2026 Predictions in Soft Tissue Surgical Robotics

Welcome to the blogs for 2026 - and I'm starting off with a video blog (1 of 3) that is looking towards what will be happening in 2026 with the soft tissue surgical robots. To be specific the laparoscopic soft tissue robots.

I predict it will be another big year; and we already started with Johnson & Johnson filing to FDA for the de Novo of their Ottava bed based surgical robot. And straight on the back of that they announced an investment into Distal Motion and Dexter which is making traction in the USA within the ASC market. And let's not forget they did drop cash into Ronovo for a China play back in late 2025... so exciting times. I will cover this in the video.

I have a round up of the big three leading with Intuitive and their tech stack they will drive in 2026, followed by the second big player that can now go commercial in the USA - Medtronic with their modular system Hugo Ras. Watchg out for that commercial race. I cover the next group of robots and widen a bit to cover everything outside of the USA. FACT: China has done more telesurgery cases than all the other countries put together.

And I do drop a cryptic hint at two massive Chinese companies that have been working in stealth on robots - so watch this space.

Honourable mentions to Single Port, Telesurgery, AI and siumulation for 2026.

Watch the full video here or on YouTube.

As always - these are just my opinions and purely for education purposes only.