Discovery Series: Cool Talks in Cool Places

​Nivii Kalavakonda Chandrasekar (Northeastern): Can Robots Become Trusted Partners in the Operating Room?

​What if surgical robots could do more than respond to a surgeon’s commands and instead provide intelligent assistance during an operation?

​Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery already gives surgeons enhanced precision, visualization, and control. Yet most surgical robots remain fully teleoperated, with limited automation in the operating room. Nivii, an assistant teaching professor in Northeastern University’s Mechanical and Industrial Engineering program, is exploring how cooperative autonomy could allow robots to safely take on supportive tasks while working alongside surgical teams.

​Her research focuses on the critical role of the bedside assistant, including maintaining a clear surgical field and supporting the primary surgeon throughout a procedure. By developing computer vision models that help robots interpret surgical scenes and identify instruments and anatomical features, her work is laying the groundwork for an autonomous suction assistance tool. Join us to learn how advances in robotics and surgical scene understanding could reduce human error, improve resource allocation, and help make robotic surgery more consistent and effective.

​Agenda:

• ​11:30–12:00 | Lunch & informal networking

• ​12:00–12:40 | Speaker presentation

• ​12:40–1:00 | Audience Q&A

​About the Discovery Series: The Discovery Series brings together researchers, innovators, and leaders from across Washington's public and private sectors who want to stay on top of the important advancements being made in our state. Each program includes lunch, networking time, a Q&A session, and a chance to meet the speaker.

​Thank you to our event sponsors: Accenture, Clark Nuber, McKinsey, PNNL, Slalom, University of Washington, and Washington State University