The da Vinci system is a robotic operating device that’s
controlled by a doctor watching a patient on a monitor; the
surgeon’s hand movements are scaled, filtered and translated
into movement of the system’s four robotic arms. Incorporating
Luna’s technology, which was originally developed at NASA,
allows surgeons to “sense” and “track” where devices are located
in the body during a procedure. It does this without introducing
electrical signals or radiation into the body, and with no
adverse effect from line-of-sight limitations. The partnership
is significant for Luna, as the da Vinci system is a widely used
device. A recent article in The Mercury News said Intuitive’s
product is “among the most popular operating robots in use
today… used in more than 500 hospitals for everything from
repairing heart valves to removing cancerous tissue.” Also,
tests are underway for using the da Vinci system underwater and
in outer space. ISRG vs. LUNA 1-yr chart: