da Vinci® Surgical Program

The da Vinci^® Surgical System – robotic-assisted surgery at St. Clair Hospital.

Surgeons at St. Clair Hospital are using state-of-the-art robotic technology to provide the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to a growing number of patients. Named after the famous Italian engineer, mathematician and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, the da Vinci system uses the most advanced technology to enable surgeons to perform delicate and complex operations through a few tiny incisions with increased vision, precision, dexterity and control. St. Clair has the latest, most advanced model of the da Vinci system.

The system consists of four interactive robotic arms that are controlled by a surgeon who is seated at a console in the operating room. Three of the arms are for tools, such as a scalpel and scissors, the fourth holds an endoscopic camera with two lenses that gives the surgeon a 3-D image of the patient during the procedure. The system seamlessly translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments. Every surgical maneuver is under the direct control of the surgeon. Repeated safety checks prevent any independent movement of the instruments or robotic arms.