For 20 biomedical engineering students, a visit to Intuitive Surgical in Orange, CT as part of the School of Engineering and Computing’s Industry Day series, wasn’t just a tour—it was a glimpse into the future of surgery. Intuitive Surgical, a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery, has spent nearly three decades refining technology that is reshaping how complex procedures are performed.
For Maeve O’Connell ‘25, the highlight was getting hands-on with the Da Vinci 5, Intuitive’s newest multiport robotic surgery system. “It was so impressive,” she said. “The most surprising part of the tour was their machine shop. It was amazing to see how detailed all of the parts they create are, the plethora of advanced machines they have, and how much work goes into such small, but meaningful parts.”
Used in a wide range of procedures—from hernia repairs to lung surgeries—the Da Vinci system allows surgeons to operate with precision using robotic arms equipped with specialized tools like graspers, scalpels, and electrocautery instruments. O’Connell and her classmates had the opportunity to sit at the console and attempt delicate tasks using the device. “It was surprisingly so much easier to use than I had expected,” she said. “The precision of the device is what amazed me the most. Any tremors generated by our hands were eliminated through the device’s noise-dampening algorithms, so the robot’s movements were far smoother and more accurate than what the average human can do.”
Similar to O’Connell, Matthew Manduca '25 also said learning about the technology behind the Da Vinci 5 was the most exciting part of the visit. “The device itself is innovative, providing a truly immersive robotic surgery experience, and the technology behind it was incredible to learn about,” he said. Manduca was particularly fascinated by how the device’s arms mimic the movement of a surgeon’s wrists, providing an extra range of motion. “There is a learning curve, but the device was a lot more intuitive than I thought it would be,” he noted. Even simple tasks, like unwrapping a small candy, became exercises in precision and control.
Beyond the hands-on experience, students also explored Intuitive’s Ion platform, a robotic-assisted system designed for minimally invasive lung biopsies. A behind-the-scenes tour took them through the machine shop, surgical testing suite, and quality assurance labs, offering a rare look at the engineering and precision behind these groundbreaking devices.
For both O’Connell and Manduca, the visit reinforced just how interdisciplinary the medical device industry is. “It takes so many teams of people with different specialties to create a medical device as advanced as theirs,” O’Connell said. “It’s amazing how teams can work independently from each other on isolated tasks, yet they come together so cohesively to form amazing outcomes.” Manduca echoed this sentiment, noting that throughout the tour, they met electrical, mechanical, computer, and biomedical engineers, all working together to push the boundaries of medical technology.
The visit also sparked new career considerations for some students. “I had never considered working in surgical robotics before visiting Intuitive,” O’Connell said, “but after the visit, I was so amazed by the technology their company has produced. I would definitely consider entering a career in surgical technology after this visit, as it’s such an interesting, hands-on field that has beneficial impacts for patients worldwide.”
For Manduca, the experience only strengthened his existing passion. “I was already extremely interested in working in medical devices after graduation, and I feel that this experience furthered my interest,” he said.
Beyond the technology, the visit also served as an introduction to career possibilities in the rapidly evolving field of medical robotics. A presentation on opportunities at Intuitive left students inspired about how their own futures might intersect with innovations that are changing the landscape of modern medicine.
