The FDA approval and U.S. introduction of a new surgical robot opens the door to the technology's expanded use in a wider range of minimally invasive procedures.

Intuitive Surgical, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based manufacturer of the da Vinci Surgical System, says its new da Vinci Xi has been optimized for multi-quadrant surgery, enabling efficient access for minimally invasive general, gynecological, urological, thoracic and cardiac surgeries without the need to reposition the system.

The da Vinci Xi builds on its predecessors' articulated instruments and 3D HD imaging with redesigned robotic arms. Their overhead orientation allows abdominal and chest access from almost any position. Thinner arms with more agile joints and longer instrument shafts increase the range of motion and operative reach. And their compatibility with endoscopic equipment enable flexible visualization.

While the da Vinci Xi is designed to work with Intuitive's Firefly Fluorescence Imaging System, a real-time contrast imaging option for the earlier da Vinci Si system, the component has not yet been FDA approved for use with the new system.

David Bernard