About da Vinci

State of the Art

The da Vinci Surgical System combines robotic and surgical technology to create an effective, minimally invasive alternative to both open surgery and laparoscopy. Memorial Hospital of South Bend is able to offer this state-of-the-art option for complex surgical procedures of several types. With this superior surgical system, Memorial is rewriting accepted standards for surgical care. The da Vinci replicates the surgeon’s movements in real time. The system can neither be programmed nor can it make decisions on its own to move in any way or perform any type of surgical maneuver without the surgeon’s input.

How it Works

A highly trained surgeon stands behind a surgical console that controls a patient cart complete with three arms and a three-dimensional camera. A medical assistant stands at the side of the patient, changing tools on the machine according to the surgeon’s directions. Surgeons view the 3-D image projected in real time on a screen in front of them. The machine responds to every move of the surgeon’s hands, which are encased in robotic forceps. da Vinci takes the best of what humans have to offer in knowledge and experience and unites this with the most cutting-edge piece of equipment. As a result, physicians possess greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access.