Robotic Surgery: How It Works

Officially known as the “da Vinci System,” this robot is a complex medical device designed to assist surgeons—who are always in complete control. During a robotic procedure, the surgeons sit at a console a few feet away from the operating table and place their head, hands and feet into special controls. They have full range of motion in their wrists and arms, and the movements they make with their hands are mimicked by the robotic arms and the tiny surgical instruments. Primarily the surgeons operate using a few fingers and a set of foot pedals.