INNOVATION

gery or laparoscopy—when possible. Patients
experience less pain, decreased risk of infection,
less scarring, shorter hospital stays and
recovery time, and a faster return to normal
daily activities.
OSF Saint Francis is the first Robotic
General Surgery Epicenter in Illinois, and second
in the nation, acting as a training ground
for surgeons across the country to observe
and train in robotic surgery.
The latest technology—another first for
downstate—is the da Vinci Xi Surgical System,
which is especially designed for multiquadrant
surgeries in the areas of gynecology,
urology, thoracic, cardiac and general surgery.
As with all da Vinci surgical systems, the surgeon
is in full control of the robotic-assisted
THE XI SYSTEM’S 3D-HD VISION GIVES
SURGEONS A HIGHLY MAGNIFIED VIEW,
VIRTUALLY EXTENDING THEIR EYES AND HANDS
INTO THE PATIENT.
device, which translates his/her hand movements
into smaller, more precise movements
of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.
The Xi System’s 3D-HD vision gives surgeons
a highly magnified view, virtually extending
their eyes and hands into the patient.
CONTINUING ADVANCES
Dr. David Crawford, director of robotic surgery
at OSF Saint Francis, is enthusiastic about the
new da Vinci Xi. “The new system has a greater
range of motion in the working arms; this allows
us to do more complex operations from
a single position or ‘docking’ of the robot,” he
notes. “Where we used to have to stop and reposition,
we can just keep working, thus saving
time, which means less anesthetic for the
patient. The new system has also allowed us to
approach incisional/scar hernias robotically,
where we were more limited before.”
The Xi will soon pair with another innovation
on the horizon, according to Dr.
Crawford. “The new robot will be able to work
with a new OR table coming out this year. You
will be able to change table positions to allow
more complex surgery, and the robot can
move along with it.”
Ultimately, the latest medical innovations
are brought to Peoria in the interest
of doing what’s best for patients. The Sisters
would have it no other way.
Shelli Dankoff is media relations coordinator for
OSF HealthCare.
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