3. Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic prepare to compete against Intuitive Surgical
Johnson & Johnson hasn’t released pictures of the Ottava system yet, but there was a glimpse to be had during a medical device update presentation that the company streamed in November.
J&J in November shared details on its surgical robotic platform, saying its six arms offer unrivaled flexibility and control. The Ottava platform’s arms are integrated into the operating table. Ottava also has a zero-footprint design to enable access to patients, save space in the operating room and improve workflow.
The company plans to begin verification and validation processes for Ottava in 2021, followed by enrollment in clinical trials in 2022. The robotic system is J&J’s bid to take on Intuitive Surgical — the dominant player in the space.
Medtronic, meanwhile, is on a faster track to compete with Intuitive Surgical; it plans to file for a CE Mark and U.S. IDE approval for its Hugo system in early 2021. – CN
