Shaping the Future of Surgery: Key Drivers and Challenges in the Surgical Robotics Space
As medicine and technology continue to evolve, surgical robotics stands at the forefront of the two, promising unparalleled precision and efficiency in procedures. Uncovering the key growth factors driving innovation and the potential barriers that may shape the industry’s trajectory in the years ahead, I (Tanya Ridding, Global Director – Medical Devices & Technology at Invenia Group) interviewed three senior leaders in the space to gain valuable perspectives on the future landscape of surgical robotics.
Jaume Amat is the Chief Executive Officer at Rob Surgical, with a long-track record in start-ups, being directly involved in creating a number of companies, including more than 10 across the biotech and medtech sectors. Founded in 2012, Rob Surgical has proposed to universalize high-precision surgery with a new efficiency approach where precision and safety are a must and that allows for a wider range of surgical procedures and reach an unbeatable balance between added value and cost.
Jerry Chen is the Chief Executive Officer at Brain Navi Biotechnology, who in 2015, established Brain Navi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Brain Navi Biotechnology focuses on innovative navigation system of brain surgery, and was actually announced as one of the winners of National Innovation Award in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Greg Roche is the Chief Executive Officer at Distalmotion and an experienced medical device executive with a demonstrated history of building high-performance cultures. Distalmotion is a medical device company founded in Lausanne, Switzerland with a mission to empower robotic surgery to more hospitals, surgeons, and patients worldwide.
In recent interviews, I asked these senior leaders what they thought the biggest growth factors will be for the surgical robotics space.
According to the CEO of Rob Surgical, the potential for growth lies in the ability to innovate beyond the established norms. “The market will grow,” he says, emphasizing that the current momentum is fuelled by the push from medical professionals who recognize the value of robotics in enhancing surgical outcomes.
However, the key to sustaining this growth lies in differentiation. The market leader, Intuitive, with its Da Vinci system, has set a high standard, making it challenging for new entrants to carve out a niche. “If you try to provide the same products as Intuitive, everyone will always prefer the market leader because they are doing a good job at what they do,” he explains. This highlights the necessity for companies like Rob Surgical to identify unique market opportunities and offer distinct value propositions.
One of the most promising areas for growth is the integration of digital surgery, AI, big data, and real-time feedback into the operating room. While some companies are already incorporating aspects of these technologies, there is a critical gap between their potential and practical application. “The challenge is how you integrate these technologies in a way that is truly useful and powerful for surgeons,” the CEO points out. The focus should be on leveraging these innovations to enhance the safety and performance of surgeries, ensuring that the technology addresses the actual needs of surgeons rather than being driven by what companies perceive as “sexy” features.
Rob Surgical is tackling these challenges head-on with its unique selling propositions (USPs). The company aims to match the performance of market leaders by offering a system with four robotic arms and precision instruments, but with a key difference: an open platform. “Our open platform allows us to integrate new technologies quickly, making it particularly appealing for smaller hospitals,” says the CEO. This flexibility also enables Rob Surgical to introduce a new business model, where their robots can be portable, moving seamlessly between different operating rooms and even hospitals.
Moreover, their system is designed with user experience in mind. Surgeons can choose in real-time when to deploy the robot during surgery, allowing for a blend of conventional and robotic techniques. “We designed our robot with a fast, easy docking approach, using conventional trocars, so it can move seamlessly from laparoscopy to robotic,” he adds. This not only reduces setup time but also shortens the training process, making advanced robotic surgery more accessible to smaller hospitals.
In summary, while the surgical robotics space is ripe with growth opportunities, companies must navigate significant barriers. Differentiation from established players, meaningful integration of cutting-edge technologies, and an emphasis on practical usability are crucial for success over the next 12 months. Rob Surgical is positioning itself to meet these challenges, offering a versatile and accessible solution that could redefine the landscape of surgical robotics. – Jaume Amat, Rob Surgical
“Our experiences as surgeons are still very important; the technique, the usability, and the ease of understanding are crucial. We must develop surgical robots that surgeons love to use, so they can advocate for their adoption. Intuitive has long dominated the global market, with the Da Vinci robot being a renowned system, primarily focused on more general surgeries. I believe the future will trend towards patient and therapy-specific robots, as that is where a robotic system can add significant value.
An example of the importance of robotic surgeries is illustrated in the case of intracranial haemorrhage during surgery. Typically, if the bleed is less than 30 mL, we don’t intervene; we monitor the patient and wait for reabsorption. However, this can delay the return of the patient’s muscle power function, and in some cases, it may never return to pre-surgical levels. We have developed a method to aspirate using a needle in the blood clot through our platform in ICH cases. In over 40 cases, we had no complications or delayed bleeds, and the vast majority of patients regained full muscle power function within 24 hours and were able to stand up the same day they had surgery. This represents a significant difference in patient outcomes and demonstrates where doctors and robots must act as one to create a new future and a new standard for surgical treatment.” – Jerry Chen, Brain Navi
“The primary driver of growth in the robotic surgery field is a broadening market stratification, which enables expanded access to surgical robotics by addressing traditional barriers such as cost, complexity, workflow disruption, and space constraints in operating rooms. As technology and competition in the field evolve, we’ll continue to see greater segmentation—a tailored approach where the right robot serves the right site of care and right procedure type.
One significant shift is the increasing demand for robotic surgery beyond traditional hospital settings and into Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and outpatient environments (HOPDs), especially for high-volume, lower-acuity procedures. Dexter’s mobile and small-form-factor design makes it especially suited to these settings, where operating rooms are often smaller or space-constrained. Designed for simplicity, Dexter integrates seamlessly into existing workflows with minimal disruption, enabling surgical teams to work within a familiar environment, while quickly setting up the system for full operation within minutes—bringing all core benefits of robotic precision without unnecessary complexity.
Training requirements can also pose a barrier to wider adoption in the robotics space, as robotic surgery demands specialized skills beyond those in traditional surgical techniques. Unique to Dexter, surgeons can remain sterile at the console, maintaining immediate access to the patient as in a standard laparoscopic setup. This sterility offers greater comfort and confidence, allowing surgeons to access the patient within seconds if needed. This also supports a gradual transition to robotic surgery; surgeons can begin by operating robotically during selected steps of a procedure, and expand its use as they grow familiar, ultimately progressing to full robotic procedures. This adaptable learning curve eases training demands, making robotic adoption accessible across different surgeons, procedures, and sites of care.
Another growth factor in robotic surgery is the rise of collaborations between robotics companies, medical device manufacturers, digital innovators, and healthcare institutions. These partnerships drive innovation, ultimately benefiting healthcare providers by delivering high-quality systems optimized for patient care. With Dexter, we’ve designed an open system focused on delivering the core advantages of robotics—working in confined spaces with wristed instrumentation that enhances tasks such as suturing and dissection. As an open-platform, Dexter allows surgeons to integrate their preferred tools and technologies, whether in stapling, advanced energy devices, or enhanced visualization, enabling them to provide patients with best-in-class minimally invasive care.”
– Greg Roche, Distalmotion
I also dove into potential barriers for the industry over the next 12 months.
“When it comes to potential growth barriers for the robotics space, increasingly hospital buying decisions are becoming progressively more complex. A combination of stronger budgetary constraints due to a tough economic climate, and more complex decision-making processes involving more and more stakeholders results in more complex, time-consuming buying decisions and therefore, longer sales cycles.
– Greg Roche, Distalmotion
“The challenge remains pricing; people desire surgical robots, but they are not inexpensive. We need to determine how to reach a solution that works for hospitals. Additionally, there is the lengthy sales cycle and complex negotiation process, which means it can take a considerable amount of time for new companies in the space to become operational, especially for those based in Asia and entering the European and US markets. We have cultural differences in business and healthcare that we need to better understand to smooth these differences and meet our customers’ needs effectively.
There can also be pushback or resistance to change and new technologies, but the future is a collaborative effort between doctors and robots—regardless of the procedure type—and this collaboration will advance the future of surgery. Twenty-five years ago, everyone was performing open surgeries, and then minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries became the gold standard and later the norm. Change can happen, and we need to embrace it.” – Jerry Chen, Brain Navi
Thank you to Jaume, Greg and Jerry for your valuable insights.
