Johnson & Johnson MedTech Completes First Surgeries with OTTAVA Robotic System

Johnson & Johnson MedTech announced the successful completion of the first clinical cases using its OTTAVA Robotic Surgical System. These milestone procedures, performed by Dr. Erik Wilson at Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center, involved Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and mark the system’s entry into clinical evaluation.

OTTAVA is designed as a multi-specialty robotic platform capable of supporting a broad range of complex soft-tissue procedures. The current clinical trial aims to generate data supporting the system’s use in upper abdominal general surgeries, including gastric sleeve, small bowel resection, and hiatal hernia repair. Upon completion, the company plans to pursue De Novo authorization from the U.S. FDA.

According to Johnson & Johnson, OTTAVA integrates surgical tools powered by Ethicon expertise and is built to connect with the Polyphonic digital ecosystem. The system is not yet approved for commercial use.

Hani Abouhalka, Company Group Chairman, Surgery, emphasized the innovation's potential to raise the standard of surgical care. Chief Scientific Officer Peter Schulam highlighted the importance of clinical evidence in advancing minimally invasive robotic surgery.

OTTAVA received FDA Investigational Device Exemption in late 2024 and continues to represent a significant development within Johnson & Johnson’s broader MedTech surgical portfolio. For more details, visit [thenext.jnjmedtech.com/surgicalrobotics](http://thenext.jnjmedtech.com/surgicalrobotics).