Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced that it has received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Ottava surgical robot, paving the way for clinical trials in the United States. This marks a crucial step for J&J in its effort to compete with Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system in the robot-assisted soft tissue surgery market.
The company is now preparing U.S. sites to accommodate the Ottava systems, with plans to enroll patients and commence surgical cases. A key focus will be on training clinical trial investigators to effectively use the new robotic platform.
Ottava's Design and Features
The Ottava platform integrates J&J's Ethicon surgical instruments, specifically designed for robotic use. It also features Polyphonic, a digital system intended to connect surgical technologies, robotics, and software. This system aims to provide data and insights to support clinical decision-making during procedures.
According to J&J, the Ottava robot is designed to address "unmet needs that persist in robotic surgery." The company aims to provide more choices and increase competition in a market that is currently underpenetrated but experiencing high growth.
Compact and Versatile Architecture
A notable feature of the Ottava robot is its four arms, which are incorporated into the operating table and can be stored underneath it. This design results in a compact footprint, allowing the system to support robotic, laparoscopic, hybrid, and open surgery. The integrated table and robotic arms move in coordination, facilitating intraoperative repositioning.
J&J emphasizes that the Ethicon instrumentation used with the Ottava system ensures consistency between robotic and traditional laparoscopic procedures.
