The da Vinci Firefly Fluorescence Imaging Vision System, developed by Intuitive Surgical, has been given FDA clearance for use during gallbladder surgery.

When combined with normal white light, the system can help reduce injuries by providing real-time imaging of the cystic duct, common bile duct and common hepatic duct. Injuries often occur when the common bile duct is mistaken for the cystic duct, resulting in clipping and division of the common duct, which is then resected with the gallbladder.

The system also uses a special video camera and glowing dye that let surgeons view blood flowing in vessels and tissue during minimally invasive procedures. Blood appears green with the system and tissue without blood appears gray.

Jim Burger