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About da Vinci Systems

Surgical robotics for minimally invasive surgery

Your surgeon in control

The da Vinci surgical system gives your surgeon an advanced set of instruments to use in performing robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The term “robotic” often misleads people. Robots don’t perform surgery. Your surgeon performs surgery with da Vinci by using instruments that he or she guides via a console.


The da Vinci system translates your surgeon’s hand movements at the console in real time, bending and rotating the instruments while performing the procedure. The tiny wristed instruments move like a human hand, but with a greater range of motion. The da Vinci vision system also delivers highly magnified, 3D high-definition views of the surgical area. The instrument size makes it possible for surgeons to operate through one or a few small incisions.
operating room staff with vision cart

Three components of the da Vinci system

da vinci system surgeon console front view
Surgeon Console
Your surgeon sits at the console, controlling the instruments while viewing your anatomy in high-definition 3D.
da vinci system xi front view
PATIENT CART
Positioned alongside the bed, the patient cart holds the camera and instruments that the surgeon controls from the console.
davinci surgical system vision cart
VISION CART
The vision cart makes communication between components possible and supports the 3D high-definition vision system.

A family of technologies

Hospitals may have one or multiple versions of the da Vinci available. These systems all work to enable your surgeon to perform minimally invasive surgery. The different models include:

da vinci si surgical system
da vinci xi surgical system
da vinci xi surgical system patient cart
sp system front view
  1. In the U.S., the da Vinci SP system is only cleared for use in single-port urological procedures, lateral oropharyngectomy procedures (commonly referred to as radical tonsillectomy) and tongue base resection.

Important safety information

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci surgery, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications. For Important Safety Information, including surgical risks, indications, and considerations and contraindications for use, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

Individuals' outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or surgeon experience.

Medical advice and locating a doctor

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci surgery is right for them. Other options may be available and appropriate. Only a doctor can determine whether da Vinci surgery is appropriate for a patient’s situation. Patients and doctors should review all available information on both non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision.

Surgeons who perform surgery using the da Vinci system can be found using the Surgeon Locator. Intuitive Surgical provides surgeons with training on the use of the da Vinci system but does not certify, credential or qualify the surgeons listed in the Surgeon Locator.

Product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owners. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.