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Abu Dhabi Hospital To Use Cutting-Edge Robot For Complex Surgeries
The device, named da Vinci Xi, will help surgeons perform difficult minimally invasive procedures with unparalleled precision.
An Abu Dhabi-based healthcare facility has introduced a state-of-the-art robot named da Vinci Xi. The high-tech device will enable Burjeel Medical City’s doctors to carry out complex, minimally invasive surgeries with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.
Named after Renaissance figure Leonardo da Vinci, the robotic surgical system offers numerous advantages over its human counterparts, including increased precision and enhanced visualization, leading to shorter patient recovery times.
Dr. Jafaru Abu, director of robotic surgery at the hospital, noted the advantages: “With this robotic technology, we can perform complex and minimally invasive surgical procedures with extreme dexterity [enabling] our highly skilled surgeons to provide even better patient clinical outcomes [while] reducing trauma and recovery times”.
Equipped with immersive 3D high-definition visualization technology, da Vinci Xi gives surgeons a highly detailed, magnified view of the surgical area. This enhanced clarity allows for high precision during procedures, potentially reducing complications and ensuring optimal outcomes.
At its core, da Vinci Xi uses robotic hands that mimic the motion of the surgeon controlling them from its console. The robot arms give enhanced agility and delicacy and allow for maneuvers that would be impossible using traditional “straight-stick” laparoscopic surgical instruments.
“Introducing the da Vinci Xi robotic system underscores our commitment to constantly evolving and adopting the latest medical technologies. With the integration of this new technology, we aim to reinforce our position as a leading healthcare institution at the forefront of medical innovation, providing patients with access to world-class, minimally invasive surgical procedures,” explained John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings.
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With the introduction of the new da Vinci robotic system, Burjeel Medical City can offer patients a wide range of minimally invasive surgeries, covering urology, gynecology, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, thoracic, bariatric, hepatobiliary, and more.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.