For patients with lung cancer or other lung-cancer-related conditions, surgery is performed by the surgeon using the da Vinci Surgical System. During this surgery, a few tiny incisions are made in between the ribs. There is no large incision and the ribs are not spread.

With da Vinci, the surgeon operates from a seated position with eyes and hands in line with the instruments, and a magnified 3-D view of the target anatomy, which in this case is the lungs.

After making the incisions, the surgeon introduces small instruments and a camera into the body. The surgeon is able to see the surgical site with color and depth. The surgeon use controls, which are situated below the viewing screen,  to move the three robotic instruments and camera that are inside the body. The system translates in real time the surgeon’s hand, wrist, and finger movements into precise movements of the instruments and camera inside the patient. Through the small incisions, the surgeon can remove the lung cancer with increased precision, vision, dexterity, range of motion, and control. Throughout the procedure, the surgeon controls every surgical maneuver. The system cannot be programmed or act in any way without the surgeon’s input.

The system has an ergonomic design, so the surgeon is able to operate comfortably. This system allows the patient to experience less scarring and pain, and less time in the hospital.