With over 10 million surgeries performed, the da Vinci® system is the most widely-used robotic surgery technology in the world. It’s precision-engineered to assist surgeons with procedures ranging from hernia repair to hysterectomy.

Rachel Alt, MD, Brian Prebil, DO, Jarvis Walters, DO, and our team are trained da Vinci surgeons at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery in Peoria, Arizona. We specialize in robotic surgery because it delivers unparalleled results. But if you’re considering robotic surgery, it’s normal to have questions about how it works.

The da Vinci surgical system has four main components: the surgeon console, patient cart, vision cart, and EndoWrist® instruments. Here’s how they work together.

The surgeon console

Despite what the term indicates, robotic surgery doesn’t mean that robots are actually performing your surgery. In fact, our team is with you in the operating room the entire time, and we make every movement in your procedure.

The da Vinci surgeon console connects your surgeon to the robotic system and to you. It includes a set of finely tuned hand controls and a high-definition screen. Your surgeon sits at the console and controls the robotic arms and instruments using their own hands.

The patient cart

The patient-side cart holds all the robotic technology involved in your surgery, including robotic arms and precision surgical tools. You lie on an operating table, and the robotic arms reach over to operate on you.

Our team controls every aspect of your procedure from the surgeon console, and the robotic arms aren’t capable of moving without our input. The system translates our hand movements into robotic movements, and the robotic arms make the precise motions needed to perform your surgery.

The vision cart

The da Vinci vision cart connects all the components of the system. It facilitates communication between the surgeon console and the patient-side cart. It also supports the high-definition cameras and vision systems that our team uses to perform your operation.

EndoWrist surgical instruments

Each robotic arm holds interchangeable EndoWrist surgical instruments. This set of instruments has specific purposes for different surgical procedures, and our team chooses which ones to use.

The robotic arms and EndoWrist instruments move just like human hands, but with enhanced precision. The instruments boast seven degrees of motion, which is greater than the human wrist and helps reduce trauma during surgery.

Put together, the components of the da Vinci surgical system deliver some of the most reliable outcomes in surgery. People who get robotic surgery often enjoy a lower risk of complications, faster recovery, and enhanced results.

To learn more about robotic surgery, book a consultation with our team at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery. Call our office at 623-227-2581 or send us a message online.