Now, surgeries in the US will be carried out by robots. Robot-assisted surgery has gained popularity in the US for more than a decade now, as it allows operations to be carried out with potentially smaller incisions than conventional procedures.

The US population has supported robotic surgery. Simon Burnell, technology expert at PA consulting said, “In the US, where patients have more choice in medical care, hospitals have to have these systems to attract customers. Whether it is right or not, this plays a significant part in the uptake”.

Market has been dominated by a handful of companies that have fared well so far. These include Intuitive Surgical, Hansen Medical, and Mako Surgical.

Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci system dominates the laparoscopic, or keyhole, surgery market. There are more than 3,300 da Vinci systems installed worldwide and the company had revenues of $2.13bn last year.

Hansen Medical makes robotically controlled catheters that can be inserted into blood vessels is valued at $130m. Robots used for knee resurfacing and hip replacements are made by Mako Surgical, which was bought by medical equipment maker Stryker for $1.65bn in 2013.

A da Vinci system costs $1.25m-$2.3m, and instruments, which are limited to a maximum of 10 uses, cost a further $1,300-$2,200. According to a Texas-based technology writer who specializes in robot technology, for a da Vinci to be financially viable, hospitals need to perform between 150 and 300 procedures annually for six years.