Robots are becoming more visible in U.S. hospitals, but they do not replace doctors or make treatment decisions on their own. Medical robots are tools that trained clinicians use to support specific tasks, such as guiding surgical instruments, helping position a joint implant, delivering radiation, or transporting supplies.

Companies in this field work across several areas of care. Some have systems used in operating rooms, while others make robots for diagnostic procedures or hospital logistics. Here are seven companies and the roles their products are designed to play.

1. Intuitive: Robot-assisted surgery

Intuitive makes the da Vinci family of surgical systems, including the da Vinci 5 and da Vinci SP. The systems are designed for minimally invasive procedures, where a surgeon operates through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments. The SP system is designed for procedures performed through a single incision or natural opening.

The surgeon controls the system from a console. The instruments do not decide what operation to perform; they are tools that respond to the surgeon’s movements. Intuitive’s systems are used across several surgical specialties, but the procedures supported depend on the specific system and its cleared indications.

For patients, the relevant question is not simply whether a hospital has a surgical robot. It is whether the procedure is appropriate, whether the surgeon has experience with that approach, and what benefits and risks apply to the individual case.

2. Stryker: Robotic assistance for joint replacement

Stryker’s Mako platform is used in orthopedic procedures, including certain knee and hip replacements. It combines three-dimensional planning with a robotic arm and technology that provides feedback as the surgeon works. The surgeon plans and performs the operation; Mako is designed to support that work and help guide bone preparation and implant placement.

Stryker has also introduced Mako RPS, a handheld robotic power system for total knee procedures. The company describes it as a robotically enabled surgical handpiece that responds to the surgeon’s movements and helps maintain alignment with the selected plan. Product availability and supported procedures can vary by hospital and region.

A patient considering robotic-assisted joint replacement can ask the orthopedic surgeon how the system will be used and whether it changes the planned operation. The surgeon can explain how the technology fits the patient’s anatomy, condition, and goals.

3. Zimmer Biomet: ROSA for orthopedic and brain procedures

Zimmer Biomet makes the ROSA robotic platform, with systems designed for different specialties. ROSA Knee helps surgeons plan a total knee replacement, make precise bone cuts, and check the knee during surgery. The company also offers ROSA systems for hip and shoulder procedures.

The company’s ROSA ONE Brain platform is designed to assist with planning and instrument placement during neurosurgical procedures. Zimmer Biomet describes the system as a guide for the surgeon, who remains in control of the procedure.

Because the ROSA name covers systems for different body areas, it is useful to ask which specific device and procedure a care team is discussing. A robotic system for knee replacement is not the same as one used to guide neurosurgical instruments.

4. Medtronic: Hugo robotic-assisted surgery

Medtronic’s Hugo system is a robotic-assisted surgical platform. In December 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared Hugo for certain urologic surgical procedures. Medtronic reported its first U.S. procedure with the system at Cleveland Clinic in February 2026.

The company has also submitted filings to expand Hugo’s use into general and gynecologic surgery in the United States. Those filings are not the same as FDA clearance, so patients and healthcare organizations should check the current approved indications for the specific procedure being considered.

This is one example of why regulatory status matters in medical robotics. A system may be in use for certain procedures while other applications remain under study or review.

5. Noah Medical: Robotic bronchoscopy

Noah Medical developed the Galaxy System for robotic navigated bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy allows a clinician to examine the airways using a thin, flexible instrument. The Galaxy system is designed to help physicians navigate to lung nodules and collect tissue samples for further testing. Noah Medical announced FDA clearance for the system in 2023 and reported its first U.S. use at University of Chicago Medicine.

Doctors use this type of system to help diagnose a condition, rather than perform major surgery. When a lung nodule needs evaluation, the care team can explain which biopsy method is appropriate and whether robotic navigation is available at their facility. The choice depends on the patient’s situation and the clinician’s judgment.

6. Accuray: Robotic radiation delivery

Accuray’s CyberKnife system uses a robotic arm to deliver stereotactic radiation treatments. Despite the word “knife” in its name, CyberKnife is not a surgical cutting tool. The system delivers radiation precisely to the area being treated. According to Accuray, it can treat tumors in the brain, spine, and other parts of the body.

The system combines imaging and robotic movement to help deliver radiation according to a treatment plan developed by the clinical team. Your doctor will consider your diagnosis, the location of the area being treated, and your overall health to decide whether radiation therapy is suitable and which type to use.

7. Diligent Robotics: Hospital logistics support

Not every medical robot enters an operating room. Diligent Robotics makes Moxi, a mobile robot designed to help hospital staff with routine, non-patient-facing tasks. The company describes Moxi as assisting with deliveries such as medications, laboratory samples, and supplies.

These tasks may help reduce the time staff spend moving items around a hospital. Moxi does not provide clinical care or make treatment decisions. Diligent describes the robot as a helper that handles routine hospital tasks, allowing clinicians to focus on patients. The company says it is rolling out Moxi 2.0 to U.S. health system customers.

What medical robots can—and cannot—do

Medical robots are built for particular tasks. In surgery, they may help a clinician control instruments or follow a planned pathway. In diagnosis, a system may help guide a sampling tool. In radiation therapy, a robot may position equipment to deliver a planned dose. In hospital operations, a mobile robot may move supplies.

The robot does not decide whether a patient needs surgery, choose the treatment, or replace clinical judgment. The care team determines whether a system is suitable and remains responsible for the procedure. FDA clearance or authorization covers only specific uses of a product. It does not cover every procedure the company is studying or developing.

Questions patients can ask

If a clinician mentions robotic-assisted care, patients may want to ask:

• What task will the robot perform during my care?
• Has the FDA cleared this system for the procedure my doctor recommends?
• Who will operate or supervise it?
• How much experience does the surgeon or care team have with this procedure?
• What are the alternatives, benefits, and risks for me?
• Will using the system change my recovery plan or follow-up care?

Medical robotics includes a wide range of tools, from surgical platforms to robots that help with hospital logistics. Their value depends on the task, the clinical evidence, the approved use, and the expertise of the people using them. Patients can discuss these details with their care team when deciding what approach is right for them.