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Robotic-assisted surgery (RAS)

"Surgical robotics has delivered on its promise of making surgery less invasive, shortening recovery times, and lessening the trauma for patients while providing economic value for our hospital customers."

Bob Duggan

Overview

Robotic-assisted surgery

Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) devices enable surgeons to use computers and installed software to control and move surgical instruments through one or more tiny incisions in a patient’s body for a variety of surgical procedures. The technology massively reduces the invasive effects of surgery, resulting in reduced patient trauma, improved outcomes, and speedier recoveries.

Compared to traditional open procedures that require large incisions, Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci surgical system uses a few small incisions. The surgeon sits at a console next to the patient and operates through small incisions using tiny, wristed instruments. The da Vinci system translates every hand movement the surgeon makes in real-time to bend and rotate the instruments precisely. It also controls a camera for viewing the surgical area in magnified, high-definition 3D.

The current company was formed when Intuitive Surgical and Computer Motion (a previous Bob Duggan company) merged. Both had been developing this revolutionary technology along similar lines, and the merger allowed them to combine their knowledge and strengths. The technology includes operative surgical robotics, telesurgery, and operating room integration to serve hospitals, doctors, and patients better.

At the time of the merger, Bob Duggan said, “Surgical robotics has delivered on its promise of making surgery less invasive, shortening recovery times, and lessening the trauma for patients while providing economic value for our hospital customers. Separately, our companies wouldn’t be able to accomplish for patients and our shareholders what we will be able to accomplish together. By sharing our complementary technologies in networking, articulation, control, and visualization, we believe we will significantly strengthen the surgical capabilities of both the da Vinci and ZEUS product platforms.”

Technology

Intuitive’s multi-functional da Vinci instruments with EndoWrist technology allow fully-wristed dexterity with a minimally invasive approach. Inspired by the human hand—but with a greater range of motion—the graspers, needle drivers, and energy instruments enable surgical precision. With a variety of modalities, instruments can be used for a range of procedures. The da Vinci system seamlessly adjusts hand-to-instrument ratios, and tremor reduction further enhances fingertip control.

Key Dates

Intuitive acquires Schölly Fiberoptic’s robotic endoscope business

15 Jul 2019

Go to link

U. S. FDA grants clearance for Ion by Intuitive

19 Feb 2019

Go to link

Intuitive submits new robotic-assisted platform to FDA for obtaining lung biopsies

06 Sep 2018

Go to link

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for first 60mm stapler

05 Jul 2018

Go to link

Intuitive announces innovative single port platform — the da Vinci SP® surgical system

31 May 2018

Go to link

Intuitive begins direct operations in India

29 May 2018

Go to link

New study shows robotic-assisted surgery benefits for inguinal hernia repair

03 May 2018

Go to link

New study reports favorable results for Intuitive Surgical’s flexible robotics platform

02 Nov 2017

Go to link

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for latest da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system

30 May 2017

Go to link

Intuitive receives CE Mark for latest da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system

26 Apr 2017

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Intuitive and Fosun Pharma establish joint venture to research, develop, manufacture, and sell lung cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools in China

29 Sep 2016

Go to link

New study shows robotic-assisted surgery benefits for ventral hernia patients

16 Aug 2016

Go to link

Cost savings associated with robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

28 Mar 2016

Go to link

Intuitive announces U.S. clearance for da Vinci Xi Single-Site instruments and accessories

16 Mar 2016

Go to link

Intuitive announces U.S. clearance for da Vinci Xi EndoWrist stapler 30 instruments and reloads

14 Mar 2016

Go to link

Robotic-assisted benign hysterectomy yields better results in clinical outcomes

29 Feb 2016

Go to link

Intuitive and Hill-Rom announce U.S. clearance for Integrated Table Motion

21 Jan 2016

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Intuitive brings stapler instrumentation to da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical systems in the U.S., Europe & Asia

14 Jul 2015

Go to link

New study finds that robotically assisted surgery for kidney cancer increases access to partial versus radical nephrectomy, reducing mortality, renal failure and long-term costs

03 Feb 2015

Go to link

Top medical centers awarded Da Vinci(R) technology grants for robotic surgery simulation practice

13 Nov 2014

Go to link

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for first single-site(R) wristed needle driver for da Vinci(R) Si(R) surgical system

29 Sep 2014

Go to link

FDA clears Da Vinci(R) system use in benign base of tongue resection procedures

18 Sep 2014

Go to link

Ten-fold growth in surgeons trained in minimally invasive Da Vinci(R) colorectal surgery

04 Sep 2014

Go to link

Intuitive receives Firefly(TM) FDA clearance for da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

21 Aug 2014

Go to link

Women more satisfied with Da Vinci(R) robotic-assisted hysterectomy than other surgical approaches

21 Jul 2014

Go to link

Intuitive to begin direct sales of da Vinci(R) surgical systems in Japan

01 Jul 2014

Go to link

Intuitive receives CE mark for the da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

25 Jun 2014

Go to link

Intuitive sponsors new women’s cancer research database in collaboration with the society of gynecologic oncology

09 Jun 2014

Go to link

New studies demonstrate benefits of robotics for lung surgery

28 Apr 2014

Go to link

Intuitive announces FDA clearance of da Vinci(R) Sp(TM) surgical system

22 Apr 2014

Go to link

Intuitive announces new da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

01 Apr 2014

Go to link

Database study shows shorter hospital stay, fewer complications for robotic-assisted prostate surgery versus open surgery

09 Jan 2014

Go to link

Study shows robotic-assisted prostate surgery reduces hospital readmission and complication rates compared to open surgery

19 Dec 2013

Go to link

New study finds robotic-assisted lung surgery offers improved patient outcomes compared to open surgery

04 Nov 2013

Go to link

Two new analyses demonstrate that robotic-assisted surgery results in fewer complications compared with open surgery for urologic cancers

24 Oct 2013

Go to link

Intuitive announces clearance to expand use of fluorescence imaging in gallbladder surgery

23 Sep 2013

Go to link

Minimally invasive prostate surgery safer than open surgery

16 Sep 2013

Go to link

Cost comparisons draw different conclusions in review of robotic-assisted, laparoscopic and open surgery for hysterectomy

29 Apr 2013

Go to link

Robotic-assisted hysterectomy reduces hospital readmission rates and associated costs for women with benign disease compared to other surgical methods

05 Feb 2013

Go to link

Intuitive announces new Endowrist(R) One(TM) vessel sealer for the da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

04 Jan 2012

Go to link

Intuitive announces new single-site(TM) instrumentation for the da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

12 Dec 2011

Go to link

Intuitive announces new da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

02 Apr 2009

Go to link

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for gynecological laparoscopic procedures

26 Apr 2005

Go to link

Intuitive announces record $35.5 million third quarter revenue

26 Oct 2004

Go to link

Changes to the Board of Intuitive announced.

21 Dec 2003

Go to link

Intuitive and Computer Motion announce merger agreement.

07 Mar 2003

Go to link

Media

U.S. FDA clears SynchroSeal and E-100 Generator for da Vinci X/Xi platforms

26 Nov 2019

Go to link

3 key takeaways from Intuitive Surgical’s monster third quarter

21 Oct 2019

Go to link

Paging Dr. Robot

30 Sep 2019

Go to link

Are Intuitive Surgical robots the best IDEA in medtech?

22 Aug 2019

Go to link

Long-distance remote surgeries allowed under revised guideline

13 Aug 2019

Go to link

Intuitive Surgical: where do we go from here?

04 Jun 2019

Go to link

Could single-port surgical robots lead to standard systems?

28 May 2019

Go to link

Intuitive Surgical upside if da Vinci systems reaches 25% share in global surgical robots market?

27 Mar 2019

Go to link

Intuitive Surgical wins another indication for da Vinci SP

15 Mar 2019

Go to link

Medical Design & Outsourcing: here’s how Intuitive Surgical is innovating to stay competitive

14 Dec 2018

Go to link

New robots and recurring sales push Intuitive Surgical even higher

23 Oct 2018

Go to link

Intuitive Surgical beats expectations, driven by da Vinci system

19 Jul 2018

Go to link

How Intuitive Surgical turned medical sci-fi into reality

23 Oct 2017

Go to link

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. – Consenus Indicates Potential 12.0% Upside

12 Nov 2013

Go to link

“We believe both the da Vinci(TM) and ZEUS(R) surgical system platforms will play an important and complementary role in the future of our new company with each delivering unique benefits to our customers."

Lonnie Smith

Intuitive Surgical President and CEO

Key Dates

Intuitive acquires Schölly Fiberoptic’s robotic endoscope business

15 Jul 2019

U. S. FDA grants clearance for Ion by Intuitive

19 Feb 2019

Intuitive submits new robotic-assisted platform to FDA for obtaining lung biopsies

06 Sep 2018

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for first 60mm stapler

05 Jul 2018

Intuitive announces innovative single port platform — the da Vinci SP® surgical system

31 May 2018

Intuitive begins direct operations in India

29 May 2018

New study shows robotic-assisted surgery benefits for inguinal hernia repair

03 May 2018

New study reports favorable results for Intuitive Surgical’s flexible robotics platform

02 Nov 2017

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for latest da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system

30 May 2017

Intuitive receives CE Mark for latest da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical system

26 Apr 2017

Intuitive and Fosun Pharma establish joint venture to research, develop, manufacture, and sell lung cancer diagnostic and therapeutic tools in China

29 Sep 2016

New study shows robotic-assisted surgery benefits for ventral hernia patients

16 Aug 2016

Cost savings associated with robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

28 Mar 2016

Intuitive announces U.S. clearance for da Vinci Xi Single-Site instruments and accessories

16 Mar 2016

Intuitive announces U.S. clearance for da Vinci Xi EndoWrist stapler 30 instruments and reloads

14 Mar 2016

Robotic-assisted benign hysterectomy yields better results in clinical outcomes

29 Feb 2016

Intuitive and Hill-Rom announce U.S. clearance for Integrated Table Motion

21 Jan 2016

Intuitive brings stapler instrumentation to da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical systems in the U.S., Europe & Asia

14 Jul 2015

New study finds that robotically assisted surgery for kidney cancer increases access to partial versus radical nephrectomy, reducing mortality, renal failure and long-term costs

03 Feb 2015

Top medical centers awarded Da Vinci(R) technology grants for robotic surgery simulation practice

13 Nov 2014

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for first single-site(R) wristed needle driver for da Vinci(R) Si(R) surgical system

29 Sep 2014

FDA clears Da Vinci(R) system use in benign base of tongue resection procedures

18 Sep 2014

Ten-fold growth in surgeons trained in minimally invasive Da Vinci(R) colorectal surgery

04 Sep 2014

Intuitive receives Firefly(TM) FDA clearance for da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

21 Aug 2014

Women more satisfied with Da Vinci(R) robotic-assisted hysterectomy than other surgical approaches

21 Jul 2014

Intuitive to begin direct sales of da Vinci(R) surgical systems in Japan

01 Jul 2014

Intuitive receives CE mark for the da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

25 Jun 2014

Intuitive sponsors new women’s cancer research database in collaboration with the society of gynecologic oncology

09 Jun 2014

New studies demonstrate benefits of robotics for lung surgery

28 Apr 2014

Intuitive announces FDA clearance of da Vinci(R) Sp(TM) surgical system

22 Apr 2014

Intuitive announces new da Vinci(R) Xi(TM) surgical system

01 Apr 2014

Database study shows shorter hospital stay, fewer complications for robotic-assisted prostate surgery versus open surgery

09 Jan 2014

Study shows robotic-assisted prostate surgery reduces hospital readmission and complication rates compared to open surgery

19 Dec 2013

New study finds robotic-assisted lung surgery offers improved patient outcomes compared to open surgery

04 Nov 2013

Two new analyses demonstrate that robotic-assisted surgery results in fewer complications compared with open surgery for urologic cancers

24 Oct 2013

Intuitive announces clearance to expand use of fluorescence imaging in gallbladder surgery

23 Sep 2013

Minimally invasive prostate surgery safer than open surgery

16 Sep 2013

Cost comparisons draw different conclusions in review of robotic-assisted, laparoscopic and open surgery for hysterectomy

29 Apr 2013

Robotic-assisted hysterectomy reduces hospital readmission rates and associated costs for women with benign disease compared to other surgical methods

05 Feb 2013

Intuitive announces new Endowrist(R) One(TM) vessel sealer for the da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

04 Jan 2012

Intuitive announces new single-site(TM) instrumentation for the da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

12 Dec 2011

Intuitive announces new da Vinci(R) Si(TM) surgical system

02 Apr 2009

Intuitive receives FDA clearance for gynecological laparoscopic procedures

26 Apr 2005

Intuitive announces record $35.5 million third quarter revenue

26 Oct 2004

Changes to the Board of Intuitive announced.

21 Dec 2003

Intuitive and Computer Motion announce merger agreement.

07 Mar 2003

Media

U.S. FDA clears SynchroSeal and E-100 Generator for da Vinci X/Xi platforms

26 Nov 2019

3 key takeaways from Intuitive Surgical’s monster third quarter

21 Oct 2019

Paging Dr. Robot

30 Sep 2019

Are Intuitive Surgical robots the best IDEA in medtech?

22 Aug 2019

Long-distance remote surgeries allowed under revised guideline

13 Aug 2019

Intuitive Surgical: where do we go from here?

04 Jun 2019

Could single-port surgical robots lead to standard systems?

28 May 2019

Intuitive Surgical upside if da Vinci systems reaches 25% share in global surgical robots market?

27 Mar 2019

Intuitive Surgical wins another indication for da Vinci SP

15 Mar 2019

Medical Design & Outsourcing: here’s how Intuitive Surgical is innovating to stay competitive

14 Dec 2018

New robots and recurring sales push Intuitive Surgical even higher

23 Oct 2018

Intuitive Surgical beats expectations, driven by da Vinci system

19 Jul 2018

How Intuitive Surgical turned medical sci-fi into reality

23 Oct 2017

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. – Consenus Indicates Potential 12.0% Upside

12 Nov 2013