Breaking: Intuitive goes in on Cardiac Surgery... again

Since Gary Guthart at JPM put up a slide saying "cardiac" but don't count on it. I've been counting the days to when they would gear up in cardiac and come full circle.

With the announcement of Darla Hutton as GVP Cardiac Surgery so close to the Intuitive Ventures announcement on Capstan Medical - and endo cardiac robotic valves... well

I throw in my own research I did here on Intuitive and Cardiac (back in January) https://www.howtostartupinmedtech.com/post/exclusive-the-next-big-areas-for-intuitive

And well - I'm putting 1 +1 and making 10 (so forgive me if I'm wrong)

This makes utter sense to me that Intuitive also go deep back into Cardiac. In some small way to stave off companies like SS Innovations and their push into cardiac. But also to take the fight to Johnson & Johnson and especially Medtronic (read my article) where cardiac is a strong leverage both companies have in the contracting game.

If #intuitive do push for cardiac surgery - expect to see the imminent launch of some new force feedback cardiac specific instruments. Why? In my mind force feedback will be super well suited to the delicate cardiac work - and it carries a high price premium for cases so if any specialty can absorb the 28% instrument differential it will be Cardiac. Plus you need some specialist instruments in this area. Micro Linear cuter technology that would be ideal for an SP could be morphed into a linear anastomotic coupler / stapler. Same tech just a tad smaller...

Plus you start to combine ION capabilities in the Thoracic - (Cardio Thoracic still in much of the world) and it has business sense too. Then bring in some endovascular robotics - and you have hit critical mass and need a heavy hitting GVP like Darla to drive this.

ALL speculation on my part - but anyone talking this bet??