Zimmer, J&J chase Stryker's lead in ortho robotics

Just as elective procedures were bouncing back in the first half of this year, the delta variant emerged to strain hospital capacity again in parts of the country, and widespread staffing shortages have added to the difficulties facing hospitals.

The persistence of the virus, though, and the challenges it has brought to the healthcare system have not slowed the expansion of robot-assisted surgery among orthopaedics-focused medtechs Stryker and Zimmer Biomet. Now, Johnson & Johnson's DePuy Synthes unit is ramping up its presence in the market with its Velys robotic system for total knee replacement procedures.