As the year draws to a close, medtech companies preparing to launch new surgical robots have made several advances that suggest 2026 will be a year to watch in the fast-moving field.

Medtronic’s Hugo soft tissue system received Food and Drug Administration approval for its first indication earlier this month, setting the stage for a battle for US market share with robotics leader Intuitive Surgical.

A few days later, SS Innovations International said it had submitted an application to the FDA to approve the SSi Mantra robot for several types of procedures, including in the soft tissue surgery category, which Intuitive leads.

Another contender in the race, CMR Surgical, announced shortly after that its Versius Plus soft tissue platform had secured the FDA nod.

MedTech Dive follows the biggest storylines in surgical robotics. Follow the latest developments in this review: