Think you and a robot could do surgery? Try your hand at this Pasco event

Want to try your hand at surgery and piloting a robot at the same time?

Head to Lourdes Medical Center in Pasco on Tuesday.

An open house featuring the hospital's new da Vinci Xi robotics-assisted surgical system is 12 to 4 p.m. at the hospital, 520 N. 4th Ave.

The event will start with a presentation and demonstration, and then attendees will be able to test the controls themselves.

Robotics-assisted procedures are less invasive than traditional open surgery. They cut the risk of infection and boost recovery time.

In traditional surgery — the kind often shown on TV — the surgeon makes a large incision and works over the patient with hand-held tools.

But in robotics-assisted procedures, cameras and tools are inserted through small incisions.

The surgeon operates them from a nearby console, always in full control.

The technology — including instruments that act like a human wrist, but with better range of motion, and high-definition cameras — means better dexterity and field of vision.

Lourdes has two robotics-assisted surgery systems in use — and the new advanced Xi model is the only one of its kind in the Tri-Cities.

A drawing for Google Home devices is planned during the event.

This story was originally published June 18, 2018 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Think you and a robot could do surgery? Try your hand at this Pasco event."