We’re providing a deep look into the trends shaping surgical robotics
Surgical robotics developers notched milestone after milestone in the first half of 2025 as the two largest manufacturers in medtech prepare for a big push.
In April, Johnson & Johnson MedTech announced the first procedures using its investigational Ottava robotic surgical system. Shortly after, Medtronic said it submitted its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system to the FDA in a bid to enter the world’s largest robotic surgery market.
Hugo is already approved for use in Europe, Canada and Japan, but the world hasn’t yet had a good look at Ottava, for which J&J plans an FDA de novo submission. For this surgical robotics issue of Medical Design & Outsourcing, however, we interviewed J&J leaders about two of their systems that are already on the market: the Monarch robotic bronchoscopy platform and the Dualto Energy System, the latter of which was designed for use with Ottava.
Medtronic and J&J are taking aim at Intuitive, which is fortifying its head start and expanding manufacturing operations while navigating new tariff challenges as both an importer and exporter. In this issue, Intuitive leaders — including outgoing CEO Gary Guthart and new CEO Dave Rosa — offer a tariff strategy discussion that could help other device developers survive the trade war.
Intuitive’s efforts are paying off elsewhere, perhaps most notably at Capstan Medical, the structural heart surgical robotics startup led by former Intuitive engineers and backed by Intuitive Ventures. Capstan’s novel mitral valve and robot-powered catheter delivery system was recently used for the first time in humans, and this month’s cover story offers design and development insights from Capstan CEO Maggie Nixon and R&D Head Greg Dachs.
This issue also features a Q&A with Zimmer Biomet Chief Information and Technology Officer Shaun Braun, who discusses the value of connected data in orthopedic robotic surgery, ZB’s growing digital ecosystem, and innovations needed from other medtech developers.
We’ve also got technical tips and updates on high-resolution disposable endoscopes, robotics component micromolding, intellectual property protection, surgical robotics instrument miniaturization, telesurgery research and a microrobotics system for autonomous thrombectomies.
We’ve also recently published three special reports related to surgical robotics, all available for you to download free of charge. These Medical Design & Outsourcing and MassDevice special reports cover surgical robotics, nitinol innovations and orthopedic device companies.
As always, I hope you enjoy this edition of Medical Design & Outsourcing — and thanks for reading.
– Jim Hammerand, Managing Editor
Medical Design & Outsourcing
jhammerand@wtwhmedia.com
