GALWAY, Ireland — Medtronic plc has entered into a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Robotics to expand global access to advanced minimally invasive surgical technologies. Backed by an investment of approximately $700 million, the agreement grants Medtronic distribution rights for Cornerstone’s Sentire surgical system in select international markets outside the United States where the system has secured regulatory clearance.
Expanding Clinical Choice Across Global Markets
Under the agreement, Medtronic will commercialize the Sentire system alongside its proprietary Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) platform. Together with Medtronic’s broader connected surgical ecosystem, the dual-platform strategy is structured to give health systems, hospitals, and surgeons greater flexibility across clinical settings, procedural requirements, and economic models.
The partnership directly addresses a significant global market opportunity: currently, adoption of robotic-assisted surgery worldwide remains in the single digits. Providing a broader range of robotic choices and digital tools is viewed by both companies as a critical driver to accelerate adoption and reach more patients globally.
Capabilities of the Sentire Surgical System
The Sentire surgical system—developed entirely in-house by Cornerstone Robotics—is built around an open architecture and an immersive dual-console setup designed to accommodate varied surgeon preferences and clinical workflows.
The platform has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and obtained European CE Mark approval in May 2026 for general, thoracic, and urologic minimally invasive procedures. Sentire also holds regulatory market clearances in China and Singapore, with manufacturing backed by Cornerstone’s 30,000-square-meter facility in China.
Hugo RAS Momentum and Pipeline Enhancements
The addition of Sentire expands on the commercial momentum of Medtronic’s modular, multi-quadrant Hugo RAS platform. The Hugo system is currently utilized across more than 35 countries on six continents, following its recent U.S. FDA clearance. Procedure growth for Hugo is pacing at more than double the overall market growth rate for robotic surgery, with cumulative global procedures projected to top 50,000 cases by the end of Medtronic’s current fiscal year.
Medtronic continues to expand Hugo’s capabilities through ongoing software upgrades, real-time artificial intelligence integrated across its Touch Surgery digital ecosystem, expanded instrumentation, integrated stapling, and additional clinical indication approvals.
Leadership Perspectives
“Our strategy is focused on driving the next generation of minimally invasive surgery, one of our biggest growth opportunities,” said Matt Anderson, Senior Vice President and President, Surgical at Medtronic. “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. With Sentire complementing the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic will be the only company offering this two-platform portfolio combined with our surgical ecosystem.”
“Since the founding of Cornerstone Robotics, we have been steadfast in our commitment to innovation excellence and clinical value,” stated Samuel Au, Founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics. “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.”
