Driving the future: da Vinci SP and the new da Vinci 5

Last week, at an Innovation Meeting in Madrid hosted by Abex & Intuitive, we had the opportunity to test the da Vinci SP and the da Vinci 5. Photos were not allowed, but the experience was insightful.

da Vinci SP: an old concept with new potential

The da Vinci SP (Single Port) has finally made its way to the market after significant delays. It is based on an old idea. Single-Site (available with the earlier generations) was just and adaptation of old schemes, but the Single Port was groundbreaking at its inception. While the Single-Port approach was also an adaptation of previous surgical concepts, the advantages of robotization made it a major innovation … that has been there for many years (it even predates the Xi).

I first tested the SP in Hong Kong in January 2020, before the pandemic—truly another era. That earlier version included an additional clutch (pedal) for the cannula. The system has since improved, now featuring a single pedal for the camera with three different, hand-controlled clutch options.

Why did it take so long to reach the market? I’ve discussed this frequently. From an engineering perspective, SP was a great idea, but it appears as it wasn’t developed with enough surgeon input. Most current indications for robotic surgery don’t significantly benefit from a single-port approach. However, Head & Neck surgeons are obviously the most enthusiastic adopters.

Our colleagues in the Asia-Pacific region have already built extensive clinical experience with the SP, particularly in transoral approach and remote access to the neck. A special mention goes to Yoon Woo Koh for his contributions. The real game-changer is not just the single-port concept itself but the ability to use a third instrument arm, especially for transoral surgery. That’s what truly sets it apart.

The real news: da Vinci 5

The da Vinci 5—the fifth generation—may look like a sleeker version of the Xi, but it represents an entirely new world of robotic surgery. We’ll need to dedicate more space to it in future discussions, but for now, there’s no official release date.

Here’s a teaser: haptic feedback is finally here. And it’s really good. In fact, it appears that this technology has been ready for years—kept as an ace up the sleeve.

I first discussed this with Akhil Madhani in 2016. Haptic feedback was one of the original concerns in primal developments of what were to become the da Vinci robotic arms. The Black Falcon, the second prototype, built in 1998, was designed with haptic feedback in mind. It’s hard to believe that for so long, we were led to think the technology wasn’t there yet.

Exciting times ahead. More to come.

J Granell. Feb 2, 2025.

PD. Intuitive has announced (Jan 21, 2025) the acquisition of distribution companies in Spain, Italy and Portugal, expanding investment and presence in Europe.