As amazing as surgical robots can be, some surgeons are unimpressed with the rate of advancement in the technology. Some complaints about the system include a lack of haptic feedback and the fact the machines are so bulky. Another sticky point is the price: at $2.5 million per machine the DaVinci robot, created by Intuitive, is quite expensive. So why is there little competition?
“People are afraid to challenge Intuitive because they are such a big company. But now we’re starting to see a rebellion from physicians on the price, especially in the context of the discussion on how to cut down costs. That will motivate more people to consider coming into the market.” Surgeon Hiep Nguyen
One possible competitor on the horizon is a robot created by Dave Fowler which he says will “be less invasive, with one incision instead of three or four; it is vastly smaller; it will cost a small fraction of what da Vinci costs; and it will be much easier to maintain.”
Hopefully development of this amazing health technology picks up because there are many other types of fruit that need surgical peeling. [Technology Review]
To learn more about the DaVinci system check out this informational video:
