Johnson & Johnson has received FDA approval for its Ottava robotic surgical system for soft-tissue procedures. The approval allows J&J to enter a fast-growing market dominated by Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system. Ottava's design integrates robotic arms into the operating table, potentially saving 30-50% of the space used by competitors and allowing use in more hospitals. The approval follows over a decade of development for J&J's medtech business.
FDA approval for Ottava system
- ▪Johnson & Johnson will begin a U.S. commercial launch of the Ottava system with select customers
- ▪Johnson & Johnson received U.S. Food and Drug Administration marketing authorization for its Ottava robotic surgery device on July 22, 2026
- ▪The Ottava system is authorized for use in general surgery procedures in the upper abdomen, including gastric bypass and gallbladder removal
- ▪The approval for the Ottava device followed more than a decade of research and years of delays
Robotic surgery market competition
- ▪The robotic-assisted surgery market is currently dominated by Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system
- ▪Medtronic's Hugo robot, another competitor in the market, was approved in 2025
- ▪The FDA authorization allows Johnson & Johnson to enter the soft-tissue robotic surgery market, one of the fastest-growing areas of surgery
Ottava technical specifications
- ▪The Ottava system's design may allow it to be used in operating rooms that could not previously accommodate a robotic system
- ▪The Ottava device occupies 30% to 50% less space than traditional boom-and-cart-mounted systems
- ▪The Ottava system's robotic arms are integrated directly into the operating table
Impella heart pump sales decline
- ▪Johnson & Johnson's medical device unit missed quarterly sales estimates the week prior to July 22, 2026
- ▪The sales miss was linked to lower demand for its Impella heart pumps after a UK study questioned their use in some procedures
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