The robotic technology is designed to be used in complex, minimally invasive surgeries requiring smaller incisions. It allows a surgeons hand movements to become smaller and more precise as translated via a computer module by the tiny multi-armed instruments inside the patients body.

The surgical company, noted for moving surgery forward with its creation of the one-of-a-kind da Vinci robotic system, states that da Vinci technology is changing the experience of surgery for people around the world.

Among the benefits Intuitive lists for the da Vinci Surgical System are:

Magnified vision systems that allow surgeons a 3D, high-definition view of the inside of the patients body

Wristed instruments that possess an ability to bend and rotate at a far greater degree than the human hand

A laparoscope (thin tube with a tiny camera and light at the end) that helps guide the surgeons throughout the procedure by sending images to a video monitor in the operating room

Intuitive further states that the surgeon is **0 percent in control of the system at all times. But several adverse event reports have been submitted claiming malfunctions of the instrument arms that necessitate additional, sometimes larger, incisions in patients in order to manually complete the surgical procedure. Other complications of robotic technology malfunction include longer operating and anesthesia times as well as several complications occurring from the use of the da Vinci Surgical System itself.

Intuitive has issued multiple recalls over the years for a series of issues with the robotic device, including reports of friction within certain instrument arms resulting in interruption of smooth instrument movement. That particular recall affected approximately 1,**0 instrument arms sold worldwide. All recalls were classified by the FDA as Class II recalls, meaning the device was capable of causing temporary or medically reversible health problems, with the potential for serious complications being a more remote possibility