Medtronic Completes First U.S. Surgery with Hugo Robotic System
Medtronic announced that the first commercial surgical procedure in the United States using its newly FDA-approved Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system has been successfully completed. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jihad Kaouk, professor and chair of the Glickman Urologic Institute and holder of the Zegarac-Pollock Endowed Chair in Robotic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Kaouk performed a robotic-assisted prostatectomy, and the patient was discharged from the hospital the following day.
“This procedure reflects Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to advancing surgical innovation and increasing access to minimally invasive treatments,” Dr. Kaouk stated. “This technology enables a tailored surgical approach for each individual patient.”
Robotic systems are widely used in urology, with roughly 80% of abdominal urologic surgeries in the U.S. currently performed with robotic assistance. This widespread adoption has created a highly skilled network of robotic surgeons who can support training and adoption of new systems like Hugo, as robotic surgery continues to expand across specialties and hospitals seek solutions to manage capacity constraints.
The Hugo RAS system features a mobile design with modular robotic arms, which may help hospitals overcome operating room space and scheduling limitations. This design can increase patient access to minimally invasive procedures, which are associated with benefits such as less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and reduced postoperative discomfort.
Cleveland Clinic has been actively involved in researching and implementing robotic surgical techniques. Under Dr. Kaouk’s leadership, the team participated in the Expand URO Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial—the largest multi-port robotic urology study conducted in the U.S. The trial confirmed that the Hugo system met key safety and performance criteria, with results consistent with existing published data.
Rajit Kamal, vice president and general manager of Robotic Surgical Technologies at Medtronic, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone. He noted that the successful first commercial case highlights a shared vision to broaden patient access to minimally invasive surgery through innovative technology. Kamal added that the future of surgery lies in integrated technologies that help surgical teams deliver optimal patient care across open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches, an area where Medtronic is uniquely positioned.
In addition to Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Hospital and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center are among the first U.S. hospitals to install the Hugo system. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center is the first site outside the IDE study to implement the technology.
The Hugo RAS system marks a significant step forward in U.S. surgical robotics, offering surgeons a flexible and collaborative platform designed to improve efficiency in the operating room. The system is already in use in more than 35 countries worldwide. Its U.S. launch complements Medtronic’s broader surgical portfolio, including the Touch Surgery™ ecosystem, to support a connected and integrated operating room environment.
Medtronic plans to expand Hugo’s clinical applications beyond urology to gynecology and general surgery, including procedures such as hernia repair.
Click here to know more.
Dr. Kaouk performed a robotic-assisted prostatectomy, and the patient was discharged from the hospital the following day.
“This procedure reflects Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to advancing surgical innovation and increasing access to minimally invasive treatments,” Dr. Kaouk stated. “This technology enables a tailored surgical approach for each individual patient.”
Robotic systems are widely used in urology, with roughly 80% of abdominal urologic surgeries in the U.S. currently performed with robotic assistance. This widespread adoption has created a highly skilled network of robotic surgeons who can support training and adoption of new systems like Hugo, as robotic surgery continues to expand across specialties and hospitals seek solutions to manage capacity constraints.
The Hugo RAS system features a mobile design with modular robotic arms, which may help hospitals overcome operating room space and scheduling limitations. This design can increase patient access to minimally invasive procedures, which are associated with benefits such as less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and reduced postoperative discomfort.
Cleveland Clinic has been actively involved in researching and implementing robotic surgical techniques. Under Dr. Kaouk’s leadership, the team participated in the Expand URO Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial—the largest multi-port robotic urology study conducted in the U.S. The trial confirmed that the Hugo system met key safety and performance criteria, with results consistent with existing published data.
Rajit Kamal, vice president and general manager of Robotic Surgical Technologies at Medtronic, expressed enthusiasm about the milestone. He noted that the successful first commercial case highlights a shared vision to broaden patient access to minimally invasive surgery through innovative technology. Kamal added that the future of surgery lies in integrated technologies that help surgical teams deliver optimal patient care across open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches, an area where Medtronic is uniquely positioned.
In addition to Cleveland Clinic, Duke University Hospital and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center are among the first U.S. hospitals to install the Hugo system. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center is the first site outside the IDE study to implement the technology.
The Hugo RAS system marks a significant step forward in U.S. surgical robotics, offering surgeons a flexible and collaborative platform designed to improve efficiency in the operating room. The system is already in use in more than 35 countries worldwide. Its U.S. launch complements Medtronic’s broader surgical portfolio, including the Touch Surgery™ ecosystem, to support a connected and integrated operating room environment.
Medtronic plans to expand Hugo’s clinical applications beyond urology to gynecology and general surgery, including procedures such as hernia repair.
Click here to know more.
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