The QE Facilities are currently preparing for the arrival of the QE Gateshead’s first surgical robot. The Da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system that uses minimally invasive surgical approach. The system is manufactured by the company Intuitive Surgical. Due to the design of the instrumentation the Sterile Services department have had to adapt their cleaning methods to ensure the Da Vinci equipment is decontaminated to the highest of standards.
The decontamination technicians have undergone extensive decontamination training with regards to the cleaning requirements associated with the Da Vinci robotic instrumentation, ensuring a smooth transition The department has invested in a specialist wash rack which houses the instrumentation and scope during the disinfection process and ensures the instrumentation are continuously flushed through during the automated wash process.
The department has also had to invest in a low temperature steriliser which uses Hydrogen peroxide to sterilise the scopes opposed to the current methods used which is steam sterilisation. The robotic scopes cannot endure the temperatures of the current sterilisers.