These days, Dr. David Chou, a urologist on staff at The Queens Medical Center, operates in a world of miniaturized surgery, thanks to the helpful hands of the da Vinci surgical robot.

As of earlier this year, the $1.5 million machine resembling a giant praying mantis, became the first of its kind available in Hawaii. It provides better care for patients using minimally invasive (also known as laparoscopic) surgical techniques previously offered only in Mainland hospitals.

The da Vinci® Surgical System provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting the surgeon’s hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform. The da Vinci system enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.