Some Background on the da Vinci Surgical System

The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic assistant developed by Intuitive Surgical in 1999. [1] Originally created to overcome the limitations of traditional laparoscopic surgery, which inserts tools into small slits, the da Vinci is now used to perform surgeries in over 2,000 hospitals around the world. The robot is controlled by surgeons viewing the operating field through a 3D camera while manipulating ergonomic levers at a console. Surgeons can then make quarter-inch incisions instead of large incisions, reducing recovery time and trauma for patients. [2]

The system gets its name from Leonardo da Vinci, who created the first robot around the year 1495 and made important advancements in the study of human anatomy. [1]

The original da Vinci robot had simple instruments not intended for any specific procedure. In 2000, the US FDA approved the da Vinci for laparoscopic surgery, and in 2003 the system upgraded to a four-arm system that allowed surgeons to control their own retraction and move control from arm to arm. [1]

In 2006, the da Vinci S System was the first model that offered surgeons high-definition vision. This new system integrated information such as the patient’s vital signs, which surgeons previously viewed on a separate monitor, into the surgeon console viewer. Additionally, the S System increased instrument reach and arm movement and allowed the surgeon to have access to multiple quadrants at once. The system also improved the operating room setup by having few pieces to set up and coordinate. [1]

The da Vinci Si System, released in April 2009, is the latest in robotic surgery technology. Perhaps the most important aspect of this system is its dual console capability. The Si allows two surgeons to work collaboratively, which makes trainings surgeons much more efficient. For example, a surgeon who specializes in hysterectomies could easily learn how to perform a da Vinci myomectomy from a colleague on the dual console. Another way the dual console is helpful is if a patient is undergoing a gynecological and urological procedure at the same time; now surgeons of two different specialties may work together. Some technical improvements include enhanced 1080i HD vision, and refined controls and ergonomics. Lastly, Si was speficially designed to fit seamlessly in the operating room to accommodate future technologies. [1]

Sources:

[1] Intuitive Surgical. (n.d.) Company – Past – Present – Future. http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/company/history/system.html

[2] Dance, A. (2011, October). Robotic surgery grows, but so do questions. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/17/health/la-he-robotic-surgery-20111017