J&J Marks Milestone with First Ottava Robotic Surgeries in Clinical Trial

Johnson & Johnson has successfully completed the first gastric bypass surgeries using its Ottava surgical robot, signaling progress in its clinical trial and bringing the system closer to U.S. market entry. Ottava, J&J’s flagship soft tissue robotic platform, has faced development delays but is now advancing toward a de novo submission to the FDA, following the grant of an investigational device exemption in November.

J&J aims to secure a broad indication for Ottava covering upper abdominal general surgeries, including gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, small bowel resection, and hiatal hernia repair. Ottava features four robotic arms integrated into the operating table, optimizing space and workflow for surgical teams.

Positioned as a key player in J&J’s robotic portfolio, alongside the Monarch and Velys platforms, Ottava targets Intuitive Surgical’s dominance in general robotic surgery. The system also competes with upcoming technologies from Medtronic and smaller innovators like CMR Surgical and Moon Surgical.

22-04-2025