New PatentVest Pulse Report Maps the Competitive and IP Landscape of the $188B Surgical Robotics Market

Rhea-AI Summary

PatentVest has released a comprehensive report titled "The Next Era of Surgical Robotics" analyzing the $188B surgical robotics market. The report, based on analysis of 18,000+ patent families and $4B in M&A activity, reveals that despite 310 million annual global surgeries, only 6% involve robots.

The study examines 28 robotic platforms and identifies key market players, including Intuitive Surgical as the dominant patent holder, legacy incumbents like Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson, and emerging challengers such as Vicarious Surgical and CMR Surgical. The report highlights how venture-backed platforms are positioning themselves for strategic scale, following the path of successful acquisitions like MAKO, Auris, and Mazor.

Positive

• Market opportunity is significant with only 6% robotic surgery penetration out of 310 million annual surgeries
• Analysis covers extensive data: 18,000+ patent families and $4B in M&A activity
• Multiple emerging players and venture-backed platforms showing strong potential for M&A or market leadership

Negative

• Market growth has remained flat due to cost, complexity, and deployment constraints
• Intuitive Surgical's dominance is showing signs of slowing down in new patent filings

News Market Reaction – MDBH

+0.53%

1 alert

+0.53% News Effect

On the day this news was published, MDBH gained 0.53%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Designed for investors, board members, and CEOs, the latest PatentVest Pulse reveals who’s actually leading and why in one of the most underpenetrated markets in medtech

DALLAS, TX , July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PatentVest, the first fully integrated IP strategy and legal firm, today announced the release of The Next Era of Surgical Robotics, a new report that maps the most important shift in medtech since the rise of the da Vinci system. Built from analysis of more than 18,000 patent families, $4B in M&A activity, and deep dives into 28 robotic platforms, the report shows a sector no longer defined by a single system but by a race for platform defensibility.

The findings challenge the assumption that surgical robotics is a saturated category. Despite more than 310 million surgeries performed globally each year, fewer than 6% involve robots. That number has remained flat not because of clinical limitations, but due to cost, complexity, and deployment constraints.

The report identifies the strategic signals that define tomorrow’s category leaders. These include IP positioning, regulatory momentum, and platform scalability. It also highlights which companies are most likely to be acquired or emerge as the next market leaders.

Key Findings From PatentVest

• Intuitive remains dominant, but no longer expanding as fast: Intuitive Surgical still holds the largest IP portfolio but recent momentum has shifted, with multiple challengers outpacing it in new filings over the past decade.

• Legacy incumbents anchor the commercial infrastructure: Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, and Smith+Nephew maintain strong commercial footprints and regulatory muscle.

• Public challengers are gaining traction: Companies like Vicarious Surgical, Microbot Medical, Stereotaxis, SS Innovations, and Meere Company are advancing platforms across endovascular, dental, and NOTES applications - with focused IP portfolios and early-stage clinical validation.

• Venture-backed platforms are increasingly aligning for strategic scale: Private companies such as CMR Surgical, THINK Surgical, Distalmotion, EndoQuest Robotics, Neocis, Virtual Incision, and ForSight Robotics are aligning capital, regulatory milestones, and broad IP positions - closely mirroring the profile of past M&A targets like MAKO, Auris, and Mazor.

“Every major surgical robotics platform, including Mako, Monarch, and Hugo, started as a venture-backed company with focused IP and regulatory momentum. This report identifies who’s next. Somewhere in this cohort is the next Intuitive Surgical, or the company that gets acquired before it becomes one,” said Will Rosellini, Chief IP Officer at PatentVest.

Access the Full Report
The latest PatentVest Pulse report is now live. Explore the data, insights, and strategic signals behind the 28 companies redefining the future of surgical robotics. Read the full report here.

For more information or inquiries, please contact info@patentvest.com.

About PatentVest
PatentVest, a division of MDB Capital Holdings (Nasdaq: MDBH), is the first integrated IP intelligence, strategy, and law firm designed to help visionary companies become technology leaders. By combining a proprietary database with a proven diligence process and expert analysis, PatentVest delivers actionable insights that help clients navigate complex IP landscapes and stay ahead of the curve. This report is powered by PatentVest’s proprietary IP intelligence platform.

FAQ

What is the current market penetration of surgical robotics according to PatentVest's report?

According to the report, less than 6% of the 310 million surgeries performed globally each year involve robots, primarily due to cost, complexity, and deployment constraints.

Who are the main competitors in the surgical robotics market as identified by PatentVest?

The report identifies Intuitive Surgical as the dominant patent holder, legacy incumbents like Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Zimmer Biomet, and Stryker, and emerging challengers including Vicarious Surgical, CMR Surgical, and THINK Surgical.

What is the size of the surgical robotics market analyzed in the PatentVest report?

The PatentVest report analyzes the $188 billion surgical robotics market.

How many patent families and M&A activity did the PatentVest report analyze?

The report analyzed more than 18,000 patent families and $4 billion in M&A activity across 28 robotic platforms.

Which companies are identified as potential acquisition targets in the surgical robotics space?

Companies like CMR Surgical, THINK Surgical, Distalmotion, EndoQuest Robotics, Neocis, Virtual Incision, and ForSight Robotics are identified as following similar patterns to past acquisition targets like MAKO, Auris, and Mazor.