The da Vinci Surgical Robot beat designs from Australia and around the world.
Intuitive Surgical’s latest generation da Vinci Surgical Robot has taken out the top gong at the 2024 Australian Good Design Awards hosted by Gold Logie winner Larry Emdur in Sydney on Friday night.
More than 1000 people attended, including community and industry leaders and global dignitaries, including Canada-based Dr Thomas Garvey, president of the World Design Organisation.
The top award went to Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci 5 Surgical System, which introduces so-called Force Feedback technology and optional instruments that enable the system to measure – and surgeons to feel – subtle forces exerted on tissue during surgery.
The new features mean remote surgery can deliver better outcomes for patients, while improved ergonomics make it more comfortable for surgeons to perform these, at times, lengthy procedures.
Intuitive Surgical’s pre-clinical trials of the da Vinci 5 showed that the new Force Feedback feature gives surgeons even greater control, reducing the force on tissue by up to 43%, resulting in much gentler patient surgery.
Design and engineering enhancements, including new surgeon controllers and powerful vibration and tremor controls, deliver improved accuracy and precision. At the same time, incorporating next-generation 3D display and image processing enables surgeons to see more, while supporting future surgical endoscopes and vision software.
Good Design Australia Managing Director Rachel Wye said the awards highlighted the importance of design to improving the quality of life for people around the globe.
“The quality of entries we receive from across Australia and internationally is just extraordinary. There are many truly remarkable projects among this year’s cohort, which has made picking a winner for each category a challenging task,” Ms Wye said.
“That’s precisely why we have a rigorous judging process with an esteemed panel of experts for every Design Discipline and Award Category – so we know we are choosing an outstanding winner that is the best.
“Among many others, that’s highlighted by the calibre of the 2024 Australian Good Design Award of the Year winners and Australian Good Design Award for Sustainability. Both are incredible products that shift the dial in their sectors, and that’s what good design is all about.”
The awards span more than 31 categories across 12 design disciplines and received more than 940 entries.
The full list of winners can be found here.