The U.S. FDA granted Johnson & Johnson de novo authorization for its Ottava robotic surgical system, which can now be marketed for multiple surgeries, including Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, splenectomy and others.

As robotic-assisted surgery platforms increasingly demonstrate that they can perform telesurgery safely, the question now is how soon remote operations will become part of routine clinical care. Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of Xcath Robotics Inc., reckons that within a decade the company’s Iris Surgical Robotic System could be in widespread use.

AI and advanced biotechnology are reshaping South Korea’s med-tech sector, but great technology alone is not enough to build a successful medical device company, speakers said at MedTech Innovator’s Medtech Spotlight: New Impact Korea 2026.

CMR Surgical Ltd.’s participation in Nvidia’s Physical AI health care robotics initiative is expected to accelerate the development of the next generation of intelligent surgical robotic systems powered by data, simulation and AI. As demand for minimally invasive procedures grows, more companies are entering the surgical robotics space.

AI and advanced biotechnology are reshaping South Korea’s med-tech sector, but great technology alone is not enough to build a successful medical device company, speakers said at MedTech Innovator’s Medtech Spotlight: New Impact Korea 2026.

Microsurgery is performed to connect small human vessels, but the technical difficulty required to conduct this type of surgery is quite specialized and limits the number of surgeons who can perform microsurgery.

Distalmotion SA recently secured a strategic investment from Johnson & Johnson for its robotic-assisted surgical system Dexter, amid an increase in demand from ambulatory surgery centers for such platforms. The deal follows Distalmotion’s $150 million in a series G financing, and coincides with J&J’s recent submission of its own robotic surgical system, Ottava, to the U.S. FDA., for clearance.

Surgical robotics maker Shenzhen Edge Medical Co. Ltd. reported its initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to raise HKD$1.19 billion (US$154 million) to advance its pipeline of surgical robotic systems and expand its geographic footprint to markets outside China.

Intuitive Surgical Inc. strengthened its position as the market leader in robotic-assisted surgery in 2025 on the back of increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures. Intuitive’s da Vinci system is seeing robust growth in procedures and installations, fueling increased revenues.

The U.S. FDA’s clearance of Medtronic plc’s Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system is certainly a boon for the company which is betting on the unit to be a key growth driver. While the soft tissue robotics market is dominated by Intuitive Surgical Inc.’s da Vinci system, the space is growing, and Medtronic has the scale, resources and market presence to make headway but there are also a plethora of smaller, versatile and cost-effective systems looking for a piece of the pie.