Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 30, 2012 Area The Valley Hospital has enhanced its Institute for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery with the acquisition of the latest, state-of-the-art model of the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System. The purchase of the new model - the da Vinci Si Surgical System - was generously funded by a $1.6 million donation from The Bolger Foundation, Inc. “This equipment is saving lives and making operations safer for patients. As always, The Bolger Foundation’s intention is to have the ‘quality of life’ of the patients and medical staff of The Valley Hospital & Valley Health System in mind,” Bolger said of his donation. The da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is a breakthrough in surgical technology that allows for more surgical procedures to be performed using minimally invasive techniques than ever before. Surgeons at The Valley Hospital’s Institute for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery recently performed the hospital’s 2,000th surgery using the daVinci Surgical System model. The da Vinci Surgical System consists of a surgeon’s console, a patient-side cart, a high performance vision system and additional instruments. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated comfortably at a console viewing a three-dimensional image Valley acquires latest robotic surgical system of the surgical field. The surgeons’ fingers grasp the instrument controls below the display with wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. The technology seamlessly translates the surgeon’s movements into precise, real-time movements of the surgical instruments inside the patient. The latest model - the da Vinci Si Surgical System -offers a dual console used for both training and collaboration. During a dual console operation, each surgeon sits at his or her individual console and can see the same high definition images of the anatomy from the 3D endoscope (flexible tube with a camera and light at the tip). The dual console feature is a technical innovation that is a first in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. When the dual console is used for training, control over instruments can be easily and quickly exchanged during surgery - meaning the teaching/mentoring surgeon can hand over control of the instruments to the resident/ fellow at any time. This enables a see-and-repeat model of instruction designed to accelerate the learning curve. For collaborative surgery with the dual console, two surgeons can operate in concert. While one surgeon performs the primary tasks of the operation, the second surgeon can assist with another task, such as retraction. David Bolger, president of The Bolger Foundation, with Valley Health System President & CEO Audrey Meyers.