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home / 世界杯决赛2022

'natural evolution of technology': surgical robotics now in saskatoon

according to provincial surgery head dr. ivar mendez, the purchase of the da vinci surgery system will cost approximately $2.5 million.

by saskatoon starphoenix
published nov 24, 2022
read time 2 minute read
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read time 2 minute read
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the da vinci surgical system. courtesy sph foundation / courtesy sph foundation
as a multimillion-dollar surgical program is set to be launched in saskatchewan on friday, here are five things to know about the province’s first da vinci surgical robot. smaller incisions
the system features long, robotic limbs that allow surgeons to perform procedures without large incisions. the doctors operate the robot through a nearby console, with a trained human conducting the surgery. the robot’s tiny hands do not shake and can fit through small punctures in the body. according to the province, those smaller incisions mean patients recover faster, which, in turn, means hospital beds can open up quicker, which means surgeons can perform more procedures.
million-dollar donation
according to provincial surgery head dr. ivar mendez, the purchase of the da vinci surgery system will cost approximately $2.5 million. the province and the st. paul’s hospital foundation started procurement thanks to a $1-million donation from the family of philanthropist merlis belsher, who are also matching up to $100,000 in donations to the foundation. the provincial government is paying the remaining $1 million in capital costs, plus operating expenses.
merlis belsher admires the da vinci surgery system.
merlis belsher admires the da vinci surgery system. courtesy sph foundation / courtesy sph foundation
“it is the natural evolution of technology. you don’t use a paper map to navigate a city. you use gps. it is the same with surgery,” mendez said earlier this year.
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tough to reach
the system, which will be deployed at st. paul’s hospital in saskatoon, will be used in urology, head and neck cancer, thoracic surgery and gynecological oncology, to operate on parts of the throat, abdomen and pelvis that surgeons have a hard time reaching.
ongoing expenses
the province will cover annual operating expenses which are estimated at $160,000 in the first year and almost $800,000 by the end of the ramp-up.
first robot
health minister don morgan will be joined friday by officials from the saskatchewan health authority, st. paul’s hospital and st. paul’s foundation for the launch of saskatchewan’s robotics surgical program and the implementation of the da vinci surgical robot.
— with starphoenix files from zak vescera
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