Medtronic Announces $700 Million Cornerstone Robotics Partnership

Medtronic plc (MDT ) announced on September 1, 2026, a strategic partnership with Cornerstone Robotics, a surgical robotics company focused on minimally invasive surgery, structured as an approximately $700 million investment that includes rights to distribute Cornerstone Robotics’ Sentire surgical system in select markets outside the United States where the system is market approved, according to the company’s announcement.

Under the partnership, Medtronic will distribute Sentire alongside its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. Medtronic said the two complementary platforms, combined with its connected surgical ecosystem, are designed to expand access to robotic-assisted surgery and offer surgeons and health systems more choice and flexible solutions.

Medtronic said global adoption of robotic-assisted surgery remains in the single digits, and the company described expanded choice and access as critical drivers of the future of robotic-assisted surgery. The companies said the partnership builds a multi-port portfolio anchored by the Hugo RAS system and expanded by Sentire, intended to give customers flexibility across clinical settings, procedural needs, and economic models.

“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, Medtronic. He said surgeons, health systems, and markets have varying needs and preferences, which is why the company is investing across robotic platforms, digital tools, and platform-enhancing technologies. He added that with Sentire complementing the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic will be the only company offering this two-platform portfolio combined with its surgical ecosystem.

Hugo RAS System Momentum

The partnership builds on Medtronic’s Hugo RAS system, which the company said is now being used in more than 35 countries across six continents, including the United States, where it received FDA clearance within the last year. Medtronic said procedure growth for the Hugo RAS system is currently more than two times the growth rate of the robotic surgery market, and that total procedures are expected to exceed 50,000 globally by the end of Medtronic’s fiscal year.

Medtronic said it will continue to develop the Hugo RAS system’s capabilities, including ongoing software upgrades, real-time artificial intelligence across its digital ecosystem, integrated stapling, expanded instrumentation, and clinical indications. The company describes Hugo as a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue surgical procedures, combining wristed instruments, 3D visualization, and the Touch Surgery ecosystem with dedicated support for robotics program optimization, service, and training.

Sentire Surgical System

The Sentire system’s architecture and immersive console with dual-console capability offer a configuration suited to varying surgeon preferences and clinical needs, according to the announcement. Developed entirely in-house by Cornerstone Robotics, Sentire has completed multi-specialty clinical trials and received CE Mark in May 2026 for use in minimally invasive general, gynecologic, thoracic, and urologic surgical procedures. The system also holds market approval in China and Singapore.

“Since the founding of Cornerstone Robotics, we have been steadfast in our commitment to innovation, excellence and clinical value,” said Samuel Au, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics. He said he is confident physicians and patients will be the greatest beneficiaries of the partnership as the companies expand access across the market.

Medtronic said the partnership is another step in strengthening its connected surgical ecosystem and advancing its commitment to minimally invasive surgery, and that it continues to invest across its surgical ecosystem to expand access to robotic-assisted solutions for operating rooms around the world.

Morgan Stanley (MS ) & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Medtronic, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as lead legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis and Global Law Office are acting as legal counsel to Cornerstone Robotics.

Cornerstone Robotics operates three global research and development hubs and six business centers worldwide and has established a 30,000-square-meter manufacturing facility in China. The company states that the Sentire Surgical System, developed entirely in-house, has received market approval across China, the European Union, and Singapore.

Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, reports a global team of more than 95,000 people across more than 150 countries. Its technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, and patient monitoring systems.

The announcement noted that forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.