Insider Brief
- Medtronic is investing about $700 million in Cornerstone Robotics and gaining rights to distribute the Chinese company’s Sentire surgical system in selected markets outside the U.S. where it is approved.
- Medtronic plans to offer Sentire alongside its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system, creating a two-platform portfolio as the company targets growth in minimally invasive surgery.
- Sentire received CE Mark approval in May 2026 for general gynecologic thoracic and urologic procedures and is also approved in China and Singapore while Hugo is used in more than 35 countries across six continents.
Medtronic is investing about $700 million in Chinese surgical robotics company Cornerstone Robotics as part of a strategic partnership that gives Medtronic rights to distribute Cornerstone’s Sentire surgical system in selected markets outside the U.S. where it has regulatory approval.
The American-Irish medical device company said it will distribute Cornerstone’s Sentire alongside its existing Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system, giving hospitals and surgeons access to two multi-port robotic platforms through the company’s surgical ecosystem.
Medtronic said robotic-assisted surgery still accounts for a single-digit share of surgical procedures globally and Matt Anderson, senior vice president and president of surgical with Medtronic, noted that the company sees growth potential in the area of minimally invasive surgery.
“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,” Anderson said. “With Sentire complementing the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic will be the only company offering this two-platform portfolio combined with our surgical ecosystem –giving customers more access, more choice, and flexible solutions that fit their clinical and operational needs.”
Medtronic’s Hugo
Medtronic noted that the agreement builds on its Hugo system, which is now used in more than 35 countries across six continents. Hugo received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance within the past year, according to Medtronic.
The company said procedures performed with Hugo are growing at more than twice the rate of the broader robotic surgery market and are expected to surpass 50,000 globally by the end of Medtronic’s fiscal year.
Medtronic plans to continue adding capabilities to Hugo, including software upgrades, real-time AI across its digital ecosystem, integrated stapling, additional instruments and expanded clinical indications. The modular system is designed for a range of soft-tissue procedures and combines wristed instruments, 3D visualization and Medtronic’s Touch Surgery digital platform.
Cornerstone’s Sentire
Cornerstone’s Sentire system adds a second robotic platform to that portfolio. Medtronic said Sentire uses an immersive console and supports dual-console operation, allowing two surgeons to work from separate control stations.
Cornerstone reported it developed Sentire in-house and has completed clinical trials across multiple surgical specialties. The system received CE Mark approval in May 2026 for minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic and urologic procedures, according to Medtronic. It is also approved in China and Singapore.
“Since the founding of Cornerstone Robotics, we have been steadfast in our commitment to innovation, excellence and clinical value,” add Cornerstone founder and CEO Samuel Au. “We are confident physicians and patients alike will be the greatest beneficiaries of this partnership as we continue to expand access across this dynamic market.”
