Stealth AXiS Surgical System Unites Planning and Robotics
Medtronic's Stealth AXiS surgical system unites planning, navigation and robotics for spine, cranial and ENT surgery, with first clinical cases in 2026.
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Medtronic's Stealth AXiS
Stealth AXiS Surgical System Unites Planning and Robotics
Medtronic
describes the Stealth AXiS surgical system as "a versatile platform
uniting planning, navigation, and robotics into one platform" for spine,
cranial and ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery. The company calls it modular
and connected, able to flex with evolving workflows, and designed for hospitals
and ambulatory surgery centers. Medtronic names it the cornerstone of its AiBLE
ecosystem, which is meant to connect devices, software and data before, during
and after surgery.
How the Stealth AXiS Surgical System Works
The system
has three parts. The Stealth AXiS core handles navigation, with 4K monitors, a
longer camera handle with 360° rotation, and optical and electromagnetic
navigation for cranial and spine cases. The Stealth AXiS autopilot covers
robotics: a floor-mounted robotic arm, a 360° active tracking device for
trajectory alignment, a force sensor that gives feedback on excessive force, a
sterile tool changer and surgeon controls. The planning station allows planning
remotely or in the office, with browser-based access that mirrors the
navigation interface.
Workflow and Features
Planning
data moves in DICOM, the standard format for medical images, over a secure HTML
connection, and an optional multiuser server can run inside the hospital. In
the operating room, the workflow combines unified registration, navigated
drilling and robotic assistance with tracking and force feedback. The
navigation builds on Medtronic's StealthStation technology. Medtronic says
LiveAlign segmental tracking lets surgeons visualize anatomic motion during
spine surgery without repeated imaging.
First Clinical Use
Medtronic
announced U.S. FDA clearance of the system for spine procedures on February 13,
2026. On April 29 it reported its first clinical cases at Norton Healthcare and
UC San Diego Health. On September 10 the company announced the first procedures
in Europe, with over 23 spine cases at seven sites in Germany, the UK, Italy
and Spain, and more procedures planned in the coming weeks.
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