Mary Washington Hospital Sponsors Public Event to Operate da Vinci Robot

The Robotics Department of Mary Washington Hospital has conducted a public event for creating awareness about robot-assisted procedure amidst common people.

The da Vinci robot of their hospital was shifted downstairs and was installed in the entrance hall. Public were invited to control the robotic arms by sitting at the surgeon’s console.

The surgeon’s console provides highly reactive finger controls as well as a magnified and clear image of the surgical field. The grabbers at the ends of the arms can be controlled by moving the fingers in an appropriate fashion. The public was offered a challenge of grabbing compact rubber donuts and shift them across a small rubber cones field. Robotics team members of James Monroe High School took up the challenge.

Wendy Tabor, Robotics Coordinator, has stated that four surgeons, including two gynecologists and two urologists perform da Vinci-assisted surgeries at their hospital. She added that they have performed around 50 to 75 robotic surgeries this year.