The da VinciSystem features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system

Medical Center Hospital officials said MCH is currently using this equipment for urology, gynecology and cardiovascular procedures.Aksade pointed out to the students in a late-morning session that the device can be used for thoracic and abdominal procedures, including heart and cancer surgeries, but it is not used for some surgeries, such as appendectomies, and it cannot be used for brain surgery.To use the machine, students placed their hands on controls and were able to move around the surgical instruments, which had clips at the end and could pick up rubber bands and move them around. The machine features hardware and software ponents. In the auditorium, students looked at a TV monitor that showed students experimenting with the da Vinci Si as Aksade spoke about his experiences with the machine and answered questions. The da VinciSystem features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and tiny wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. As a result, da Vinci enables your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control."Minimally invasive da Vinci uses the latest in surgical and robotics technologies. da Vinci is beneficial for performing routine and plex surgery," the website stated.The surgeon is 100 percent in control of the da Vinci System, the website stated, "which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body."Aksade told the students the machine is not a robot per se but is a tool that is controlled by the doctor.Several students experimented with the machine. "I thought it was really cool," said OHS junior Nithin Shakamuri, adding he liked how it can move with precision. "It's more exact that than the human hands can be."Shakamuri said he intends to go into the medical field.Jamie Knotts, da Vinci area sales manager at Intuitive Surgical who is based in Corpus Christi, attended the session and discussed the advantages of the da Vinci Si, which has a list price of $1.75 million. He said there are 2,200 units in the United States, mentioning one of those units is at MCH."We're just scratching the surface," he said about this technology, adding the pany has just introduced the da Vinci Xi, which is the fourth in the generation of this technology.