About the da Vinci Surgical System

The da Vinci Surgical System is computer and robotic technology allowing a surgeon to sit at a console a few feet from a surgical patient during a procedure which is performed laparoscopically, using real-time control of four robotic arms.

History

• The system is named for Leonardo da Vinci, who created the first robot and had formal anatomy training.

  Developed by Intuitive Surgical, the da Vinci Surgical System was introduced in 2005 and as of 2009 was available in 916 hospitals in the United States.

Benefits

• The robot translates human hand movement with more precision.

  The advantages of the da Vinci Surgical System include minimal pain and scarring with only a few small incisions, reduced infection risk and less blood loss. A surgeon is given better control, precision and dexterity to perform an operation.

How It Works

• A surgeon sits at the da Vinci console, which allows a three-dimensional laparoscopic view of the procedure area. The movement of the controls by a surgeon's hand on the machine is correlated in real time to the movement of the robotic arms.

Procedures

• Shorter recovery times are expected.

  The da Vinci System offers the ability to perform surgery on a broad range of conditions including: coronary artery disease, mitral valve prolapse, obesity (bariatric surgery), endometriosis, uterine fibroids or prolapse, hysterectomies and many cancers including prostate, kidney, bladder, colon, cervical and uterine cancers.

Success

• According to DavinciSurgery.com, "The da Vinci System has been used successfully in tens of thousands of procedures." Clinical evidence supports its safety.