Tech For Your Health
Medical technology is changing and evolving all the time. From the latest in robotic surgery to high-tech treatment options for mental health and wellness, read on to learn more about the most up-to-date technological advancements in healthcare.
By Anna Hill
This single-port robotic technology allows for smaller incisions during surgery, as well as reduced recovery time afterward.
Surgery can be an intimidating procedure, no matter what someone is going in for. However, advancements in medical technology are being made all the time, and the da Vinci SP robot is one of them. The robotic arm utilizes a single incision to operate, avoiding the complications that can accompany an open procedure. It can be used for a number of different types of surgeries, and thanks to its minimal invasiveness, it can lead to shorter hospital stays and recovery periods.
How It Works
Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery during which the doctors operating use very small surgical instruments that enter the body through half-inch incisions. What’s unique about the da Vinci robot is that the instruments in question are wristed, which means that they can bend and rotate in ways that a human hand and wrist cannot, allowing the surgeons more freedom to precisely and safely manipulate the guided tools. These instruments are mounted onto a robotic arm, which is connected to a control console that includes a magnified, high-definition vision system.
During the operation, the surgeon will insert the robotic arm through the single small incision as they sit a few feet away at the console. They will use the hand controls to guide the instruments inside the body while monitoring the console screen, which displays the feed from the scope that is attached to the robotic arm, allowing the surgeon to visualize the surgical site and zoom in for closer detail if necessary.
The Benefits
This advanced robotic arm technology has a wide variety of benefits that point to improved patient outcomes, including but not limited to:
- Reduced incision size
- Shorter hospital stays
- Decreased pain
- Minimal invasiveness and scarring
- Shorter recovery period
- Improved accessibility and precision for the surgeon
Who It’s For
The da Vinci SP robot is an excellent tool for various kinds of surgeries, including kidney, prostate, and other urology procedures. The technology holds potential for a great number of possibilities when it comes to treating patients, including cancer patients. HS