Industrial
Johnson & Johnson MedTech unveiled its long-awaited Ottava surgical robot after winning FDA de novo authorization. It’s the world’s first table-integrated, soft-tissue robotics system.
The robot-in-table design is meant to save space in the operating room, with J&J saying its novel architecture takes up 30-50% less space than boom-and-cart systems. “Ottava’s robotic arms are built directly into the operating table and can be tucked beneath it when not in use, reducing friction and opening space to support clinical workflow,” the company says.
“Software, motors and sensors coordinate the system’s four robotic arms, allowing Ottava to move into predefined procedural positions at the push of a button,” the company continued. “By automating portions of setup and breakdown, the system is designed to save time, simplify workflows, and create a more consistent experience for surgical teams.”
At the business end of the robotic arms, J&J says it “reimagined every detail of the most commonly used instruments in robotic surgery,” pointing to two key improvements. Citing a survey that found 83% of surgeons reported at least one inadvertent suture cut per month in their robotic surgeries, J&J developed a two-in-one needle driver with a surgeon-activated “cut only” and “suture only” modes. And citing another survey that found 98% of surgeons reported dull or poorly cutting monopolar scissors (and 30% “experiencing this all or most of the time”), J&J said it used a patented scissor design that “maintains blade alignment for a consistent, complete cut, even when taking small bites during sharp dissection using the distal 1/3 of the jaw.”
Source: The Robot Report