Medtronic Has First-in-US 'Hugo' Commercial Procedure
3 March 2026
While the 'Hugo RAS' surgical robot has been used in the U.S. for some time for FDA-sanctioned studies, in mid-February, Cleveland Clinic was the site of the first commercial Robot Assisted Prostatectomy. Prof. Dr. Jihad Kaouk, VF friend and Chair of the Glickman Urologic Institute and the Zegarac-Pollock Endowed Chair in Robotic Surgery, performed the procedure following US FDA clearance. Dr. Kaouk was quoted in a Medtronic release:
“This case exemplifies Cleveland Clinic’s mission to lead surgical innovation and expand access to minimally invasive surgery,” said Dr. Kaouk. “The new technology allows us to customize the approach for each patient case.”
His patient was discharged the next day, according to Medtronic. Kaouk was one of a select number of surgeons who had worked with Medtronic and the FDA during the testing phase prior to the successful FDA green light.
More from the Medtronic Feb. 17, 2026 release: "We are excited that the first commercial case in the U.S. using the Hugo RAS system has been successfully completed by Dr. Kaouk and his team. Their pioneering spirit and collaboration reflect our shared vision that with new technology, like Hugo, more patients can access the benefits of minimally invasive surgery," said Rajit Kamal, vice president and general manager of Robotic Surgical Technologies within the Surgical business of Medtronic. "The future of surgery isn't about robotics as a separate modality; it's about technology that enables surgical teams to deliver the best possible care for every patient..."
Prof. Kaouk took the First Prize in the Vattikuti Foundation-sponsored KS International Innovation Awards in Robotic Surgery, presented in Miami, 2022, for his study on single port kidney transplantation.
The Vattikuti Foundation's KS International Innovation Awards and Innovation in Medicine Summit, returns to Miami on April 10 & 11, 2026. (Medtronic is one of the sponsors of the event.)
