Officially known as the “da Vinci System,” this robot is a
complex medical device designed to assist surgeons—who are always
in complete control. During a robotic procedure, the surgeons sit at a
console a few feet away from the operating table and place their head,
hands and feet into special controls. They have full range of motion in
their wrists and arms, and the movements they make with their hands are
mimicked by the robotic arms and the tiny surgical instruments. Primarily
the surgeons operate using a few fingers and a set of foot pedals.