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What "robotic assisted" means

When patients hear “robotic assisted,” some worry that a robot will perform their surgery or lung biopsy. You can reassure them that physicians will deliver their care—they’re 100% in control at all times. The da Vinci and Ion systems allow physicians to use robotics and other advanced technologies to extend their capabilities beyond what’s possible with their bodies and traditional tools. Depending on the patient, physician, and procedure, this can mean better outcomes for your patients.¹

Explore the referring physician pages for da Vinci and Ion for information you can share with your patients. You can also direct your patients to the patient section of this website, where they can learn more in clear, approachable language.

Intuitive for patients

Help your patients understand da Vinci surgery

Da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery offers a precise approach to soft-tissue surgery that allows surgeons to operate through small incisions. Depending on the procedure, this may mean a shorter recovery time and less pain.^1-4 With indications for more than 70 procedures and a history of proven results spanning more than 25 years, surgeons around the world trust da Vinci to help them perform surgery in a safe, advanced way.⁵

Learn about da Vinci

Help your patients get answers with Ion

Patients with concerning lung nodules may no longer have to undergo multiple diagnostic procedures as they do with traditional needle biopsy if they're eligible for a robotic-assisted biopsy with Ion.^6-8 In one procedure, Ion can help physicians safely sample one or more nodules,⁸ obtain sufficient tissue for histopathology and biomarker testing,^9,10 and allow concurrent mediastinal staging if cancer is suspected.^7,10,11 By providing a more comprehensive diagnostic workup in a single encounter, Ion can help patients and their care teams move to the next phase of care.^6,8,12

Learn about Ion

Brian Harkins, MD

HCA Houston Healthcare, Tomball

"If you're passionate about what you're doing, you want to share that with referring physicians."

Ricciardi R, Seshadri-Kreaden U, Yankovsky A, et al. The COMPARE Study: Comparing Perioperative Outcomes of Oncologic Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic, da Vinci Robotic, and Open Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Evidence. Ann Surg. 2025;281(5):748-763. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000006572
Results are based on internal meta-analyses of peer-reviewed literature for robotic-assisted procedures: inguinal hernia, cholecystectomy, and ventral hernia repair (published between Jan. 1, 2010 and March 1, 2024), endometriosis resection (published between Jan. 2010 and Sept. 2023) and benign hysterectomy (published between January 2010 and April 2023). Data on file at Intuitive.
de'Angelis N, Schena CA, Moszkowicz D, et al. Robotic surgery for inguinal and ventral hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Endosc. 2024;38(1):24-46. doi:10.1007/s00464-023-10545-5
Kosturakis, A. K.L., K. E.Carroll, N. D.Nicholl, M. B.(2018). First 100 consecutive robotic inguinal hernia repairs at a Veterans Affairs hospital.[3b]. J Robot Surg. doi:10.1007/s11701-018-0812-7
Computer-Assisted Surgical Systems. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Web. Accessed 22 July 2027. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/surgery-devices/computer-assisted-surgical-systems
Fernandez-Bussy S, Valdes-Camacho S, Barrios-Ruiz A, et al. Streamlining Lung Cancer Diagnosis: One Procedure for Multi-Site Biopsy Using Shape-Sensing Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy. Respiration. 2025;104(12):930-939. doi:10.1159/000547174
Yu Lee-Mateus A, Reisenauer J, Garcia-Saucedo JC, et al. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy versus CT-guided transthoracic biopsy for diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. Respirology. 2023;28(1):66-73. doi:10.1111/resp.14368
Chrissian AA, Khosa J, Daher N, et al. Diagnostic Utility of Sampling Multiple Synchronous Pulmonary Nodules During Same-Session Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2025;32(4):e1029. Published 2025 Sep 18. doi:10.1097/LBR.0000000000001029
Brownlee AR, Watson JJJ, Akhmerov A, et al. Robotic navigational bronchoscopy in a thoracic surgery practice: Leveraging technology in the management of pulmonary nodules. JTCVS Open. 2023;16:1-6. Published 2023 Jul 17. doi:10.1016/j.xjon.2023.07.004
Husta BC, Cheng GZ, Batra H, et al. Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with integrated mobile cone-beam CT for small nodules: results from the prospective multicentre CONFIRM study. Thorax. 2026;81(3):267-275. Published 2026 Feb 16. doi:10.1136/thorax-2025-223272
Munoz ML, Lechtzin N, Li QK, et al. Bronchoscopy with endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration vs. transthoracic needle aspiration in lung cancer diagnosis and staging. J Thorac Dis. 2017;9(7):2178-2185. doi:10.21037/jtd.2017.07.26
Fernandez-Bussy S, Funes-Ferrada R, Yu Lee-Mateus A, et al. Transforming lung cancer diagnosis: the role of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy in early detection and staging. Lung Cancer. 2025;206:108646. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2025.108646

Disclosures and important safety information

Financial disclosure
Dr. Brian Harkins has received compensation from Intuitive for consulting and/or educational services.

Important Safety Information – Da Vinci

Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a da Vinci system is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on nonsurgical and surgical options and associated risks in order to make an informed decision.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Serious risks include, but are not limited to, injury to tissues and organs and conversion to other surgical techniques which could result in a longer operative time and/or increased complications.

For important safety information, including surgical risks and considerations, please refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

For intended use and/or indications for use, risks, cautions, and warnings and full prescribing information, refer to the associated user manual(s) or visit https://manuals.intuitivesurgical.com/market.

Important safety information – Ion

As with any bronchoscopic procedure under general anesthesia, serious complications may include bleeding, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), cardiac-related complications, respiratory failure, air embolism, or death. For summary of the risks associated with bronchoscopy refer to www.intuitive.com/safety.

For risks, cautions, and warnings and full prescribing information, refer to the associated Ion System user manual(s) or visit https://manuals.intuitivesurgical.com/market.

Individuals’ outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics, and/or physician/surgeon experience.

© 2026 Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. All rights reserved. Product and brand names/logos, including Intuitive, da Vinci, and Ion, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical or their respective owner. See www.intuitive.com/trademarks.