Cancer fighting robot lends name to horse

David Barker, of Northallerton, underwent robotic surgery at The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough and, amazed to be back home again just five days later, he named his yearling racehorse DaVinci Dawn after the ‘da Vinci’ robot used during his eight-hour operation and Dawn Watson, his specialist Macmillan nurse, who supported him.

Based at Ann Duffield Racing near Leyburn, the bay filly is by the popular Poet’s Voice and out of the five times winner Bonnie Brae.

Mr Barker said: “I spent two months looking for a name and then all this happened. The da Vinci did a good job on me so hopefully it will be good for the horse as well.”

The da Vinci robot has revolutionised surgical treatment by allowing surgeons to perform minimally-invasive surgery with greater precision and control than ever before. It uses tiny instruments, controlled remotely by the surgeon sitting at a console.

The surgeon uses 3D images and hand and foot controls to control micromanipulators, which have a greater range of movement than the human hand.

The robot is used for a range of bladder, prostate, gynaecological, colorectal and thoracic procedures.