Robot model
ROBODOC Surgical System
ROBODOC is a pioneer surgical robotics system for orthopedic surgery, originally developed in 1986 by Dr.
The verified answer
As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies ROBODOC Surgical System, a surgical by ROBODOC (commercial): 1 verified deployment on record. 1 source back the record.
Overview
ROBODOC is a pioneer surgical robotics system for orthopedic surgery, originally developed in 1986 by Dr. William Bargar and veterinarian Howard 'Hap' Paul at the University of California, Davis. The ROBODOC Surgical Assistant performs total hip and total knee replacement surgeries with robotic precision.
It was commercialized by Integrated Surgical Systems (ISS), which later became THINK Surgical in 2014. ROBODOC received FDA clearance in 2008 and was the first orthopaedic robotic-assisted system, with hundreds of procedures performed worldwide.
Verified vs. claimed
- Maturity stage
- commercial(Commercially deployed with revenue-generating operations.)
- Sources on file
- View all sources →
Key facts
Developer
Current Owner
Milestone
Smithsonian Collection
Founder
FDA clearance
Procedures
Data & sources
Web sources
1
1 source backing this record.View all →
Pricing
No verified price is on record for ROBODOC Surgical System. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.
Deployments (1)
First robotic surgery in the world performed on November 7, 1992 at Sutter General Hospital (now Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento).
ROBODOC Surgical System on the deployment map
View the global mapWhere ROBODOC Surgical System is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Record createdJul 3, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedNov 1, 1992
at Sacramento, California, USA
Safety record
No incidents on record for ROBODOC Surgical System.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Sources (1)
Common questions
What is ROBODOC Surgical System?
How much does ROBODOC Surgical System cost?
Is ROBODOC Surgical System actually deployed in the real world?
Who makes ROBODOC Surgical System?
Where is ROBODOC Surgical System deployed?
Can you buy ROBODOC Surgical System?
What are alternatives to ROBODOC Surgical System?
How does ROBODOC Surgical System compare to Edison Histotripsy System?
Is ROBODOC Surgical System a top surgical?
What is ROBODOC Surgical System's maturity stage?
Is ROBODOC Surgical System safe?
Methodology: Verified · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-12
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Maturity + lifecycle
Maturity stage: commercial
Lifecycle: active
Architectural position
Cohort: surgical
Sources by quality tier
- 1
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for ROBODOC Surgical System.Recent coverage
ROBODOC Surgical System in third-party press
Attention vs reality over time
Media mentions per month (area) against verified deployment events (dots). A press spike over a flat deployment line is the hype gap, drawn over time.
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning ROBODOC Surgical System from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
DigiMatch n ROBODOC Surgical System Receives FDA 510(k) Marketing Clearance
ROBODOC surgical system received FDA 510(k) clearance for orthopedic procedures.
How a Robot Made Medical History in Sacramento 30 Years Ago
ROBODOC, the pioneering surgical robot, celebrated 30 years since its first procedure. Dr. In K. Mun of THINK Surgical spoke at the Smithsonian acquisition ceremony.
Why This Robotic Medical Device Belongs in a Museum
Smithsonian Magazine profiles ROBODOC as a pioneering robotic medical device developed by William Bargar and Howard Paul that revolutionized joint replacement surgery.
Origins of Robotic Surgery: From Skepticism to Standard of Care
A clinical review tracing the origins of robotic surgery, including ROBODOC developed by William Bargar for prosthetic hip replacement, from skepticism to standard of care.
ROBODOC Surgical Device, prototype
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History documents the ROBODOC surgical robot prototype, developed by William Bargar and Howard Paul for total hip and knee replacement…
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /models/robodoc-surgical-system.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/models/8b9c5dda-48a4-418f-b5ce-c4b775cc8fb4
- Revision history: /models/robodoc-surgical-system/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Reality vs attention
ROBODOC Surgical System draws attention at the 20th percentile but verifies reality at the 16th percentile among surgical robots. Hype Gap +4.1, 15th widest among surgical robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Limited independent press and video coverage to date.
Signal flags
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Aug 18, 2026