Cardiac surgeon Michael Black is the Surgical

Director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital

Cardiac Surgical Program at California Pacific

Medical Center. Dr. Black was previously Chief

of Pediatric Heart Surgery at Stanford University

School of Medicine. Dr. Black remains a pioneer

at using small incisions on very small patients.

Dr. Michael Black was the principal investigator

(PI) for the use of Zeus robot in pediatric cardiac

surgery in North America.

Most recently, Dr. Black has focused his repair

of congenital heart lesions utilizing the

da Vinci telemanipulating system. Dr. Black

remains active in the development and

modification of robotic equipment for congenital

heart lesions. His unique program attracts both

local and out-of-state patients. Out-of-state patients

can be assisted with their accomodations and

needs .

One of the most exciting potential uses for robotic

surgery is fetal surgery. Dr. Black recently pre-

sented his work at the 6th Annual Meeting of the

nternational Society of Minimally Invasive Cardiac

Surgery. Advances in fetal surgery will result from

the precision that robots makes possible.

Dr. Black believes that robotic manipulation has

great potential to correct certain lesions that are

now lethal. Initial application of this technology

may be limited to a small population of babies,

but for that one baby it will make all the difference.