Hackensack University Medical Center was one of only 14 health care centers in the world, and the only one in the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut area, to acquire the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci 5 multiport surgical system.
It’s a big deal.
With more than 10,000 times the computing power and first-of-its-kind force-sensing technology, the da Vinci 5 is the most advanced surgical technology available. HUMC already is using it.
A Hackensack University Medical Center team performed the first procedures ever using the new system to treat four patients on April 1.
Hackensack Meridian Health, an early adopter of innovative robotic technology, has been an international leader in robotic-assisted surgery for two decades. The da Vinci 5 will only build on that reputation, according to Dr. Michael Stifelman, the director of Robotic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center — and professor and founding chair of urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
“The da Vinci 5 will allow us to take robotic surgery to the next level and expand on our long history of innovation and excellence,” he said. “We have been early adopters of the latest robotic technology for many years, and our goal has always been to offer our patients the highest quality surgical care that exceeds national standards.
“The da Vinci 5 is one more tool that we can use to deliver those results.”
HMH CEO Bob Garrett said it’s a big day for the system.
“Across our network, we are committed to using the most advanced technology to improve the surgical experience for our patients,” he said. “The da Vinci 5 represents the next chapter in our robotic surgery journey, and we are proud to be among the first in the world to offer this game-changing robotic surgery option to our patients.”
The da Vinci 5 builds on Intuitive’s da Vinci Xi’s highly functional design, which surgeons and care teams around the world have used in more than 7 million procedures to date.
Patients may experience benefits that include:
- Decreased blood loss and reduced need for transfusions;
- Less risk of infection;
- Less pain after surgery;
- Smaller external and internal scars;
- Shorter hospital stay;
- Faster recovery.
The system includes more than 150 enhancements, including:
- Enhanced precision and control: Da Vinci 5’s design and engineering enhancements, including new surgeon controllers and powerful vibration and tremor controls, make it the smoothest and most precise system Intuitive has developed to date, helping surgeons maintain comfort during long procedures and potentially reduce fatigue;
- Next-generation 3D display and image processing: Da Vinci 5 is equipped with Intuitive’s highest quality and most natural 3D imaging system, enabling surgeons to see more today, and supporting future generations of surgical endoscopes and vision software as those technologies evolve;
- First-of-its-kind force-sensing technology: Da Vinci 5 introduces Force Feedback technology and optional instruments that enable the system to measure, and surgeons to feel, subtle forces exerted on tissue during surgery —something no other surgical technology in any modality offers. In preclinical trials with surgeons at all experience levels, Force Feedback demonstrated up to 43% less force exerted on tissue, which may translate to less trauma on tissue. The ability to measure this force adds an important new data stream to surgical data science, which can bring future analytical insights supported through artificial intelligence. Force Feedback instruments, which are optional for use with da Vinci 5, are cleared for use in the same procedures as da Vinci Xi, except pediatric and cardiac procedures, and a specific contraindication for the Force Feedback needle driver for use in suturing during hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures;
- Streamlined workflow: Da Vinci 5 has innovative features that are designed to help increase surgeon autonomy and streamline surgeon and care team workflow. For example, da Vinci 5 has integrated key operating room technologies, including insufflation and an electrosurgical unit. The system also includes an optimized user interface, with settings that are accessible by the broader surgical team and by the surgeon directly from the head-in menu. Surgeons have access to other key settings while head-in to help them stay focused on the surgical field. Together, these innovations will continue to streamline workflow in the OR and potentially save valuable time, without compromising patient safety. This can enable more efficient use of a hospital’s human and capital resources;
- Expanded computing power and advanced data capabilities: Da Vinci 5 has more than 10,000 times the computing power of da Vinci Xi. This enables innovative new system capabilities and advanced digital experiences, now and in the future, including integration with Intuitive’s My Intuitive app, SimNow (virtual reality simulator), Case Insights (computational observer) and Intuitive Hub (edge computing system).
Since HUMC performed its first robotic-assisted surgery more than 20 years ago, the hospital has been at the forefront of robotic technology, continuously pushing the envelope to improve patient care through innovation, research and education.
The da Vinci 5 system will be used by surgeons in the fields of gynecology, urology, thoracic, general surgery, barriatrics and colorectal.
The system is housed in the hospital’s Helena Theurer Pavilion on the campus of Hackensack University Medical Center. The pavilion is a state-of-the-art nine-story surgical care tower — one of the largest and most advanced hospital expansions in the nation — that opened to the public in January 2023.
HUMC President Mark Sparta, who also serves as the president of the North Region of HMH, said it’s a proud day at the hospital and throughout the system.
“At Hackensack Meridian Health, we are continually investing in technology that benefits our patients, advances our capabilities and enhances the care we provide,” he said. “Our reputation for robotic surgery excellence, combined with our team’s commitment to advancing robotic surgery, has enabled us to be among the first in the world to acquire and use the da Vinci 5, and that translates to increased robotic surgery options and access for patients in the communities we serve.”
