Medtronic’s Hugo robot-assisted surgery system [Image courtesy of Medtronic]
5. Surgical robotics
Medtronic acquired the Hugo surgical robotic program when it purchased Covidien in 2014. In the interview, Martha revisited the history of the “most complicated project I think we’ve taken on” and why Medtronic opted to keep pushing it forward.
“We’re excited about this,” Martha said. “It’s been a long road, and it’s been a lot longer than certainly we wanted.”
The verification and validation processes are checking out, and the company expects to file for regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe soon, according to the CEO.
Before that, Medtronic would conduct trials in humans outside the U.S. The animal testing and subsequent surgeon training have gone well.
“I’m personally starting to shift my focus to the commercialization of it,” Martha said.
