Eighth graders from Robert L. Vale Middle School in San Antonio watch as classmate Kevin Paulino (not pictured) manipulates the da Vinci Surgical System armature at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital - Westover Hills. Paulino won the invitation to the San Antonio hospital for his science class in a "name the surgical robot" contest. His entry, SARAH, short for Surgical Attendant Robot And Helper, was chosen from dozens of entries. The class met with a surgical team on Feb. 27, and students were able to control the robot's fine motor movements and attempt to place candy and wrappers into some plastic cups. A surgeon had used the robot about a half hour earlier during a minimally invasive hernia operation.
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