Key points from article :
Johnson & Johnson MedTech has completed the first clinical cases using its new Ottava surgical robot, according to an announcement published by the company. Dr. Erik Wilson, chief of minimally invasive and elective general surgery at UT Health Houston, performed the procedures—a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass—at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Wilson praised Ottava’s potential to advance minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Ottava is a multi-specialty soft-tissue surgical robot designed to improve flexibility, collaboration, and adaptability in the operating room. Unlike traditional robots, it integrates four robotic arms directly into a standard surgical table, allowing the arms to be stowed away when not in use. Johnson & Johnson plans to use data from the ongoing clinical study to support a future submission for FDA de novo authorization, targeting procedures such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, small bowel resection, and hiatal hernia repair.
Development of Ottava has been underway for several years, with early plans announced in 2020. After delays and design updates, the company secured FDA approval in late 2024 to begin clinical evaluations. Dr. Peter Schulam, chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, emphasized that generating clinical evidence is crucial to advancing robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.
