da Vinci SP

Intuitive Surgical

da Vinci SP

Chronology

Updated Jan 2026

(Created July 2025)

Jan 2024. da Vinci SP gets CE mark.

Mar 2019. FDA clearance dV SP for TORS.

Sep 2014. FDA clearance for base of tongue resection procedures.

Dec 2009. FDA clearance for TORS (dV St, sV S, dV Si).

1995. Intuitive founded with SRI technology transfer of the licenced telemanipulation system

The da Vinci robotic surgery system, through successive generations, has dominated the market of soft-tissue surgical robotics for more than 20 years. Extensive clinical experience has been accumulated. Technology and indications continue to evolve and expand.

da Vinci Surgical System
da Vinci generations overview

As Jan 2026 there are more than 300 da Vinci SP systems installed worldwide. About 60 in Europe (mostly in Italy).

See the da Vinci Single Port (SP).

A medical setting featuring the da Vinci SP robotic surgery system, with a robot arm covered in protective wrap, a control console with screens, and a display showcasing surgical information.

Links

– Intuitive Surgery
– Intuitive learning (restricted access)
– Abex (da Vinci in Spain)

Documents

20190319-fda-clearance-sp-for-torsDownload Press Release

Related posts

Yes, Of Course We Want a Single Port for Head and Neck Robotic Surgery Jan 23, 2026.

Single Port Robotic Areola (SPRA) Neck Surgery Dec 21, 2025.

da Vinci SP at ab medica (Milan) Jul 7, 2025.

A smiling man wearing a blue surgical cap and scrubs, with a beard and a friendly expression.

J Granell
Robotic Surgeon

I started to perform robotic surgery in year 2013 with the da Vinci S (2nd generation). I directed my first hands-on training course in 2015 with a da Vinci Standard (1st generation). I act as clinical proctor since 2017. Since 2017 I perform robotic surgery with the da Vinci Xi. I have already started da Vinci SP training, and have also tested da Vinci 5. So, I do have experience in experimental and clinical environment with every and each one of the models of the da Vinci.

Before starting my practice in robotic surgery I did have a solid foundation as an oncologic surgeon, both in resective and reconstructive procedures, and also in minimally invasive surgical approaches and endoscopic surgery, with are clues for success in this area of expertise.

da Vinci SP Surgical System. The next generation of robotic access — through a single port.

The da Vinci SP (Single Port) is Intuitive’s most advanced robotic system, designed for complex surgeries in confined spaces using a single small incision. Building on decades of innovation in robotic surgery, the SP system is transforming how we approach robotic surgery, especially when anatomical access is narrow or visibility is limited (e.g. TORS).

Unlike multiport / multiarm robotic systems (like the da Vinci Xi) the SP system uses a single 25 mm port through which a 3D camera and three multi-jointed instruments are deployed. Once inside, the instruments fan out in a 360° workspace, offering surgeons full access and dexterity — even in hard-to-reach areas. Alternatively to the cannula, the percutaneous access can be made through the Access Port Kit (see bellow).

Technical Highlights

  • Single-port access: All instruments and camera are introduced through one incision, improving cosmesis and reducing tissue trauma. Alternative it can be introduced through a natural orifice (like the mouth).
  • Articulated instruments: 3 robotic arms and a flexible camera are maneuvered independently via a single cannula.
  • 360° anatomical access: Instruments rotate inside the body, adapting to complex geometries.
  • Minimal external collisions: Ideal for confined operating rooms or procedures where space is limited (like the upper airway)
  • Enhanced patient access: Better physical access for anesthesiologists and assistants.

Components & Accessories

– Cadiere forceps

– Fenestrated bipolar forceps

– Maryland bipolar forceps

– Medium-large clip applier

– Needle driver

– Round tooth retractor

Monopolar curved scissors

– Monopolar cautery (hook tip)

– Monopolar cautery (spatula tip)

Monopolar instruments (scissors, and spatula and hook tip) have disposable tips mounted on a standard common monopolar energy instrument.

  • SP Access Port Kit (large & small) and Entry Guide Kit: Maintains insufflation and allows smooth exchange of instruments without additional incisions. Also facilitates easy docking and instrument entry.

Regulatory Approval & Indications

  • FDA-approved indications (US):
    • Extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy (DVP)
    • Transvesical and retroperitoneal prostatectomy
    • TORS for T1–T2 oropharyngeal cancer
    • Transanal colorectal surgery
    • Thoracoscopic surgery
  • CE-marked indications (Europe):
    • Transoral head and neck surgery (TORS)
    • Abdominopelvic and colorectal surgery
    • Thoracoscopic approaches

Why Choose SP for Head and Neck Surgery?

The SP system is a major advancement for robotic head and neck surgery, particularly TORS (TransOral Robotic Surgery). The SP’s ability to articulate within the oropharynx while maintaining triangulation makes it especially suited for radical tonsillectomy, base of tongue resection, and even supraglottic laryngectomy.

The SP platform is intended for high-volume centers with established robotic programs. It is especially suitable for:

  • Multispecialty institutions
  • Teaching hospitals aiming to become reference centers
  • Experienced robotic surgeons who want to expand into new access routes

As Intuitive continues to develop advanced SP-compatible instruments and integrate AI-enhanced features, the system is poised to play a central role in the future of minimally invasive and precision-guided surgery.

At headneckroboticsurgery.com, we are committed to updating you on these developments and offering training resources, dissection courses, and clinical insights to help integrate SP into your practice.

da Vinci SP Head&Neck Robotic Surgery

dV SP TORS

Close-up of textured sand dunes in black and white, showcasing natural patterns and ripples formed by wind.

dV SP SPRA

Surgical site marked on a model, showing incision lines and guidelines for a procedure.

da Vinci SP references (Head&Neck Surgery)

In chronological order, from the very beginning.

First paper, by Chris Holsinger at Stanford. A preclinical feasibility study. Dissection (lateral oropharyngectomy) on 3 cadaveric models. With the early SP prototype.

Also preclinical. Base of the tongue. 4 cadaveric models.

Clinical case. For the first years, clinical experience with the SP came from Asia-Pacific. Raymond Tsang and colleagues, from Hong Kong.

And the third TORS technique, supraglottic laryngectomy. Again a preclinical study.

  • Chan JYK, Tsang RK, Holsinger FC, Tong MCF, Ng CWK, Chiu PWY, Ng SSM, Wong EWY. Prospective clinical trial to evaluate safety and feasibility of using a single port flexible robotic system for transoral head and neck surgery. Oral Oncol. 2019 Jul;94:101-105. doi: 10.1016/j oraloncology.2019.05.018
  • Park YM, Kim DH, Moon YM, Lim JY, Choi EC, Kim SH, Holsinger FC, Koh YW. Gasless transoral robotic thyroidectomy using the DaVinci SP system: Feasibility, safety, and operative technique. Oral Oncol. 2019 Aug;95:136-142. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.06.003.
  • Park D, Shaear M, Chen YH, Russell JO, Kim HY, Tufano RP. Transoral robotic thyroidectomy on two human cadavers using the Intuitive da Vinci single port robotic surgical system and CO2 insufflation: Preclinical feasibility study. Head Neck. 2019 Dec;41(12):4229-4233. doi: 10.1002/hed.25939. Epub 2019 Aug 30
  • Park YM, Kim DH, Kang MS, Lim JY, Choi EC, Koh YW, Kim SH. The First Human Trial of Transoral Robotic Surgery Using a Single-Port Robotic System in the Treatment of Laryngo-Pharyngeal Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Dec;26(13):4472-4480. doi: 10.1245/s10434-019-07802-0. Epub 2019 Sep 9. PMID: 31502020.
  • Holsinger FC, Magnuson JS, Weinstein GS, Chan JYK, Starmer HM, Tsang RKY, Wong EWY, Rassekh CH, Bedi N, Hong SSY, Orosco R, O’Malley BW Jr, Moore EJ. A Next-Generation Single-Port Robotic Surgical System for Transoral Robotic Surgery: Results From Prospective Nonrandomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019 Nov 1;145(11):1027-1034. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2019.2654
  • Chan JYK, Koh YW, Richmon J, Kim J, Holsinger FC, Orloff L, Anuwong A. Transoral thyroidectomy with a next generation flexible robotic system: A feasibility study in a cadaveric model. Gland Surg. 2019 Dec;8(6):644-647. doi: 10.21037/gs.2019.10.13
  • Van Abel KM, Yin LX, Price DL, Janus JR, Kasperbauer JL, Moore EJ. One-year outcomes for da Vinci single port robot for transoral robotic surgery. Head Neck. 2020 Aug;42(8):2077-2087. doi: 10.1002/hed.26143. Epub 2020 Mar 19
  • Tae K. Transoral robotic thyroidectomy using the da Vinci single-port surgical system. Gland Surg. 2020;9(3):614-616. doi:10.21037/gs.2020.03.37
  • Turner MT, Topf MC, Holsinger FC, Chan JY. Robotic transmaxillary approach to the lateral infratemporal fossa: A preclinical cadaveric study using a next-generation single-port robotic system. Head Neck. 2021 Jun;43(6):1964-1970. doi: 10.1002/hed.26680. Epub 2021 Mar 25
  • Park YM, Choi EC, Kim SH, Koh YW. Recent progress of robotic head and neck surgery using a flexible single port robotic system. J Robot Surg. 2022 Apr;16(2):353-360. doi: 10.1007/s11701-021-01221-8. Epub 2021 May 3
  • Kim JK, Choi SH, Choi SM, Choi HR, Lee CR, Kang SW, Jeong JJ, Nam KH, Chung WY. Single-port transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy (START): 200-cases with two-step retraction method. Surg Endosc. 2022 Apr;36(4):2688-2696. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08837-9. Epub 2021 Nov 5
  • Kim TK, Seo M, Park SH, Kim JI, Kim SJ, Kim JH, Kim YH, Han MW. Feasibility of robotic thyroidectomy via hairline incision using da Vinci single port system: Initial experience with 40 consecutive cases. Head Neck. 2022 Oct;44(10):2197-2205. doi: 10.1002/hed.27134
  • Kang IK, Park J, Bae JS, Kim JS, Kim K. Safety and Feasibility of Single-Port Trans-Axillary Robotic Thyroidectomy: Experience through Consecutive 100 Cases. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Oct 19;58(10):1486. doi: 10.3390/medicina58101486
  • Panuganti BA, Jeyarajan H. Transoral robotic resection of large intramural, cervical esophageal lipoma-Report of a case and description of technique. Clin Case Rep. 2023 Mar 2;11(3):e7009. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.7009.
  • Sampieri C, Pirola F, Costantino A, Kim D, Ho JJ, Lee K, De Virgilio A, Park YM, Kim SH. Single-Port Versus Multiport da Vinci System for Transoral Robotic Surgery of Hypopharyngeal and Laryngeal Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Sep;169(3):548-555. doi: 10.1002/ohn.287. Epub 2023 Feb 5
  • Allen DZ, Gorelik D, Butler EB, Zhang J, Kain JJ. Single-port transoral robotic surgery for a rare tonsil mass. J Surg Case Rep. 2023 Apr 19;2023(4):rjad197. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjad197
  • De Virgilio A, Costantino A, Festa BM, Sampieri C, Spriano G, Kim SH. Compartmental Transoral Robotic Lateral Oropharyngectomy with the da Vinci Single-Port System: Surgical Technique. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5728-5732. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-13735-6. Epub 2023 Jul 6
  • Meyer CD, Wu MP, Miller LE, Mokhtari TE, Richmon JD. Robotic Thyroidectomy via Posterior Neck Approach Using the Da Vinci Single Port System. Laryngoscope. 2024 Jun;134(6):2779-2782. doi: 10.1002/lary.31115. Epub 2023 Oct 27
  • An S, Park J, Kim K, Bae JS, Kim JS. Safety and surgical outcomes of single-port trans-axillary robot-assisted thyroidectomy: Experience from a consecutive series of 300 patients. J Robot Surg. 2024 Jan 12;18(1):13. doi: 10.1007/s11701-023-01810-9
  • Virós Porcuna D, Suen KH, Stein H, Pollán Guisasola C. New Approaches for Robot-Assisted Neck Surgery: Clavicular and Submental Approaches Using the da Vinci SP System. J Craniofac Surg. 2025 Jan-Feb 01;36(1):16-20. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000010297. Epub 2024 May 29.
  • Jeong Y, Rha MS, Kim CH, Cho HJ. First Prospective Study on Single-Port Robotic Tongue Base Resection for Sleep Apnea. Head Neck. 2024 Nov 22. doi: 10.1002/hed.28007
  • Kim K. The evolution and clinical impact of single-port transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy: a comprehensive review. Gland Surg. 2025 Jan 24;14(1):74-81. doi: 10.21037/gs-24-409. Epub 2025 Jan 9
  • Wu JC, Ye B, Shen YL, Hu HX, Wang ZH, Shi ZH, Fan C, Miao XW, Liu YN, Xiang ML. [Transoral robotic surgery with single-port robot system for tongue base cancer]. Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2025 Mar 20;60:351-354. Chinese. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn115330-20250104-00009.