Johnson & Johnson (J&J) medical device firm Ethicon has signed an agreement with Google to advance surgical robotics, in bid to help surgeons, patients and health care systems.
Both firms will use their capabilities, intellectual property and expertise to create a new robotic-assisted surgical platform, to improve health care delivery in the operating room.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Johnson & Johnson global surgery group worldwide chairman Gary Pruden said: "For more than 60 years, Ethicon has developed products and technologies that have transformed the way surgery is done.
"This collaboration with Google is another important step in our commitment to advancing surgical care, and together, we aim to put the best science, technology and surgical know-how in the hands of medical teams around the world."
The firms will be involved in developing new robotic tools and capabilities for surgeons and operating room professionals that incorporate an advanced medical device technology with modern robotic systems, imaging and data analytics.
According to J&J, the collaboration was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation in California.
Subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.
Robotic-assisted surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery that uses technology, which will provide surgeons better control, access and accuracy during the surgical procedure while benefitting patients by minimizing trauma and scarring, enabling accelerated post-surgical healing.