Tulane University Hospital and Clinic uses robotic surgery for minimally invasive surgeries

A 6-foot-tall, 1,200-pound machine hung over Brian, a New Orleans native, as he lay prone on a surgical bed bathed in green fluorescent lighting.

The arms of the machine, inserted deep inside Brian's abdomen, moved silently as they burned through fat tissue, slowly progressing toward his prostate.

In less than three hours, Brian's prostate would be cinched inside a small bag along with a deadly cancer. And that night, Brian would return home, pain-free, with only five small scars to remind him of the experience.

Doctors and patients alike hail the new surgical technique as a revolutionary breakthrough.

We're always innovating and going one step further to make it easier for the patients, said Dr. Raju Thomas, head of the Tulane Prostate Cancer Program.

The technology used to remove Brian's prostate, called a da Vinci Surgical System, was created in 2000 by Intuitive Surgical, based in Sunnyvale, Calif. It reduces trauma to the body, decreases hospital stays and increases recovery time.