The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical platform that uses a minimally invasive surgical approach and is manufactured by Intuitive Surgical. The system is used for surgical procedures including prostatectomies, cardiac valve repair and renal and gynecologic interventions. Robotic surgery can be used as part of minimally invasive surgery in the head and neck.

Robotic surgery is particularly useful for procedures in the oropharynx (back of the mouth). The robot which is controlled by the surgeon can be used to remove tumors which would otherwise require large obvious incisions. This improves recovery and minimizes the potential negative affects on functioning such as speech and swallow.

In 2012, It was used in an estimated 200,000 surgeries.
The system is called “da Vinci” in part because of Leonardo da Vinci’s study of human anatomy, eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.
Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved, FDA-approved, procedure used to remove benign and malignant tumors from the throat, base of tongue, and tonsils, particularly for HPV-related cancers. Using high-definition 3D cameras and precise robotic arms, surgeons access the throat through the mouth, eliminating the need for external incisions or jaw splitting.