Robotic surgery used to be fodder for science fiction movies. Not anymore. They are becoming more mainstream by the day. While fully autonomous surgeries in the medical sector are not yet a reality, the field is evolving quickly. Currently, robotics are being used to augment the surgeon’s abilities to perform more accurate, safe, and efficient surgeries. That’s why they are called robotic-assisted surgeries. Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG) has been at the forefront of robotic-assisted surgeries with its da Vinci system since 2001. Their machines provide surgeons with precision, non-tremble robotics, and enhanced vision and lighting to perform nearly flawless outpatient surgeries. Two companies are beefing up their robotic surgery portfolios to challenge Intuitive Surgical’s dominance.

Medtronic: Leading Medical Device Maker Embraces Robotics 

Medtronic PLC (NYSE: MDT) is synonymous with medical devices for chronic conditions like diabetes, pain disorders, and pulmonary diseases. The company is well-known for its extensive lineup of cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, MRI-compatible devices, and patient monitoring solutions.

Medtronic has built a complete infrastructure around robotic surgery with its Touch Surgery Ecosystem, which is a suite of tools aimed at improving robotic surgical onboarding, training, and procedures.

The Touch Surgery Enterprise is an AI-powered platform that provides performance insights and analysis of surgical videos taken during surgical procedures. It also processes live streams of surgeries and simulations and full mobile app access.

Hugo and Mazor X Robotic Surgery Systems

The company designed the Hugo Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) systems for surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures. Unlike Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci, this system is portable in that it can be moved between operating rooms and is compact enough for storage. Da Vinci systems require a dedicated surgical suite. The Hugo provides 3D HD vision and includes secure video recording. However, the system is not yet FDA-approved for use on patients.

Medtronic acquired Mazor Robotics in 2018 for $1.64 billion to acquire the Mazor X robotic guidance system for spine surgery. It helps surgeons plan out and execute complex spinal procedures like spinal fusion, degenerative disc disease (DGD), spinal tumors, and scoliosis with more precision and accuracy. Medtronic will be submitting its Hugo RAS system to the FDA for urology indication in early 2025.

Zimmer Biomet: Rise of the Robots Meets the Terminator  

Medical technology company Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ZBH) develops and manufactures musculoskeletal and orthopedic products, including knee and hip replacement implants and systems. Zimmer also appointed Arnold Schwarzenegger as its Chief Movement Officer. Its flagship robotic surgical system is called ROSA. It's a one-arm robotic system specifically designed for knee, shoulder, partial knee and hip surgeries. The ROSA ONE Brain is its robotic neurosurgery system. It’s also designed Walter, a robot-assisted spinal surgery system.

ROSA Robotic Assisted Surgery Systems are FDA Approved

The ROSA robotic systems are designed to assist surgeons in performing minimally invasive procedures with more precision and accuracy. They enable smaller incisions for fewer tissue disruptions, which can lead to faster recovery times and fewer complications. Every system provides real-time data during surgery to aid in decision-making and ultimately improve outcomes. All the ROSA robotic systems have been FDA-approved. The company recently acquired OrthoGrid Systems, which focused on AI-driven surgical guidance systems for total hip replacement. The company plans to launch three new indications in the next 18 to 36 months for its ROSA franchise.

Zimmer Biomet CEO Ivan Tornos commented, “Finally, Zimmer Biomet is the only orthopedic company offering both a CT scanless robotic system in ROSA. And through our recent partnership with THINK Surgical we also offered a smaller footprint, handheld CT scan-based system in Tamini. So, when it comes to navigation and robotics, we have the most comprehensive suite of solutions.

Beyond all of this, we’re expecting to launch a catering of new robotic applications in the short to midterm with and without CT scan capabilities as well as other differentiated features.”