Hong Kong – September 7, 2026 -- Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) will invest approximately $700 million in Hong Kong-based Cornerstone Robotics as part of a strategic partnership granting the medical device giant distribution rights to the SentireTM surgical robot in markets outside the United States where the system holds regulatory clearance.
Medtronic secures distribution rights for Sentire outside the US
The agreement gives Medtronic access to Cornerstone Robotics' surgical robotics platform in territories where Sentire has already received market authorization, adding to the company's existing Hugo robotic surgery platform. Matt Anderson, Senior Vice President and President of the Surgery division at Medtronic, said the deal strengthens the company's capacity to widen access to minimally invasive surgery and that Sentire complements the Hugo platform.Global robot-assisted surgery adoption remains below 10%
Robot-assisted surgery penetration stands below 10% worldwide, according to the companies, leaving substantial room to expand access to advanced surgical care across patient populations, physicians and health systems. The partnership pairs Cornerstone Robotics' technology with Medtronic's global commercial footprint to target that gap.Sentire has cleared regulatory hurdles in China, the EU and Singapore
Cornerstone Robotics' Sentire system received market authorization from China's National Medical Products Administration in 2024. In May 2026, the system obtained CE marking in the European Union and clearance from Singapore's Health Sciences Authority, with both approvals covering minimally invasive procedures in general, gynecological, thoracic and urological surgery.Professor Kwok Wai Samuel Au, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Robotics, said the company built its foundation through full-stack in-house R&D and a vertically integrated model covering core hardware, control software, algorithms and proprietary imaging and energy platforms. He said the Medtronic partnership accelerates efforts to extend robot-assisted surgery benefits to more surgeons and patients globally.
Legal and financial advisors structured the cross-border transaction
Kirkland & Ellis and Global Law Office served as legal advisors to Cornerstone Robotics. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Medtronic, with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP serving as lead legal counsel to Medtronic.Cornerstone Robotics operates three global R&D centers and six business centers, alongside a 30,000-square-meter manufacturing facility in China.