Surgical robots gained a new rival, an exoskeleton won approval for home use and hospital robots grew beyond pilots. These figures and dated updates show what changed and what to ask before you buy.
FDA clears Wandercraft's Eve, a self-balancing exoskeleton for use at home
· Launch
The FDA cleared Eve, Wandercraft's self-balancing exoskeleton, for adults with spinal cord injuries who can operate its remote control. Users walk on level indoor floors and nearby patios with a trained companion, after a clinical assessment, fitting and five two-hour training sessions. US launch is set for September 17.
Why it matters: Exoskeletons are moving from clinic sessions to daily life, with assessment, training and a helper all required. THG Spec Cards list the space, assistance and support each model needs around it.
J&J's OTTAVA surgical robot, with arms built into the table, wins FDA authorization
· Policy
The FDA granted De Novo authorization to Johnson & Johnson's OTTAVA robotic system for general surgery procedures, including gastrectomy, gallbladder removal and appendectomy. Its four arms are built into the operating table, which J&J says takes 30 to 50 percent less space than boom- or cart-mounted systems. Launch starts with select US customers.
Why it matters: A new entrant gives hospitals more choice, but each system brings its own instruments, training and operating-room layout. Compare full cost of ownership and speak with hospitals already using it before shortlisting.
Foxconn's Nurabot nursing assistant moves from a pilot toward multi-hospital rollout
· Deployment
Foxconn's Nurabot nursing robot, which runs on Nvidia's physical AI software, finished field validation at Taichung Veterans General Hospital last year. It is now being introduced at more hospitals, long-term care facilities and overseas nursing schools, and digital-twin simulation is credited with cutting deployment time by 40%.
Why it matters: Robots for hospital wards are now rehearsed in simulation first. Before one arrives, map its route through corridors, elevators and doors; a THG Site Readiness Survey checks floors, power and Wi-Fi.
SS Innovations' SSi Mantra robot passes 10,500 surgeries and 200 installations
· Milestone
SS Innovations reported more than 10,500 operations with its SSi Mantra robot by April 30, including about 170 telesurgeries and over 500 cardiac cases. The system has been installed more than 200 times across eleven countries, with a strong presence in India, and about 2,100 physicians are trained to use it.
Why it matters: Indian-developed systems now sit alongside imported ones. Ask any maker how many local surgeons are trained, where service engineers are based and what instruments cost per procedure.
AIIMS Delhi surgery unit performs over 1,000 robotic operations in 13 months
· Deployment
AIIMS Delhi's Department of Surgical Disciplines reported more than 1,000 robotic surgeries in 13 months, making it one of the first general surgery units in an Indian government hospital with the technology. Cases range from pancreatic and esophageal surgery to kidney transplants, and over 100 residents get exposure to the system.
Why it matters: Public hospitals are building volume, not just buying systems. A robot earns its cost when several departments share it and residents train on it, so ask makers for realistic utilization figures.
Royal College of Surgeons sets training and governance rules for robotic surgery
· Standards
The Royal College of Surgeons of England published a national framework for robotic-assisted surgery in NHS hospitals. It calls for simulator training before real cases, supervised operations with competency checks, and a robotic surgery governance group in every trust to approve who may operate independently.
Why it matters: Training and sign-off belong in the purchase plan, not after delivery. Budget for simulator time, supervised cases and a named governance owner before the robot arrives, whichever country you work in.
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