How is robotic surgery different from traditional surgery?
Here are some of the differences. • Tiny incisions (holes or “ports”) are made in between the ribs (figure 2). • The robotic arms and a tiny camera are placed through the ports. • Motion sensors are attached to the robotic “wrists” so the surgeon can control the movement (figure 3). • Instruments are placed in the robotic arms. • The surgeon sits at a computer and looks through two lenses, one for each eye, connected to two cameras inside the patient. The surgeon has a three-dimensional and magnified view inside the patient’s body (figure 4). The surgeon uses pedals to control the cameras and the surgical view. • The surgeon’s hands are used to control the tiny instruments inside the patient (figures 5 & 6). The surgeon is always in control and there is no chance the robotic arms will move on their own.
