Hong Kong, September 1, 2026
Cornerstone Robotics and Medtronic have entered into a strategic partnership designed to expand global access to robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) and minimally invasive surgical technologies. Under the agreement, Medtronic will make an approximately US$700 million strategic investment in Cornerstone Robotics and obtain rights to distribute Cornerstone Robotics’ Sentire™ Surgical System in selected markets outside the United States where the system has received applicable market approval. The partnership combines Cornerstone Robotics’ surgical robotics technology and vertically integrated research and development capabilities with Medtronic’s established global healthcare infrastructure, creating a broader portfolio of robotic-assisted surgical platforms for hospitals, health systems and surgeons. The companies said the collaboration is intended to address the continuing gap between demand for minimally invasive surgery and access to advanced robotic technologies worldwide.
$700 Million Investment Strengthens Robotic Surgery Portfolio
The approximately $700 million investment represents a major strategic step in the expansion of robotic-assisted surgery. Medtronic will distribute the Sentire surgical system alongside its existing Hugo™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery system, giving healthcare providers access to complementary robotic platforms designed to accommodate different clinical environments, procedural requirements and economic considerations. Medtronic said global adoption of robotic-assisted surgery remains in the single digits, indicating substantial potential for broader utilization. By combining Cornerstone Robotics’ technology development capabilities with Medtronic’s international commercial reach, the companies aim to accelerate the availability of robotic-assisted procedures and provide healthcare systems with greater choice in selecting surgical technology. The partnership also builds on Medtronic’s expanding Hugo RAS platform. According to Medtronic, Hugo is currently used in more than 35 countries across six continents, and the company expects procedures performed using the system to exceed 50,000 globally by the end of its fiscal year. Medtronic continues to develop Hugo through software upgrades, real-time artificial intelligence capabilities within its digital ecosystem, integrated stapling, expanded instrumentation and additional clinical indications. The company intends for Sentire to complement these capabilities rather than replace its existing robotic platform, creating a multi-platform strategy for robotic-assisted surgery.
Sentire Gains Global Expansion Opportunity
Cornerstone Robotics has developed the Sentire Surgical System through an in-house technology platform encompassing hardware, control software, advanced algorithms, imaging and energy technologies. The company’s vertically integrated approach is intended to provide greater control over product integration, quality and supply-chain resilience. Sentire has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and has secured regulatory market access in several regions. The system received National Medical Products Administration approval in China in 2024, followed by CE Mark certification in the European Union and approval from Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority in May 2026. These approvals cover minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic and urologic surgical procedures. The Sentire platform features an immersive surgical console and dual-console capability, supporting different surgeon preferences and operating-room requirements. Its planned distribution through Medtronic could substantially increase the system’s reach in approved international markets, while also giving Medtronic another robotic-assisted surgery platform within its broader connected surgical ecosystem. For Cornerstone Robotics, the agreement provides access to Medtronic’s global commercial capabilities while supporting the company’s objective of scaling its surgical robotics technology beyond its existing markets.
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Partnership Targets Wider Access to Minimally Invasive Care
The collaboration reflects the growing role of robotic surgery and medical-device innovation in minimally invasive care. Robotic-assisted platforms can provide surgeons with advanced visualization, instrument control and technology-assisted procedural capabilities, while healthcare systems increasingly evaluate these technologies based on clinical requirements, operational efficiency and economic considerations. The partnership between Cornerstone Robotics and Medtronic is therefore positioned around both technology development and global commercialization, rather than a single product launch. For cGxP.wire readers, the agreement is significant because it demonstrates how medical-device companies are combining regulatory-cleared technologies, clinical development, manufacturing capabilities and global distribution partnerships to expand access to advanced surgical care. The transaction also highlights the importance of regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions before robotic surgical systems can be commercialized in individual markets. As Medtronic and Cornerstone Robotics advance their collaboration, the distribution of Sentire in additional approved markets could contribute to broader adoption of robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgery worldwide.
Source: Cornerstone Robotics, Medtronic press release
