Having pioneered robotic soft tissue surgery for over twenty years, Intuitive faces increasing competition from well-funded medical device companies and smaller players seeking to penetrate the market.
Intuitive is introducing a new iteration of the da Vinci robot through a phased rollout starting this year and extending into 2025. This upgraded model boasts a range of enhancements and comes with a price tag set between 15% and 30% higher than its predecessor, depending on customisation options. Regulatory clearance for the new da Vinci 5 robot was obtained in the United States in March 2024.
With over 150 enhancements, the da Vinci 5 robot introduces innovative features, such as force feedback technology that measures tissue pressure to potentially minimize trauma, distinguishing it from competitors like Medtronic's Hugo and Johnson & Johnson's Ottava systems.
The new system's enhanced computing power and adjustable surgeon's console aim to reduce strain on physicians, setting a higher standard in the competitive landscape, according to analysts.
By integrating multiple technologies into a single platform, including surgical cameras and energy generators, Intuitive moves closer to offering a comprehensive solution, potentially reshaping the medtech market by reducing the need for separate acquisitions by healthcare systems.
As Intuitive strengthens its product offering, competitors like Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson, along with smaller firms such as CMR Surgical and Vicarious Surgical, are intensifying their efforts to challenge its dominance. While Medtronic eyes a U.S. launch for its Hugo robot by 2025, the battle for supremacy in robotic surgery is set to escalate.
