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Helping surgeons navigate the next era of surgery
Surgical technology coverage, bridging the gap between cutting-edge engineering and clinical excellence.
Latest Articles
Explore in-depth articles on the latest surgical innovations and clinical excellence.
Surgical Data Science: Teaching Every Operation to Make the Next One Better
Every operation generates more data than anyone in the room can use. Vitals. Instrument movements. Camera footage. Team communication. Most of it disappears the moment the case ends. Surgical data science exists to change that. The short definition Surgical data science is the field that captures, organizes, and models data from surgical procedures to improve care. It was formalized in 2015, when an international group of researchers founded the Surgical Data Science Initiati
22 hours ago3 min read
Skills of the Future: The Judgment Gap
Look at every surgical robot the FDA has cleared. A pattern jumps out. Almost all of them sit at the lowest rung of autonomy. They do exactly what the surgeon tells them, moment to moment. A small number can execute a preplanned task on their own. Fewer still can adjust that plan in real time. None, so far, can plan and carry out a full sequence of surgical steps without a human in the loop. That gap between what robots can execute and what surgeons must still decide isn't a
7 days ago3 min read
Ottava vs. da Vinci 5: the first real challenger in 20 years
For twenty years, robotic soft-tissue surgery had one name. On July 22, 2026, that changed. J&J's Ottava received FDA de novo authorization. Not a niche entrant. A real alternative. A fundamental design break Da Vinci 5 is an evolution. Ottava is a reset. Intuitive still wheels in a cart and tower, positioned and calibrated before each case. Ottava builds four arms into the table itself, hidden until needed. No cart. No external footprint. J&J claims a 30 to 50 percent smalle
Jul 312 min read
Weekly Brief
Stay ahead of advancements with our concise surgical digest.
OTTAVA Receives FDA Approval, Reshaping Surgical Robotics
For years, one company defined robotic surgery. That changed this week. From a landmark FDA authorization to advances in AI-powered surgical assistance, these are the five developments that mattered most in surgical innovation this week. 1. Johnson & Johnson Enters the U.S. Robotic Surgery Market Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson's OTTAVA received FDA authorization for soft tissue surgery, marking the company's official entry into the U.S. robotic surgery market. The table-
Jul 262 min read
Next-Gen Surgical Care
Latest News
Explore the latest news in surgical innovation and workflows.
Surgical Data Science: Teaching Every Operation to Make the Next One Better
Every operation generates more data than anyone in the room can use. Vitals. Instrument movements. Camera footage. Team communication. Most of it disappears the moment the case ends. Surgical data science exists to change that. The short definition Surgical data science is the field that captures, organizes, and models data from surgical procedures to improve care. It was formalized in 2015, when an international group of researchers founded the Surgical Data Science Initiati
22 hours ago3 min read
Skills of the Future: The Judgment Gap
Look at every surgical robot the FDA has cleared. A pattern jumps out. Almost all of them sit at the lowest rung of autonomy. They do exactly what the surgeon tells them, moment to moment. A small number can execute a preplanned task on their own. Fewer still can adjust that plan in real time. None, so far, can plan and carry out a full sequence of surgical steps without a human in the loop. That gap between what robots can execute and what surgeons must still decide isn't a
7 days ago3 min read
Ottava vs. da Vinci 5: the first real challenger in 20 years
For twenty years, robotic soft-tissue surgery had one name. On July 22, 2026, that changed. J&J's Ottava received FDA de novo authorization. Not a niche entrant. A real alternative. A fundamental design break Da Vinci 5 is an evolution. Ottava is a reset. Intuitive still wheels in a cart and tower, positioned and calibrated before each case. Ottava builds four arms into the table itself, hidden until needed. No cart. No external footprint. J&J claims a 30 to 50 percent smalle
Jul 312 min read
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