Dr. Richard Farnam from the Las Palmas Medical Center has begun using the da Vinci Skills Simulator, a tool that allows Dr Farnam to practice complicated robotic surgeries in a training simulator based on virtual reality, prior to the actual surgery on a patient.
Dr. Richard Farnam at the controls of the daVinci robot
The Las Palmas Medical Center has been conducting robotics based surgeries since 2008. The new Si robot system was purchased by the Medical Center in September last year and the simulator in March this year. The combined value of the robot system and the simulator was $2.2 million. The simulator can be attached to the robotic system. The da Vinci Si surgical system was designed by Intuitive Surgical and is used for urological and gynecological robotic surgeries.
According to officials from the Las Palmas Medical Center, the simulator will aid the Southwest Institute for Robotic Surgery in becoming a leading center for robotic surgery.
Dr Farnam used his index fingers and thumbs on the simulator to practice a surgical video game, ie., as the doctor operated using the robotic system, the high definition 3D training simulation shown on the screen in the operating room. Upon making a wrong incision, blood pours out and scores drop. The movement of the finger tools has the same freedom as the doctor’s fingers and wrists. The lenses provide a three-dimensional view and a larger work area. Dr Farnam explained that the simulator provides a performance evaluation based on criteria such as time taken, motion and accuracy, thus enabling doctors to develop their skills.
Dr Farnam has performed over 350 robotic surgeries in a span of three years. Robotic surgeries are faster, offer a greater level of precision and offer less chance for infection.