Referring Physicians | Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Help your patients learn about minimally invasive care options

If your patient has a condition that requires surgery or lung nodules that require biopsy, they will look to you for guidance about what approach is best for them. For many patients, minimally invasive care may be possible. At Intuitive, we offer advanced robotic systems for minimally invasive care—da Vinci surgical systems for surgery and the Ion bronchoscopy platform for peripheral lung biopsy. Share with your patients how physicians use our systems and what your patients might expect from procedures.

Doctor sharing information on a tablet with a patient

Help patients learn about da Vinci

Da Vinci surgical systems allow surgeons to perform a wide variety of surgical procedures through one or a few small incisions—with precision, flexibility and control. Da Vinci systems offer surgeons high-definition 3D vision, a magnified view, and robotic and computer assistance. While seated at the console, surgeons control instruments with fully wristed dexterity inspired by the human hand—but with a greater range of motion.

Learn about da Vinci

Help patients learn about Ion

Ion is a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform that enables clinicians to perform biopsies on lung nodules located far into the peripheral lung.¹ We designed Ion to help enable precision compared with manual bronchoscopic approaches. Every design decision, from the ultrathin,¹ ultramaneuverable ¹ catheter to the use of shape-sensing technology, represents a focused effort to enhance the reach, precision, and stability relative to existing technologies while aiming to minimize complication rates.

Learn about Ion

Brian Harkins, MD

Robotics Committee Chairman, Tomball Regional Medical Center

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

Surgeon hands on the da Vinci system controls

What robotic assisted means

Patients may have assumptions about robotic-assisted surgery and bronchoscopy. For example, it is untrue that the da Vinci and Ion systems are autonomous—clinicians control the systems. Da Vinci and Ion extend the capabilities of the physician’s hands when performing procedures. Explore da Vinci and Ion details so that you can put your patients at ease with accurate information. You might also suggest your patients review the patient information section on this site.

Intuitive for patients

Find a qualified da Vinci surgeon

Use our map to see where surgeons that use da Vinci systems are practicing. Enter a location and search by specialty and geography. View the locations of hospitals and find the surgeons that practice there.

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Clinician specialties

General Surgery: Includes ventral and inguinal hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, and bariatrics.
Colorectal Surgery: Includes colectomy and rectal resection.
Gynecology Surgery: Includes hysterectomy and surgery for fibroid tumors and pelvic organ prolapse.
Urology Surgery: Includes prostate, bladder and kidney cancer surgery.
Thoracic Surgery: Includes lung and mediastinal mass surgery.
Cardiac Surgery: Includes mitral valve repair.
Head and Neck Surgery: Includes transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for tumors and benign conditions.
Pulmonology: For minimally invasive peripheral lung biopsy.

Results based on internal testing.

Disclosures and important safety information

Financial disclosure

The independent healthcare professional quoted on this website has received compensation from Intuitive for consulting and/or educational services.

Important safety information

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, up to and including death. Examples of serious or life-threatening complications, which may require prolonged and/or unexpected hospitalization and/or reoperation, include but are not limited to, one or more of the following: injury to tissues/organs, bleeding, infection, and internal scarring that can cause long-lasting dysfunction/pain.

Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci surgery, 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.

Risks specific to minimally invasive surgery, including surgery with a da Vinci system, include but are not limited to, one or more of the following: temporary pain/nerve injury associated with positioning; a longer operative time, the need to convert to an open approach, or the need for additional or larger incision sites. Converting the procedure could result in a longer operative time, a longer time under anesthesia, and could lead to increased complications.

Contraindications applicable to the use of conventional endoscopic instruments also apply to the use of all da Vinci instruments.

For important safety information, including surgical risks, indications, and considerations, please also refer to www.intuitive.com/safety. For a product’s intended use and/or indications for use, risks, full cautions, and warnings, please refer to the associated user manual(s).

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

Ion is for sale in the U.S.

Outside of the U.S., Ion may not have regulatory approvals in all markets. Please check with your local Intuitive representative.

Important safety information

Risks associated with bronchoscopy through an endotracheal tube and under general anesthesia are infrequent and typically minor and may include but are not limited to: sore throat, hoarseness, respiratory complications including dyspnea or hypoxemia, airway injury, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, fever, hemoptysis, chest, or lung infection including pneumonia, lung abscess, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although rare, the following complications may also occur: bleeding, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), cardiac-related complications, respiratory failure, air embolism, or death. As with other medical procedures, there may be additional risks associated with the use of general anesthesia and/or endotracheal intubation that are not listed above; you should consult a healthcare professional regarding these and other potential risks.

Procedures using the Ion endoluminal system may be associated with longer procedure and/or longer anesthesia time.

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

Single surgeon/physician information

For da Vinci systems

The material presented represents the views, experiences, and opinions of independent surgeons based on their practice and personal experience performing surgery with the da Vinci surgical system. Their experience may or may not be reproducible and is not generalizable.

For Ion systems

The material presented represents the views, experiences, and opinions of independent physicians based on their practice and personal experience using the Ion endoluminal system. The data reflects single physician experiences. The results may or may not be reproducible and are not generalizable.

Intuitive for Referring Physicians

Help your patients learn about minimally invasive care options

Find a qualified da Vinci surgeon

Clinician specialties