A Florida hospital confirmed Tuesday that a patient recently died after undergoing robot-assisted surgery. Al Greenway, 53, passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa on October 13, two days after an accident occurred during a kidney operation. Greenway's surgeon, who has been identified as urologist Tod J. Fusia, was using the da Vinci Surgical System, a device consisting of three robotic arms that are manipulated by a surgeon 10 feet from the patient. Inserted into the patient's body through small cuts, the equipment decreases the rate of infection usually seen in operations involving wide incisions.

According to reports, while Fusia attempted to remove Greenway's kidney using the da Vinci device, two major arteries were accidentally severed and stapled. A vascular surgeon repaired the damage, but the injury was too severe and Greenway died two days later. A spokesperson for St. Joseph's refused to blame the device or the surgeon for the accident Wednesday, only saying that Greenway's death was due to "medical error."

Made by California-based Intuitive Surgical, the da Vinci Surgical System was first used in 1997. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the apparatus for several procedures, including gallbladder and colon operations and liver and prostate surgeries. The company said Tuesday that there have been no reports of serious injury involving the device since its introduction.