The next phase of surgical robotics

In recent years, rapid advances in surgical robotics in navigation, imaging, and workflow integration have transformed what is possible in the operating room. Looking ahead to 2026, I expect that momentum to accelerate in three specific areas: new frontiers in imaging, the expansion of robotics in community hospitals, and the evolution of commercialization strategies.

Beyond the anticipated technological advances, the democratization of access marks a new innovative phase for robotic surgery because it represents a shift in where these innovations are adopted and who they can help. It means that in the coming years, revolutionary advances in access to minimally invasive surgery will become easier at a much lower cost.

Robotic surgery comes to community hospitals

For years, surgical robotics was considered the domain of large urban health systems and teaching hospitals. High capital costs, long implementation timelines, and resource-intensive support models meant that only the largest institutions could adopt the technology at scale. That panorama is changing.

In 2026, community hospitals will be an increasingly important growth driver for this field. Several forces are driving this change:

• Patient access: Smaller hospitals want to offer the same minimally invasive procedures that attract patients to academic centers. Robotics helps them retain local patients who would otherwise travel for care.
• Economics: New business models, including subscription pricing, per-procedure economics, and more flexible service structures, are making robotics financially viable for hospitals with tighter budgets.
• Technological maturity: Platforms are easier to adopt, with faster installation, simplified workflows, and less reliance on large on-site support teams.

The result will be a broader patient population that will benefit from robotic procedures. You can imagine patients in smaller urban areas or rural communities being able to receive advanced care closer to home and their support networks. It also allows those providers to gain new revenue streams and allows hospitals of all sizes to participate in shaping the future of minimally invasive surgery.

Imaging technologies come to the fore

Doctors’ ability to see inside the human body and accurately interact with the anatomy remains a challenge. Even today, many older robotic platforms still rely on offline scans to navigate during procedures, which can cause divergence between the CT and the body.

Over the next year, I believe advances in real-time visualization, AI-powered reconstruction, and multimodal fusion will continue to reshape the way we view and interact with the body during procedures. I see three areas of particular importance:

• Higher fidelity real-time visualization: New sensors and image processing techniques are enabling sharper resolution and greater depth of field, especially in flexible robotic scopes. This makes it possible to visualize smaller structures more clearly, reducing reliance on fluoroscopy and other complementary imaging.
• AI-enhanced interpretation: Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated directly into the point of care. These systems can highlight areas of interest, guide navigation, and compensate for suboptimal visualization in challenging anatomies. The most effective designs support, not replace, doctors, acting as an additional layer of safety and precision.
• Integration across modalities: One of the most exciting frontiers in imaging is combining streams such as CT, ultrasound, and endoscopic video into a single, unified view. Robotic platforms are uniquely positioned to make this possible, offering a more complete map of the procedure in real time.

In 2026, visualization will no longer be just about “seeing better,” but about giving doctors a deeper, data-rich understanding of anatomy, helping them make faster, safer, and more confident decisions across the entire suite of procedures.

Marketing becomes more strategic

As technology evolves, so do the ways we bring surgical robotics to market. For years, marketing was dominated by large capital goods models and long sales cycles. That model is being reinvented and I expect 2026 to bring even bigger changes.

This is because hospitals are increasingly seeking predictable economics per procedure rather than significant upfront investments. Disposable scopes and subscription-based service models align well with this trend, providing more flexibility to health systems facing tight budgets.

At the same time, attention is shifting from volume to value. With healthcare economics under pressure around the world, stakeholders are examining whether new technologies offer measurable improvements in outcomes and efficiency. Evidence generation is becoming as important as engineering. Companies that can demonstrate real-world impact with shorter procedures, fewer complications and better performance will be highlighted.

Finally, marketing strategies are being adapted to each region. The drivers of adoption in North America differ from those in Europe or Asia, where reimbursement models and regulatory pathways vary. The most successful companies will be those that adapt marketing to the local context rather than applying a one-size-fits-all manual.

Looking forward

Ultimately, the story of 2026 will be one of convergence. Technological advances, such as imaging, will overlap with changing marketing models and new hospital realities to enable completely new patient impacts and economic models.

Together, these changes point to a future where surgical robotics are not defined solely by big machines in the operating room, but by smarter, more flexible systems that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows, deliver measurable value across diverse care settings, and keep pace with the rapid cycles of innovation that define modern healthcare.

For innovators, doctors, and patients alike, that’s a future worth anticipating.

Photo: PhonlamaiPhoto, Getty Images

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