Stryker began its first cases this month using a hand-held robot for knee surgery. The device, called the Mako RPS, is a miniature version of Stryker’s Mako surgical robots for orthopedic procedures.

CEO Kevin Lobo told investors Thursday that the smaller robot is designed to be easier to use and requires fewer changes for surgeons and hospital staff than the traditional Mako system. Lobo expects the Mako RPS to open up new customers for Stryker and make it a more attractive option for ambulatory surgery centers.

“If you think about ASCs — some surgeons don’t want the complexity of a Mako — I think it’s going to open us up to new customers who weren’t ready for a Mako but want something better than using hand instruments,” Lobo said.

Stryker plans to have the Mako RPS on display at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting in March.

Robotics as a „standard of care”

Stryker’s traditional Mako robotic system was also a highlight of the call. Mako’s install base has now topped 3,000 systems worldwide, BTIG analyst Ryan Zimmerman wrote in a research note, beating Stryker’s expectations when it launched in 2013. purchased Mako.

More than two-thirds of Stryker’s US knee procedures and one-third of US hip procedures are performed using the robot.

Last year, Stryker announced the fourth generation of its Mako surgical robot. The company plans in 2026 in the middle to introduce the shoulder feature to the Mako 4, which is currently in limited release on the Mako 3 robot.

„I don’t think there are any limits,” Lobo said when asked about the future of Stryker’s robotics business. „I think robotics may become the standard of care at some point.”