Basics of Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is a powerful application
of technology that marks the beginning of a new generation of minimally invasive
surgical procedures.
Surgeon’s console and patient cart
Although the name conjures images of a
“robot surgeon” standing over a patient on the operating table and independently
performing surgery, robotic surgery is actually advanced robotic technology in
the hands of skilled surgeons enabling them to clearly view and access the
inside of the human body.
The robotic technology, known as the da Vinci ® S ™
Surgical System, was developed by Intuitive Surgical, Inc., a company based in California that is a world leader in the field of robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.
Endowrist instrument
The system consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon's
console, a patient cart with four interactive robotic arms, a high-performance
vision system and patented Endowrist ® instruments.
During the procedure, the surgeon sits at a console a few feet away from the patient, and introduces the precisely controlled Endowrist instruments and a high-definition
camera into the patient's body through several dime-sized incisions. The System provides surgeons with real-time images of the operative site. The clarity and detail of tissue and anatomy are especially useful for complex dissection and reconstructive procedures.
The surgeon's controls and view of the operative site
Guided by a magnified three-dimensional image of the body's interior, the surgeon operates by manipulating the controls which move the miniature Endowrist instruments. In contrast to earlier laparoscopic tools, which had limited range of motion, the da Vinci surgical instruments exceed the movement capabilities of the human hand with the added bonus of mechanical precision. The robotic arms can rotate a full 360 degrees. The da Vinci interface translates each movement of the surgeon's hands on the controls into precise movements of these micro-instruments. The System is so sophisticated that it can distinguish between hand tremors and intentional hand movements.
The System cannot perform surgery on its own, nor does it make any decisions in the way the surgery is performed. The surgeon controls each and every surgical maneuver. As with traditional surgery, the skill and experience of the surgeon are still the most important determinants in the outcome of surgery.
