Medtronic invests $700M in Cornerstone Robotics to expand robotic surgery access

Global healthcare technology leader Medtronic has entered a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Robotics, a company dedicated to advancing minimally invasive surgery. The partnership involves an investment of approximately $700 million, granting Medtronic the rights to distribute Cornerstone Robotics’ Sentire™ surgical system in select markets outside the United States.

This move will complement Medtronic's existing Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system, creating a more comprehensive portfolio of robotic solutions. Together, these platforms aim to expand access to robotic-assisted surgery and provide surgeons and health systems with greater choice and flexibility to meet diverse clinical needs.

Currently, global adoption of robotic-assisted surgery remains limited, with only a single-digit percentage of surgeries utilizing such technology. Expanding access and choice is crucial for the future of robotic-assisted surgery, and this partnership marks a significant step toward achieving that goal.

"Surgeons, health systems, and markets have varying needs and preferences, which is why we are investing across robotic platforms, digital tools, and platform-enhancing technologies," said Matt Anderson, senior vice president and president of Medtronic's Surgical division. "With Sentire complementing the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic will be the only company offering this two-platform portfolio combined with our surgical ecosystem, providing customers with more access, more choice, and flexible solutions that fit their clinical and operational needs."

The Hugo RAS system, which has been gaining momentum, is now used in more than 35 countries across six continents. Procedure growth for the Hugo RAS system has exceeded twice the growth rate of the robotic surgery market, with total procedures expected to surpass 50,000 by the end of Medtronic's fiscal year. Medtronic continues to innovate the capabilities of the Hugo RAS system, including ongoing software upgrades, real-time artificial intelligence, integrated stapling, expanded instrumentation, and clinical indications.

The Sentire system, developed entirely in-house by Cornerstone Robotics, offers a familiar configuration with dual-console capability, making it suitable for various surgeon preferences and clinical needs. The Sentire system has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and received CE Mark in May 2026, making it eligible for use in minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic, and urologic surgical procedures in Europe and the United States. It has also been approved for use in China and Singapore.

"Since the founding of Cornerstone Robotics, we have been committed to innovation, excellence, and clinical value," said Samuel Au, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics. "We are confident that physicians and patients alike will be the greatest beneficiaries of this partnership as we continue to expand access across this dynamic market."

This strategic alliance is part of Medtronic's ongoing efforts to enhance its surgical ecosystem and provide more patients with access to advanced surgical care. The partnership will help to build a multi-platform portfolio anchored by the Hugo RAS system and expanded by the Sentire system, offering customers meaningful flexibility across clinical settings, procedural needs, and economic models.

The partnership is supported by financial advisors Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and legal counsel from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Kirkland & Ellis. Medtronic is headquartered in Galway, Ireland, and is the leading global healthcare technology company with a mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life.