What is Robotic Surgery?
The arrival of robotic technology has dramatically enhanced a surgeon's abilities to perform minimally invasive surgery with precision and speed. With the da Vinci robot system, the surgeon is seated comfortably a few feet away from the patient at a control console, while his assistant stands by the operative table. Surgery is performed through tiny incisions, like standard laparoscopic surgery. However, the robotic instruments, about the diameter of a pencil, have wrist-like maneuverability, allowing the surgeon to move them like his own hand, as opposed to standard laparoscopic instruments, which have a much more limited range of motion. The advanced optics allow the surgeon to view the operative field at high magnification, while maintaining a three-dimensional perspective unlike standard laparoscopic surgery. Finally, the dexterity of the surgeon's hand is enhanced by the robotic system, scaling motion to allow microsurgical movements, unequaled with either open or standard laparoscopic surgical approaches.
Overview
The Surgeon Console: Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated comfortably at a console viewing a 3-D image of the surgical field. The surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls below the display with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. The technology seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of our surgical instruments inside the patient.Patient-side Cart: The cart provides the three or four robotic arms -- two or three instrument arms and one endoscope arm
--that execute the surgeon's commands. The laparoscopic arms pivot at the 1-cm operating ports eliminating the use of the patient's body wall for leverage and minimizing tissue damage. Supporting surgical team members assist in installing the proper instruments, prepare the 1-cm port in the patient, as well as supervise the laparoscopic arms and tools being utilized.
EndoWrist™Instruments: A full range of instruments are provided to support the surgeon while operating. The instruments are designed with seven degrees of motion that mimic the dexterity of the human hand and wrist. Each instrument has a specific surgical mission such as clamping, suturing and tissue manipulation. The instruments are small and typically fit within the circumference of a dime. Quick-release levers speed instrument changes during surgical procedures.InSite™VisionSystem with high resolution 3-D Endoscope and Image Processing Equipment: The
component provides the true to life 3-D images of the operative field. Operating images are enhanced, refined and optimized using image synchronizers, high-intensity illuminators and camera control units.
