Model note: The da Vinci product line spans six generations: Classic, S, Si, Xi, SP (Single Port), and da Vinci 5 (2024). Specifications below refer to the current Xi/5 platform unless otherwise noted. Older systems still in operation may have different figures.
System Architecture
Configuration
Three components: Surgeon Console, Patient-Side Cart, Vision Cart
Robotic arms (Patient-Side Cart)
4 arms — 3 instrument arms, 1 camera arm
Incision size
8–12 mm per port (minimally invasive)
Operating mode
Fully surgeon-controlled — no autonomous action
Tremor filtering
Yes — electronic filtration of involuntary surgeon hand movement
Motion scaling
Yes — surgeon movements scaled down at the instrument tip
EndoWrist Instruments
Degrees of freedom
7 per instrument (6 active motion axes + grip)
DoF vs standard laparoscopy
7 DoF vs 4 in conventional laparoscopic tools
Instrument types
Scissors, needle drivers, graspers, electrocautery, stapling, and more
Wrist motion
Replicates full hand-wrist-finger motion within the body
Force feedback (da Vinci 5)
Yes — first generation with haptic feedback
Vision System
Camera type
Stereoscopic (3D) high-definition endoscope
Magnification
Up to 10x
Console view
Full-immersion stereoscopic display at surgeon console
Fluorescence imaging
Available — Firefly near-infrared imaging for tissue perfusion
Generations & Models
da Vinci Classic
1999 (Europe), 2000 FDA clearance (US) — original platform
da Vinci S
2006 — improved instruments and image quality
da Vinci Si
2009 — dual surgeon consoles for training and collaboration
da Vinci Xi
2014 — boom-mounted arms, improved reach and repositioning
da Vinci SP
Single-port variant — all instruments through one incision
da Vinci 5
2024 — force feedback, 10,000x more computing than Xi
Regulatory Approvals
US FDA clearance
2000 (initial clearance for laparoscopic surgery)
EU CE marking
1999
Approved specialties
Urology, gynaecology, general surgery, thoracic, colorectal, ENT, cardiac (varies by model and country)
Installed Base & Scale
Global installed base
6,700+ systems (end 2021 figures)
United States
~4,139 systems
Europe
~1,199 systems
Asia
~1,050 systems
Other regions
~342 systems
Countries
67+ countries
Pricing & Availability
System purchase price
Approximately $1.5M–$2.5M per system (varies by model and configuration)
Annual service fee
Typically $100,000–$170,000 per year
Instrument cost
Single-use instruments: typically $700–$3,500 each, limited-use life
Sales model
Enterprise — contact Intuitive Surgical. Also available via intuitive.com
Availability
Available — primarily to hospitals and surgical centres
Disclaimer: Intuitive Surgical does not publish a full public datasheet for the da Vinci system. Specifications and pricing are drawn from SEC filings, press releases, and reputable third-party reporting. Pricing is approximate and varies by model, region, and negotiated contract. Contact Intuitive Surgical directly for current pricing. Some content on this page was created with the assistance of AI tools.