The surgeon's extended arm quality assured by a brand-new robot
As the first in the world, the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University has invested in the newest model of the surgical robot da Vinci for research and training purposes. The goal is to future-proof the training of surgeons who use robots at a time when training using antiquated techniques is a waste of time and money.
You can always practice gear changes using the ‘leapfrog’ gears in a 2CV, but if you then have to drive a car with a modern manual gear, you are simply wasting time learning incorrect wrist movements. The same is true when it comes to the robots that are used when surgeons practice robotic surgery by operating on pigs before they operate on human beings, or when scientists gather empirical data for research.
For the same reason, the Department of Clinical Medicine has invested in the brand-new model of the robotic surgical system ‘da Vinci X Surgical System’ for training and research use in the department's research basement in Skejby.
First in the world
The robot has just been delivered by the company Intuitive Surgery from California, and the Department of Clinical Medicine is the first in the world to invest in the latest training model – with financial assistance from the Central Denmark Region.
The robotic surgical system robot replaces a 2006 model that was discarded four years ago by the Department of Urology because it was too outdated for the clinic. At that time, the reasoning was that an old model could still be ‘good enough’ for training and research, but professor of robot and urinary surgery, Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen has – as with the 2CV and its leapfrog gears – changed strategy. He is chair of the steering committee of the interdisciplinary Robot Surgical Research and Development Centre, which is part of the Department of Clinical Medicine.
Will ultimately benefit patients
"We could have done the same again and let the research basement inherit the next outgoing model from the clinic, but all things equal, there is far more perspective in future-proofing research and training – of course in consideration of the fact that this will ultimately benefits the patients, because we obviously do not have old models installed in the operating theatres,” says Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen.
The most important argument was that the new robots can be coupled to instruments and tools that cannot be mounted on the old robots at all, but which the surgeons must nevertheless be able to use when a human patient is placed on the operating table. These are e.g. tools for sealing blood vessels and staples that can open and close the intestine. Another argument for the investment is the simple problem of being able to find spare parts when old robots break down.
"If you want to be a leader in robotic surgery, it does not make sense medically to say that the old equipment 'just' needs to be used on pigs for training and for research," says Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen, adding that the training part includes both internal training at AU and a long list of courses under the region’s auspices.
Like being (in) there...
The new robot consists of a white lacquered octopus-like machine with four arms for mounting tweezers, needles, staples etc., as well as a separate control unit from which the surgeon performs the advanced operations via a joystick with extremely sensitive finger contacts, foot pedals and of course an image on the screen. The images are in 3D, as the da Vinci robots make use of two lenses, giving the surgeons a feeling of really ‘being there’.
The robotic operations are used for a number of medical specialties. Typical operations include:
- Removal of the prostate, bladder and urinary tract reconstruction
- Gastro-intestinal surgery, including removal of the rectum and colon
- Uterine cancer surgery
- Operations for cancer far down the larynx
The new robotic surgical system, which is financed jointly by the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Central Denmark Region, is a million-kroner investment. The price has been specially negotiated with the American monopoly company and is therefore not being disclosed.
Contact:
Professor, Consultant, DMSc Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Urology
The Regional Hospital West Jutland
Email: bjerggaard@clin.au.dk
Telephone: (+45) 7845 2617 / 3091 5682
Secretary: (+45) 3091 5525
Mobile: (+45) 2613 3790