Overview of Robotic Surgery Technology
The da Vinci robot’s “hands” have a high degree of dexterity, allowing surgeons the ability to operate in very tight spaces in the body that would otherwise only be accessible through open surgery. When performing robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon works from a separate console adjacent to the operating table. From the console, the surgeon is able to control miniaturized instruments mounted on three robotic arms to perform the procedure. The surgeon’s view is achieved through a 3-D camera attached to a fourth robotic arm, magnifying the surgical site. The surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements are transmitted from the console to the instruments attached to the robot’s arms. The mimicked movements have the same range of motion as the surgeon would have during conventional surgery, allowing for maximum control.
If you are interested in learning more about our robotic surgery programs at University Hospital, please contact the appropriate subspecialty.