Manhattan hospital gets robot that can do surgery on a grape
MANHATTAN (KSNT) - A Manhattan hospital has a new surgical robot from a company that shared a viral video in 2018 of their machines performing surgery on a grape.
In 2018, a story about surgeons using a da Vinci Surgical System to perform surgery on a grape broke the internet. Now, Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan has a new state-of-the-art da Vinci 5 surgical robot. A spokesman for Via Christi Hospital said this new model has only been on the market for a year.
"This new system, which features more than 150 enhancements over previous models, provides surgeons with greater control, enhanced vision and the ability to perform a wider variety of minimally invasive procedures," said Bill Kueser with Ascension Via Christi. "For patients, this can lead to better outcomes, less scarring and faster recovery times."
The da Vinci 5 and its predecessors have been used in more than 17 million procedures around the world. In 2012, Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan was the first in the Manhattan-Topeka area to receive one of the earlier model da Vinci robots.
The robots can be used for complex procedures, including urological and gynecological surgeries, as well as general procedures like appendectomies, gallbladder removal and hernia repair, according to Ascension Via Christi.
“The new robot-assisted systems enhance our ability and increase our capacity to offer the highest quality of care with a minimally invasive approach for our patients,” said Robert Copple, president of Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan. “This means patients will likely experience superior outcomes with less scarring and a faster recovery, allowing them to return to their families and regular activities sooner than with traditional or laparoscopic surgery.”
The new robot has enhancements over the previous models that include force feedback technology to help surgeons feel the subtle differences in tissue and an improved vision system with a next-generation 3D display.
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