Surgical & Medical Robotics

Intuitive Surgical announced that its da Vinci SP surgical system received CE mark approval in Europe for transvaginal gynecologic procedures, the platform's first such indication globally. The authorization expands the SP system's approved applications in women's health and extends its natural orifice surgery portfolio beyond transoral and transanal procedures, supporting the company's strategy of growing the platform through new indications rather than relying solely on new system placements. The approval could help increase utilization of the existing da Vinci SP installed base across Europe, a key driver of recurring revenue through instruments, accessories and service revenue. During its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, management highlighted that SP procedures surged 61% year over year, driven by expanded indications, new instrumentation and broader adoption, while the company placed 38 SP systems in the quarter, up from 23 a year ago, taking the global installed base to 445 systems. Intuitive Surgical also noted that more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications support the safety and efficacy of the da Vinci SP platform.

SS Innovations International has supported the launch of Sri Lanka's first robotic cardiac surgery program at Kings Hospital Colombo using the SSi Mantra 3.0 surgical robotic system. The program began with a robotic-assisted LIMA takedown performed by SS Innovations founder and Chairman Dr. Sudhir Srivastava alongside Kings Hospital cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Rajitha DeSilva, and Kings Hospital has completed more than 25 robotic procedures in three weeks. SS Innovations reported 224 cumulative SSi Mantra installations across 12 countries at the end of the second quarter, with second-quarter revenue of $13.9 million and robotic procedures up 143% year over year to 2,528. The company's next major corporate milestone is regulatory expansion, as it pursues U.S. FDA clearance and European CE marking for the SSi Mantra system.

Medtronic plc reported fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of nearly $9.8 billion, up 13.7% organically, while non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 15.1% to $1.45. The company raised its full-year organic revenue-growth forecast to 7.25%-7.75% from 6.75%-7.25% and lifted the lower end of its non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance to $5.94 from $5.90. Cardiovascular revenue increased 18.9% organically to $3.927 billion, with Cardiac Ablation Solutions up 88%, while Neuroscience grew 9.3% and Medical Surgical increased 10.2%. The quarter included an extra fiscal week that Medtronic estimates benefited organic growth by approximately $570 million, and non-GAAP operating margin rose only 10 basis points to 23.7%. Medtronic also committed $700 million to Cornerstone Robotics for distribution rights to its Sentire surgical system in select markets outside the United States and agreed to invest up to $80 million in Pi-Cardia, with an option to acquire the company for up to $210 million, as it proceeds with the separation of its diabetes division by the end of the year.

Intuitive Surgical announced the publication of a landmark meta-analysis in Annals of Surgery Open, showing that its da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery is associated with statistically significant improvements in patient outcomes compared with laparoscopic and open surgery across 13 common benign conditions. The study, the largest comparative meta-analysis of its kind, analyzed data from more than 14 million procedures. Key findings include 54% lower odds of conversion to open surgery and 13% lower odds of blood transfusion versus laparoscopic surgery, with hospital stays about 4 hours shorter and return to work about 2 days sooner. Against open surgery, da Vinci showed 69% lower odds of blood transfusion, 46% lower odds of 30-day postoperative complications, and 60% lower odds of surgical site infection, with hospital stays about 2 days shorter and return to work about 5 days sooner. The analysis synthesized 14 years of published evidence from 32 countries, including 13 randomized controlled trials and 231 retrospective cohort studies, and was led by Thomas H. Shin, MD, PhD, of Mass General Brigham, with researchers from the University of Virginia and Intuitive.

Intuitive Surgical's Ion robotic platform is becoming a significant second growth engine alongside its core da Vinci franchise, with second-quarter 2026 procedures up 36% year over year to 48,000. Cumulative Ion procedures have surpassed 400,000, and the installed base has grown 21% annually, now available in 12 countries outside the U.S. The platform targets lung cancer diagnosis, a market with robust growth potential, and management is investing in technologies like ROSE and EBUS to expand its clinical utility. Meanwhile, Medtronic's Cardiac Ablation Solutions sales grew 88% in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, and Boston Scientific plans to launch FARAPULSE Ultra at scale in 2027, with the Penumbra acquisition expected to close in the second half of 2027. Intuitive Surgical shares have fallen 35.3% this year, trading at a forward P/E of 31.71X, below its five-year median of 68.26X, with 2026 earnings expected to rise 20.3%.

A new report from ResearchAndMarkets.com projects the global surgical robots market will grow from USD 10.6 billion in 2026 to USD 22.9 billion by 2035, a compound annual growth rate of about 8.9%. The expansion is driven by demand for minimally invasive surgery, AI integration, and compact systems that lower capital costs. North America is expected to lead the market, while Asia-Pacific is forecast to see the fastest growth. Key players include Intuitive Surgical, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and Stryker. Recent developments include Medtronic's FDA clearance for its Hugo system in urology and a partnership between Ronovo Surgical and Johnson & Johnson Medical Shanghai.

Globus Medical, Inc. announced that its Excelsius3D intelligent 3-in-1 imaging system has received CE marking, allowing commercial sale in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The system, which combines 3D cone-beam CT, 2D fluoroscopy, and digital radiography, expands the company's Excelsius Ecosystem and enhances the capabilities of its ExcelsiusGPS robotic navigation system. The CE mark follows the system's FDA 510(k) clearance in 2021, and Globus Medical will now begin commercialization in these markets. Company executives highlighted the milestone as key to integrating imaging, navigation, and robotics in surgical workflows.

Stereotaxis announced that the University of Szeged in Hungary has treated over 70 patients using its Genesis Robotic Magnetic Navigation system just over a month after launching the country's first robotic cardiology program. The electrophysiology team, led by Prof. Tamás Szili-Török, performed procedures for a broad spectrum of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and ventricular tachycardia, with several complex cases involving patients who had previously failed multiple ablation procedures. This rapid adoption marks a record pace of use globally, outpacing any previous launch of Stereotaxis technology. The university will celebrate the program's success and the grand opening of its Robotic Cardiology Program at a scientific symposium on September 8th.

Medtronic reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings per share of $1.45, up 15.1% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.32%, while revenues rose 13.7% to $9.76 billion, surpassing expectations by 3.02%. The company raised its fiscal 2027 organic revenue growth outlook to 7.25%-7.75% from 6.75%-7.25% and lifted adjusted EPS guidance to $5.94-$6.00 from $5.90-$6.00. Cardiovascular led segment growth with a 19.5% reported increase, while Neuroscience, Medical Surgical, and Diabetes also posted strong organic gains. Medtronic completed acquisitions of Scientia Vascular and SPR Therapeutics, and announced a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Robotics and an investment in Pi-Cardia. Shares rose nearly 5% in pre-market trading following the announcement.

Medtronic raised its fiscal 2027 outlook after first-quarter revenue rose 13.7% to $9.8 billion and adjusted EPS reached $1.45, beating expectations. The company now expects 7.25%–7.75% organic revenue growth and adjusted EPS of $5.94–$6.00 for the full year. Cardiovascular led operating momentum, with revenue up 19% and Cardiac Ablation Solutions surging 88% globally and 139% in the U.S., driven by Sphere-9 and Affera adoption. CRM also grew 15% and gained global market share. Medtronic continues investing in growth, including its Hugo surgical-robotics platform and a $700 million Cornerstone Robotics agreement, while maintaining plans to separate its MiniMed diabetes business before fiscal year-end. Excluding diabetes would improve gross and operating margins but modestly reduce companywide growth.

Medtronic plc has announced a partnership with Cornerstone Robotics, committing about US$700 million to secure distribution rights for Cornerstone's Sentire surgical system in select markets outside the U.S., where it will complement Medtronic's Hugo robotic-assisted surgery platform. This move broadens Medtronic's robotic surgery offerings, providing hospitals and surgeons with more choices across complementary platforms that integrate into the company's connected surgical ecosystem, potentially boosting adoption of minimally invasive procedures. The partnership adds to Medtronic's investment narrative, which already includes a US$0.72 quarterly dividend and 49 consecutive years of increases, highlighting a balance between innovation spending and shareholder returns. However, the deal does not fundamentally alter the main risk that large new platforms may scale slower or cost more than expected. Medtronic's narrative projects US$41.5 billion revenue and US$6.6 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 4.5% yearly revenue growth and a roughly US$1.8 billion earnings increase from US$4.8 billion today, with a fair value estimate of US$98.00, an 8% upside to its current price.

Medtronic reported first quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $9.8 billion, up 13.7% as reported and organically, and raised its full-year guidance. The company's non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.45 beat expectations, while GAAP EPS was $1.14. Medtronic now expects fiscal 2027 organic revenue growth of 7.25% to 7.75%, up from prior guidance of 6.75% to 7.25%, and non-GAAP EPS of $5.94 to $6.00. Growth was broad-based, with the Cardiovascular portfolio up 18.9% organically, Neuroscience up 9.3%, Medical Surgical up 10.2%, and Diabetes up 14.9%. The company also announced strategic investments and partnerships, including an investment in Pi-Cardia and a partnership with Cornerstone Robotics, and completed acquisitions of Scientia Vascular and SPR Therapeutics.

SS Innovations International announced that its SSi Mantra surgical robotic system was used in more than 50 procedures in a single day at Mohak Bariatrics and Robotics in Indore, India, highlighting growing clinical adoption. The company has installed 224 SSi Mantra systems across 12 countries, with 30 systems installed in the second quarter of 2026, exceeding the 25 systems modeled by analysts. Quarterly revenue reached $13.9 million, up 39% year over year, while system sales increased 41% to $12.4 million. FDA review of the SSi Mantra 510(k) application is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027, and European CE marking is targeted for the end of 2026. The company's progress in India provides a strong commercial base as it pursues entry into the U.S. and European markets.

Intuitive Surgical's surging cash generation is giving it a meaningful competitive edge as the robotic surgery leader doubles down on innovation. First-half 2026 free cash flow jumped 71% year over year to $1.8 billion, while cash and investments reached $8.6 billion, providing ample financial flexibility to fund research, manufacturing expansion and shareholder returns without compromising growth initiatives. Management is using that financial strength to widen its technology moat, intentionally growing R&D faster than SG&A, expanding manufacturing capacity, and rolling out more than 100 planned updates for the da Vinci 5 platform. The company is also advancing next-generation programs, including a flexible robotic GI endoscope, while supporting innovation across AI, robotics, imaging and advanced materials. Alongside these investments, ISRG repurchased $379 million of stock during the quarter, underscoring confidence in its long-term outlook. Among peers, Boston Scientific delivered another solid quarter with second-quarter 2026 revenues rising 7.5% to $5.44 billion and adjusted EPS climbing 15% to 86 cents, though management trimmed its full-year outlook due to WATCHMAN and electrophysiology pressures. Medtronic secured an expanded CE Mark for the Affera Mapping and Ablation System with the Sphere-9 catheter to treat ventricular arrhythmias, making it the first all-in-one mapping and ablation, dual-energy catheter approved in Europe for ventricular ablation, and also received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the technology. ISRG shares have lost 34.6% year-to-date compared with the industry's decline of 6.9%, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings implies a 20.3% improvement from the year-ago period.

Johnson & Johnson received FDA 510(k) clearance for MONARCH QUEST 3, the latest software update for its MONARCH Platform for robotically assisted bronchoscopy. The update advances planning, navigation and targeting capabilities, with a focus on supporting clinicians during complex procedures and improving confidence in the early detection of lung cancer. The MONARCH Platform is the first flexible, robotically assisted bronchoscopy platform and provides continuous visualization throughout procedures, including navigation to and biopsy of targets under direct vision. MONARCH QUEST 3 builds on this foundation by enhancing the platform's ability to account for CT-to-body divergence and anatomical changes that may occur during bronchoscopy. The latest release incorporates Polyphonic for MONARCH, Johnson & Johnson's open digital ecosystem, which enables clinicians to review procedural volume data and collaborate through a centralized video library.

Intuitive Surgical announced it will expand its manufacturing presence in Asia Pacific with a new 316,000-square-foot facility in Penang, Malaysia, under a lease agreement with Penang Development Corporation at Bandar Cassia Technology Park. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2028 and create approximately 1,200 highly skilled jobs by 2032, manufacturing surgical instruments and electromechanical devices used with the da Vinci surgical system. Management cited Asia Pacific as a significant growth opportunity given rising adoption of robotic-assisted surgery, and the investment underscores the company's long-term commitment to the region. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project will strengthen Penang's medical technology ecosystem and support its goal of becoming a leading MedTech hub in Southeast Asia. Intuitive Surgical currently has a market capitalization of $137.90 billion.

Intuitive Surgical is rolling out the first phase of more than 100 planned software updates for its da Vinci 5 platform, targeting telepresence, simulation-based training and Care Team workflow. The company submitted multiple innovations for FDA 510(k) clearance, signaling an ongoing stream of capability enhancements rather than a one-time product launch. Its My Intuitive+ integrated offering completed a first wave of renewals in the second quarter with no customer opt-outs, and second-quarter service revenues increased 21% while service revenue per da Vinci system rose 8%. Management believes the layered ecosystem spanning robotics, software, AI, training and workflow optimization can meaningfully differentiate its solutions and reduce total cost of care.

Oppenheimer upgraded Intuitive Surgical from Perform to Outperform and set a $500 price target, implying 24.6% upside. The analysts expect the company to maintain its leading position in robotic surgery despite rising competition, and they see potential in its AI capability stack for surgical data. Intuitive Surgical's second-quarter revenue rose 18.5% year-over-year to $2.89 billion, beating the $2.82 billion consensus, while non-GAAP EPS of $2.80 topped the $2.50 estimate. The stock has dropped 16.8% over the past 52 weeks and is down 29.15% year-to-date, but Wall Street consensus remains a Strong Buy with a $480.93 average target.

Johnson & Johnson received FDA De Novo authorization for its OTTAVA soft-tissue robotic surgery system and advanced a US$5.50 billion talc settlement framework, reshaping its investment narrative. The company also reported strong Q2 2026 results, gained FDA Priority Review for its RYBREVANT FASPRO oncology franchise, and agreed to collaborate with Sail Biomedicines on in vivo CAR-T therapies. These developments, alongside leadership changes in its Innovative Medicine unit and new MedTech and electrophysiology partnerships, highlight a strategic pivot toward higher-growth innovative medicines and medical technologies while addressing legacy legal exposures. The company's narrative projects $120.5 billion revenue and $28.6 billion earnings by 2029, requiring 7.2% yearly revenue growth and a $7.6 billion earnings increase from $21.0 billion today.

Magnendo Corp. has been selected for an award of up to $32 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health under its Autonomous Interventions and Robotics program. The five-year program will support development of Magnendo's next-generation magnetic robotic navigation platform designed to enable autonomous endovascular intervention for stroke. The AIR program aims to catalyze autonomous robotic systems that can perform endovascular stroke interventions with progressively less direct human input, expanding patient access to advanced stroke care. Magnendo, an MIT spinout, has demonstrated preclinical results showing improvements in navigation speed and procedural consistency, and will work with academic, clinical, and industry collaborators to integrate robotics, imaging, and AI into a unified platform.

China's General Administration of Customs reported that in July, China's exports rose 17.8 percent year-on-year, with high-tech goods including industrial robots and 3D printers contributing nearly 60 percent of total export growth. Industrial robot exports increased 13.2 percent to 7.34 billion yuan in July, continuing the trend from 2025, the year China became a net exporter of industrial robots. In the first six months of 2026, China's surgical robot exports surged 3.3 times to 480 million yuan, while exports of cleaning robots and intelligent bionic robots totaled 18.09 billion yuan. In AI products, exports of electronic components and computer parts expanded at double-digit rates, contributing 6.9 percentage points to total export growth, and the six most-used large language models on the OpenRouter platform in July were all open-source models developed in China. As for innovative drugs, Chinese companies signed 81 licensing agreements with foreign partners in 20 countries and territories in the first half of 2026, with the total value of these deals accounting for as much as 80 percent of the full-year 2025 deal value, and innovative drugs under development in China accounted for about 30 percent of the global pipeline, ranking China second in the world.

The global medical robots market is projected to grow from USD 20.6 billion in 2026 to USD 41.7 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 15.1%, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets. Growth is driven by advancements in robotic technologies, rising adoption of minimally invasive procedures, increasing chronic disease burden, and demand for workflow automation. The robotic systems segment is expected to register the highest CAGR, while hospital robotic systems will see the fastest growth by type. Asia Pacific is forecast to be the fastest-growing region, supported by expanding healthcare infrastructure and rising surgical volumes. Key companies include Intuitive Surgical, Stryker, Medtronic, Smith+Nephew, Zimmer Biomet, Siemens Healthineers AG, Johnson & Johnson, CMR Surgical, Globus Medical, and Renishaw Plc.

Tianzhihang announced that its orthopedic surgery planning software has recently obtained a Class III medical device registration certificate issued by the National Medical Products Administration, valid until August 3, 2031. The software is used in conjunction with the company's orthopedic surgical navigation and positioning system to formulate preoperative plans for adult spinal surgery, total knee replacement surgery, and total hip replacement surgery.

Jim Cramer highlighted the FDA's De Novo marketing authorization for Johnson & Johnson's OTTAVA Robotic Surgical System as the catalyst that forced investors to recognize the healthcare giant as a high-tech innovator. The approval, announced on July 22, 2026, covers a range of general upper-abdominal procedures and marks the world's first table-integrated soft-tissue robotic platform. Cramer had been urging investors to accumulate JNJ stock after a strong earnings report that Wall Street initially dismissed, and the OTTAVA news sent the stock surging. He views holding JNJ as a portfolio 'permit' that allows investors to safely own aggressive tech growth while protecting against market pullbacks. Institutional holders control roughly 77% of JNJ shares, with 113 hedge funds holding positions in Q1 2026, and short interest remains minimal at 1.14%.

Stryker Corporation reported second-quarter 2026 sales of US$6,589 million and net income of US$1,276 million, with both basic and diluted EPS from continuing operations rising year-over-year. Management highlighted 9% organic sales growth, progress in recovering from a March cyberattack that disrupted operations, and a slight increase to full-year adjusted EPS guidance while planning to resume share repurchases. The company also announced the US commercial launch of the Mako RPS robotic power system for total knee replacement, alongside record Mako installations during the quarter. Persistent supply chain disruptions and backorders remain a risk, though the results suggest progress without a complete resolution.

SS Innovations International is expanding its presence in the global surgical robotics market through its proprietary SSi Mantra robotic surgery platform. More than 200 SSi Mantra systems have been installed worldwide, supporting over 12,000 robotic procedures across more than 170 surgical indications. The company's strategy combines world-class robotic systems, including telesurgery capabilities, with affordability, physician training, and international market expansion. SS Innovations continues pursuing U.S. FDA clearance and European regulatory approvals while building its installed base internationally. Growing demand for minimally invasive surgery and broader access to robotic procedures continues to create opportunities for emerging high-tech medical technology companies.

The global surgical devices market is projected to reach USD 296.76 billion by 2031, up from USD 188.74 billion in 2026, registering a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. The capital equipment segment is expected to record the highest CAGR through 2031, driven by investment in surgical robotic systems, advanced imaging, and digitally enabled operating rooms. Ambulatory surgery centers are forecast to achieve the highest CAGR among end users as more procedures shift to outpatient settings. Asia Pacific is expected to post the fastest regional growth, supported by large patient populations and expanding healthcare infrastructure. Prominent companies in the market include Medtronic, Boston Scientific Corporation, B. Braun SE, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, and Intuitive Surgical Operations.

Smith+Nephew has received De Novo classification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its TESSA Spatial Surgery System, a first-of-its-kind device in a new FDA category for intra-articular orthopedic stereotaxic navigation instruments. The system uses preoperative MR or CT scans with cloud-based deep-learning algorithms on Amazon Web Services and NVIDIA AI infrastructure to generate patient-specific 3D anatomical models, overlaying them onto live 4K arthroscopic video for real-time navigation. Its first indication is femoral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery of the knee, where femoral malposition at 29% and tibial malposition at 11% are among the most common reasons for ACLR failure. The TESSA System will be commercially introduced during Q3 2026 with increased deployment in 2027. The technology was originally developed by Perceive3D S.A., a University of Coimbra spin-off acquired by Smith+Nephew.

Wandercraft announced that Ecuador's health authority ARCSA has cleared its self-balancing rehabilitation exoskeleton Atalante X for use in individuals with spinal cord injuries, stroke-related hemiplegia, and multiple sclerosis. The clearance marks a foundation for the company's broader Latin America expansion strategy, with Atalante X already in use at over 150 clinical and research sites worldwide. La Clínica de Lesiones Deportivas in Quito will be the first center in Ecuador to offer the device, which is the world's first self-balancing, hands-free overground rehabilitation exoskeleton. Wandercraft is also evaluating opportunities in additional regional markets, including Costa Rica and Chile.