person team miniaturizing the wristed instrument from 8 mm to 5 mm OD.
2Concepts & researchDrive concept generation and research into new cable routings for a differential capstan wrist.
3Client meetingsChair 3 hours of client and director meetings each week, tracking action items to 95% completion.
4Force analysisFrom 15 N grip force through tendon tensions to the yoke, clevis and pins, sizing capstan wrap angles and wall thicknesses.
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