Urology in Arizona

Robotic Surgery in Urology

Joysticks aren't just for video games anymore. The daVinci robotic system being used in urologic surgery at Mayo Clinic allows surgeons to perform delicate laparoscopic surgeries with a computer screen, joysticks and two robotic "hands."

The daVinci system, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001, is one of the newest technologies available for the treatment of prostate cancer and other conditions.

With the ability to make incisions as small as one centimeter, the daVinci system offers all the benefits of laparoscopic surgery along with the potential for increased precision and effectiveness.

Patients who opt for laproscopic procedures typically experience less pain, have fewer instances of infection and recover more quickly than those undergoing open surgery.

At Mayo Clinic in Arizona, the robotic system is used to assist with a variety of complex, minimally-invasive laparoscopic operations in the lower and upper urinary tract such as laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Many difficult laparoscopic procedures, such as laparoscopic suturing, are made easier by the robot through the use of the 3-D visualization and increased instrument maneuverability.

How the robotic system works

The robotic system consists of two interactive mechanical arms, a camera arm, a three-dimensional (3D) image processing system and a remote control unit. The unit is located at the foot of the operating room table.

As the surgeon manipulates the remote control unit, the motions of the surgeon are translated to the robotic arms. Each robotic arm consists of multiple appendages connected by joints. The "hand" of the robot holds interchangeable surgical instruments that can be moved in a manner similar to a human wrist. At all times, a second surgeon is positioned at the operating table to assist with exchanging and aligning the instruments on the robotic arms.