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Urology
About Robotic Surgery
While robotic surgery is not appropriate for every procedure, it is particularly helpful for operating on parts of the body that are difficult to access without making a large incision. During robotic surgery, the surgeon uses the assistance of a robot to operate on the patient through tiny holes (or ports) in the body instead of a large open incision. Robotic technology consists of a surgeon's console that controls a tower with four working arms. One arm controls the three-dimensional camera’s movements inside the body, while the remaining three arms hold specialized laparoscopic instruments. The robotic arms precisely replicate the surgeon’s hand and finger movements from the console.
At the start of the robotic surgery, miniature instruments are introduced into the body by the surgeon via small tubes, eliminating the need for larger incisions. During robotic surgery, the surgeon sits at a console where he can manipulate the miniature instruments. The end of the instrument has three different hinges that allow the surgeon to rotate, spin, and move the instrument in any direction. The surgeon is able to control the instruments as nimbly as he or she would with their own fingers and wrists and in an intuitive fashion. The robot can only respond to the surgeon's movements and motions, and it is incapable of moving on its own, thereby ensuring safe outcomes.
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