VELYS Robotic-Assisted Suite by Johnson & Johnson: status and timeline

Milestones

No announced next step

VELYS knee system FDA-cleared for total knee arthroplastyJan 2021Complete.
VELYS SPINE for cervical, thoracolumbar, sacroiliac fusion FDA-clearedAug 2024Complete.
VELYS SPINE commercial availability2025Complete.

Most important updates

FDA clears DePuy Synthes VELYS SPINE, J&J's active robotic-assisted system for spinal fusionAug 2024

Current obstacles

Surgeon training and adoptionSurgeons must learn new workflows and trust robotic guidance. Uptake depends on strong data and training.
Registration accuracyAligning pre-op plans with anatomy requires accurate registration despite soft-tissue movement.

Physics limits

Bony anatomy variationPatient anatomy varies widely; the system must plan and adapt to individual bone morphology and implant sizing across a large population.

How it works

3 parts

Dual-use design

Navigation or active robotics modes

Operates in navigation (surgeon guides) or active robotics (robotic guidance). Surgeons choose based on preference.

Surgical planning

Pre-operative 3D imaging

CT/MR imaging guides planning. System registers anatomy intraoperatively and guides implant placement.

Guidance

Motorized robotic assistance

Active mode guides instruments within pre-planned trajectory, reducing fatigue and improving precision in joint and spine surgery.

Spec sheet

Spec	VELYS Robotic-Assisted Suite
Knee procedures supported	Total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty^R (reported)
Spine procedures supported	Cervical, thoracolumbar, sacroiliac fusion^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

Aug 2024

Major: FDA clears DePuy Synthes VELYS SPINE, J&J's active robotic-assisted system for spinal fusionPressRegulatory

About Johnson & Johnson

The team behind VELYS Robotic-Assisted Suite

Johnson & Johnson

Ottava surgical robot, Polyphonic ecosystem, MedTech division

Johnson & Johnson's MedTech division develops medical devices and surgical robotics. Ottava, FDA-approved July 2026, is the first table-integrated robotic system for soft tissue surgery, reducing OR footprint 30-50% with automated positioning.

MedTech division is 36% of JNJ revenue; $8.6B sales Q1 2026, up 7.7%.
Ottava: FDA de novo authorization July 22, 2026 for 10 general surgery procedures.
Table-integrated design saves 30-50% OR space, automated positioning, Polyphonic digital ecosystem.

jnjmedtech.com (opens jnjmedtech.com)Company profile →

Founded: 1887139 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Valuation: public
Works in: RoboticsSurgical & medical
Coverage: 3 programs · 3 updateslatest 1 Aug 2026checked 10 Oct
Suppliers: Intuitive Surgical (opens intuitive.com)

Spec

VELYS Robotic-Assisted Suite

Knee procedures supported

Total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty^R (reported)

Spine procedures supported

Cervical, thoracolumbar, sacroiliac fusion^R (reported)