New biological agents, imaging tests, and devices are among the many sectors of technology that have an important role in health care delivery. These technologies vary in the extent to which they aim to replace an existing procedure or medical therapy or provide a new way of treating patients. They also vary widely with regard to their value (ie, incremental clinical benefit and cost) to society. Following approval of the da Vinci Surgical System by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001, robotic surgery has disseminated rapidly across various disciplines and procedures, substituting for conventional (ie, open) or laparoscopic alternatives.
Source: JAMA Online First