Medtronic wins FDA clearance to use LigaSure RAS Maryland instrument on Hugo RAS system

What happened

Medtronic announced U.S. FDA clearance for the LigaSure RAS Maryland jaw device to be used with its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The decision allows U.S. surgeons using Hugo to add Medtronic's vessel-sealing tool to robotic procedures.

Why it matters

Surgeons performing robotic-assisted operations often expect energy instruments comparable to those used in open and laparoscopic surgery. The LigaSure RAS Maryland brings a familiar vessel-sealing capability into the Hugo robotic workflow, which may influence instrument choice and program planning at hospitals that use or are considering Hugo.

The Hugo system is currently cleared in the U.S. for urologic procedures and is commercially available at an increasing number of health systems. Medtronic has signaled plans to expand Hugo's indications to broader soft-tissue procedures, including general and gynecologic surgery.

What the device does

Maryland is designed for sealing and cutting vessels, thick tissue, and lymphatics up to 7 mm in diameter. It is specifically designed for use with the Valleylab FT10 energy platform on the Hugo system. Medtronic reports the device seals vessels in approximately 2 seconds while minimizing thermal spread to surrounding tissue.

The instrument represents Medtronic's first robotic-driven LigaSure device and uses vessel-sealing technology that the company says has been used in more than 45 million procedures across more than 65 countries over the last two decades.

Timeline and commercial context

Medtronic introduced the LigaSure RAS Maryland on the Hugo RAS system in Europe after receiving CE mark in 2025. With this FDA clearance, the instrument is now cleared for use in the U.S. on Hugo. The Hugo system is already in commercial use at multiple U.S. hospitals for urology, and Medtronic is pursuing expanded U.S. indications for additional soft-tissue specialties.

How Medtronic frames the move

Medtronic framed the clearance as meeting surgeon expectations for consistent energy instruments across open, laparoscopic, and robotic modalities. The company presents the addition as both an expansion of the Hugo instrument portfolio and as an option for hospitals and surgical programs to align robotic workflows with familiar vessel-sealing performance.

Practical takeaways for hospitals and surgeons

• Hospitals using Hugo can now integrate a LigaSure vessel sealer into robotic cases, potentially reducing the need to adapt technique or instrument strategy compared with non-robotic procedures.
• Surgeons experienced with LigaSure in open or laparoscopic settings may find the robotic-driven Maryland jaw helps maintain familiar sealing characteristics.
• The device's compatibility with the Valleylab FT10 energy platform means systems using that platform can add the instrument without changing the energy source.

Bottom line

FDA clearance of the LigaSure RAS Maryland for Hugo extends Medtronic's energy toolset into its robotic platform in the U.S., aligning robotic instrument options more closely with tools many surgeons already use in other surgical modalities.