
The Robots are Coming; Johnson & Johnson Plans to Start Surgical Trials on OTTAVA in 2024
11-7-23 (by: Scott Gleason) Johnson & Johnson MedTech has unveiled its plans to submit the OTTAVA robotic surgical system for an investigational device exemption (IDE) application to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2024 marking the beginning of clinical trials on the product. Surgical robots have been a hot topic in medical technology with far and away market leader Intuitive Surgical continuing to experience strong growth, and other entrants such as Medtronic who is working on its Hugo Robotic Assisted Surgical Tool. In addition a number of smaller companies are developing technologies and major orthopedic and cardiovascular are increasingly adding robotic techniques to surgery.
According to Johnson & Johnson, the OTTAVA robotic surgical system aims to transform the surgical experience by providing numerous benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals. The core principles behind OTTAVA include creating more space in the operating room, streamlining complex workflows, enabling greater clinical flexibility, and leveraging existing Ethicon instrumentation. The device incorporates four robotic arms into a standard-size surgical table. This unified architecture ensures that the robotic arms are readily available when needed and can be stowed under the surgical table when not in use. Of note, the companies instrument will offer a “twin motion” feature, which allows unified movement of the table and robotic arms. This innovation is designed to address the clinical need to move the patients without interrupting surgical procedures.
Once authorized for commercial launch, OTTAVA will join Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s portfolio of commercially available robotic systems, including the MONARCH Platform and the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution. MONARCH is a flexible robotic arm for urology (kidney stones) and bronchoscopy (biopsy of lung nodules). VELYS is the company’s robotic assisted knee replacement technology.
Hani Abouhalka, Company Group Chairman, Robotics & Digital at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, emphasized the company’s commitment to improving the surgical experience: “We believe the future of surgery is personal. Starting with the human impact – the connection between the patient, surgeon, and OR staff – we are unlocking what science and technology can do to improve the surgical experience and health outcomes for everyone involved. OTTAVA is designed to consistently deliver this experience in any OR globally.”