Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) announced today that it entered into a strategic collaboration with the research institute IRCAD North America.
Under the agreement, Medtronic will integrate its technologies at IRCAD North America, the North American headquarters of IRCAD, a surgical education, innovation, and research institute. A non-profit subsidiary of Atrium Health, IRCAD North America can then build training and education experiences with its strategic partner.
Medtronic said education ranges across cardiovascular, neuroscience and minimally invasive surgical specialties. It plans to make its investigational Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system available at the center. The company also plans to offer the Affera mapping system AiBLE smart ecosystem and Touch Surgery ecosystem at IRCAD.
“We are revolutionizing the future of healthcare and our collaboration with IRCAD North America is a significant step forward in achieving this goal,” said Mike Marinaro, EVP and president of the Medtronic Medical Surgical Portfolio and Americas. “This partnership will leverage innovation to accelerate medical training and support advancements in patient care to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life.”
According to Medtronic and IRCAD, the new education and training location is set to open in September. It resides in Charlotte, North Carolina’s “The Pearl” innovation district. They expect it to provide a first-of-its-kind destination, drawing thousands of surgeons and specialists annually. Medtronic plans for its medical education teams to spearhead course development for trainings that feature its products as well.
“This partnership paves the way for a new era in surgical education and training. It will foster collaboration across the industry, drive progress in healthcare delivery, and accelerate the integration of AI-enabled solutions into clinical practice,” said Ken Washington, Medtronic chief technology & innovation officer.
