WinnMed's Dr. Erik Brink Demonstrates da Vinci 5 Surgical System's Capabilities in Exclusive Tour

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards—it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DECORAH — Standing inside a newly designed operating suite at WinnMed, Dr. Erik Brink, D.O., leaned toward the robotic console and gestured for a closer look. "This is where I work from," he said as the da Vinci 5 surgical system powered up in front of him. Brink, a general surgeon at WinnMed, provided an exclusive demonstration, tour and test drive of the hospital's newest robotic surgery platform last Friday, explaining how the technology is used and why he believes it represents a significant shift in surgical care for local patients. The da Vinci 5 is the newest generation of robotic surgical systems, building on laparoscopic techniques that replaced large open incisions with smaller ports. Brink said while laparoscopy transformed surgery in the 1990s and early 2000s, it still has physical and visual limitations. "With laparoscopy, you're looking at a flat screen across the room," Brink said. "Your brain has to translate that 2D image into a 3D space." At the da Vinci console, he demonstrated how surgeons operate while seated, their head positioned inside a viewer that provides a magnified, three-dimensional image of the surgical field. The robotic instruments, equipped with articulated wrists and elbows, move with a range of motion not possible with straight laparoscopic tools. "I can sew and twist just like I would with my hands," Brink said. "But I'm doing it inside the patient through very small incisions." As part of the demonstration, Brink described a recent hernia repair that would likely have required an open incision without robotic assistance. The patient had extensive scar tissue trapping portions of the bowel inside a large hernia. "I wouldn't have been able to complete that laparoscopically," Brink said. "I would have had to open the patient." Using the robot, he said, he was able to maneuver the camera and instruments into the hernia sac itself, carefully removing scar tissue and freeing the bowel. The patient went home roughly two hours after surgery instead of staying in the hospital for several days. "That's a tradeoff I'll make every time," Brink said. "Even if it takes me an extra hour, it saves the patient days of recovery." During the tour, Brink showed how the robotic arms are positioned around the operating table and how the system aligns itself to the target anatomy. He emphasized that the robot does not act independently, a concern he said some community members have raised. "There's this idea that I'm sitting in a corner eating a donut while the robot operates," he said. "That's not how it works. I am controlling every movement." The system includes multiple safety features, he said. If the surgeon's head leaves the console, the instruments automatically lock in place. The operating room has generator and battery backup, and the robot can be undocked in under 30 seconds if surgeons need to convert to traditional laparoscopic surgery. Brink also described newer technology integrated into the da Vinci 5, including force feedback that allows surgeons to feel increasing tension when grasping tissue and artificial intelligence that predicts instrument movement. "If that cone turns yellow or red, that's telling you you're headed toward something you don't want to hit," he said, pointing to the operating screen. DecorahNews.com reporter Alexander Rosenow participated in a hands-on demonstration. His task was to flip a penny placed on the operating table using a demo version of the robot's fully wristed force bipolar attachments. Rosenow said the system felt "very similar to a video game head-up display," allowing him to flip the penny with surprising ease. Within minutes, he was able to maneuver the penny between the system's two "arms." "It was very cool, incredibly intuitive and responsive," he said. Brink noted that many new surgeons entering the field are already familiar with video game mechanics, which he said will ease their transition into robot-assisted surgery. The robot is commonly used for hernia repairs, gallbladder removal and appendectomies, but its capabilities extend to anti-reflux surgery, hiatal hernia repair, colon resections and emergency procedures such as perforated ulcers. "This makes outpatient surgery possible for a lot more patients," he said. Brink, who began his surgical career during the rise of laparoscopic surgery and later served as a military trauma surgeon, first encountered robotic surgery during his residency more than a decade ago. He began formal robotic training in 2023 after returning to elective surgical practice. "This is where surgery has been heading," he said. "And now we can offer it here." In addition to surgeon training, Brink said WinnMed staff have undergone specialized education to support robotic procedures. He believes the technology will allow more patients to receive advanced surgical care close to home, rather than traveling to larger regional medical centers. "I think the community is going to be really happy with what we can do here," he said. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.