With 10,000 times more computing power than earlier models, immersive 3D visualization and technology that allows surgeons to actually feel the tension of human tissue, the da Vinci 5 Surgical System is a recalibration of what robotic surgery can do.

The da Vinci 5, by Intuitive, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., was released for limited use in 2024, with a broader rollout in 2025.

On February 26, 2026, Wellington Regional Medical Center unveiled its $2.7 million system — the first system in the western communities of Palm Beach County, Florida — marking a significant technological step beyond the hospital’s two existing da Vinci Xi robots. 

About 50 physicians, nurses, hospital leaders and visitors gathered in the main lobby for the ribbon cutting, where light bites and drinks were served and the mood was celebratory but curious. At the center of the crowd sat the new surgeon’s console, sleek and self-contained, with a 3D stereoviewer. The configuration is like sitting at a desk with a large, adjustable viewer at head height. The controls, at the level of a desktop, are designed for the index finger and thumb to slip into ring-like circles to control the various tools at the end of six robotic arms.  

Guests took turns sliding into the chair and peering into the viewer. On screen: a training module resembling a child’s toy, dotted with colorful peaks and tiny rubber band-like rings. The task was to grasp a ring, lift it from one peg and place it onto another. The movements were smooth and precise — intuitive, even — a fitting adjective given the name of the system’s manufacturer.

On February 27, the system went into use for the first time at the center, to perform an endometrial resection. 

The hospital’s robotics program began in 2013, when Dr. Sam Falzone performed its first procedure using the da Vinci Xi. Since then, robotic-assisted surgery has become routine across specialties. In an interview with Techstrong at the ribbon cutting, Falzone said the da Vinci 5 represents a meaningful leap forward, particularly for complex minimally invasive procedures.

“One of the things they’ve done is add tension feedback,” said Falzone, a minimally invasive OB/GYN specialist. “We used to have to learn by visual cues. Now, as we pull on tissue, the robotic arms require more tension, so you feel that. You know how much pressure you’re putting on tissue.”

That force feedback — known as haptics — is one of more than 150 enhancements in the da Vinci 5. The surgeon sits at an ergonomic console, viewing the operative field in high-definition 3D. Hand movements are translated into micro-movements of wristed instruments inside the patient. A footswitch panel controls camera focus, energy devices and instrument changes. The system’s expanded computing capacity enables real-time data collection and performance insights.

In addition to the console, the system features a patient cart, which is positioned over the patient. This portion features the camera and four interactive robotic arms that manipulate wristed instruments. The third component is the vision cart, which is commonly referred to as the tower.  It manages system communication, 3DHD visualization, and operating room workflow. It features an integrated 3D HD video system, a touchscreen monitor for the care team, and enhanced, integrated insufflation technology and advanced data analytics.

For patients, the implications are tangible. By allowing surgeons to sense resistance, the system can reduce the force applied to tissue — by as much as 43 percent compared with earlier models, according to the manufacturer. Less force can mean less tissue damage, less bleeding and potentially fewer complications.

“Anything you do laparoscopically, you can theoretically use the robot on,” Falzone said. “But this is what we need for complex laparoscopy — to be more uniform and to get out of more open surgery.”

The difference in recovery times can be dramatic. For a hysterectomy performed through an open incision, a patient might spend one to three days in the hospital and need four to six weeks before returning to normal activity. With robotic-assisted surgery, Falzone said, 95 to 98 percent of his patients go home within six hours. Many are walking the next day.

“When my patient goes home tonight and is out walking tomorrow, she has less risk of blood clots, less infection, less time out of work,” he said. “It’s such a huge thing for patients.”

Dr. Michael Shockley, a general surgeon at the hospital, has performed hundreds of procedures on the da Vinci Xi and has completed simulations and online modules on the new system. While he has not yet performed a live case on the da Vinci 5, he described the transition as seamless.

“It’s similar — four arms — but this is upgraded with haptic feedback, ergonomic comfort and an on-screen menu so you don’t have to pull your head out,” Shockley said. “The robot gives you way more degrees of freedom compared to straight laparoscopic instruments.”

Those added degrees of freedom matter most in the tight confines of the abdomen. The robotic instruments can articulate and rotate in ways that rigid laparoscopic tools cannot, making suturing, delicate dissection and camera control more precise.

“So you can do bigger, more complicated procedures easier and quicker,” Shockley said. “That minimizes time in the OR, the number and size of incisions, which translates to quicker recovery, less pain, quicker discharge and return to normal life.”

The system also streamlines workflow in the operating room, with integrated insufflation and smoke evacuation and improved setup times. Surgeons can adjust settings from within the console, maintaining focus on the surgical field.

Robotic surgery still requires human mastery. Falzone said it takes about 20 cases to become comfortable with a system and hundreds to achieve true fluency. Surgeons must complete a minimum number of cases every two years to maintain proficiency. Residents now train on robotic platforms as part of their core education, honing both traditional surgical skills and robotic technique simultaneously.

“You need to know how to use the robot,” Falzone said. “But most importantly, you still need to know how to do the surgery.”

In the lobby, the toy-like training exercise drew a steady line. Rings were lifted and repositioned with careful concentration, followed by relieved smiles.