GE HealthCare and Medtronic Integrate bkActiv Intraoperative Ultrasound with Stealth AXiS Surgical Navigation Platform

On April 9, 2026, GE HealthCare and Medtronic announced that the bkActiv intraoperative ultrasound system has completed digital integration with the Stealth AXiS surgical navigation platform and is now commercially available, with the first application scenario being cranial surgery. The two parties plan to officially showcase this integrated solution at the AANS Annual Meeting in San Antonio from May 1–4.

The core function of this integration: bkActiv is integrated as a "plug-and-play" module into the Stealth AXiS navigation system, transmitting real-time ultrasound images to the navigation interface during surgery, displayed side-by-side with preoperative MRI/CT images. The main clinical issue it addresses is brain shift – the deformation of brain tissue after craniotomy due to factors such as cerebrospinal fluid loss, causing preoperative images to no longer precisely match the actual anatomy. Real-time imaging provided by intraoperative ultrasound can assist surgeons in evaluating this change.

bkActiv Previously Integrated with Brainlab Neuro-navigation System in Plug-and-Play Mode, Now Expands to Medtronic Stealth AXiS Platform, Signifying GE HealthCare’s Intraoperative Ultrasound Product Line Covers Two Major Suppliers in the Neurosurgical Navigation Field.

From the product timeline, bkActiv was initially launched in 2023 for urology, colorectal, and pelvic floor surgery scenarios; the next-generation bkActiv S series will be released in June 2025; a neurosurgery-specific software module will follow. In December 2021, GE HealthCare acquired BK Medical, a long-established manufacturer in the intraoperative ultrasound field, for $1.45 billion.

The bkActiv integration is the third key milestone achieved by the Stealth AXiS platform within 2026. The timeline for this platform is as follows:

Stealth AXiS Key Progress in 2026

The positioning of Stealth AXiS is to integrate preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, and robotic assistance into a single platform, evolved from the merger of Medtronic's previous Mazor robotics and StealthStation navigation product lines. Its core differentiating features include: LiveAlign segment tracking (described by the company as "an industry first"), which allows surgeons to visualize anatomical movement and alignment in real time during spinal surgeries without the need for repeated imaging; and AI-driven automatic tractography, used to generate patient-specific brain maps and visualize critical neural pathways during cranial surgeries.

The platform adopts a modular design, supporting deployment in two scenarios: hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Institutions can purchase navigation and robotic modules in phases according to their needs. Medtronic stated at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in early 2026 that the installed base of the AiBLE ecosystem is 10 times that of its closest competitor, and the company is continuously gaining market share in the $15 billion cranial and spinal technology market.

In addition, Medtronic's soft tissue surgical robot Hugo received FDA approval by the end of 2025, further enhancing its multi-department layout in the field of robotic surgery. Stealth AXiS and Hugo cover orthopedic/neurosurgical and soft tissue routes, respectively.

Stealth AXiS is entering a market with clear competitors but undergoing a generational shift in products. The following is a comparison of the main platforms:

Comparison of Spinal/Cranial Surgical Robot Navigation Platforms

Globus Medical's ExcelsiusGPS is the most direct competitor to Stealth AXiS in the field of spinal robotic navigation. ExcelsiusGPS covers both spinal and cranial indications and is compatible with multiple intraoperative imaging modalities.

In November 2024, Globus will launch the ExcelsiusHub navigation system, further expanding platform capabilities. Notably, J&J plans to spin off its DePuy Synthes orthopedic business (including spinal robotic navigation) within the next 18–24 months, a move that will redefine Globus Medical's position within the J&J ecosystem.

Medtronic and Siemens Healthineers have previously established a collaboration to integrate the AiBLE spinal surgery product line with Siemens' Multitom Rax robotic X-ray system for preoperative and postoperative imaging. Following the integration of bkActiv, the Stealth AXiS now offers two pathways for intraoperative imaging—ultrasound (GE Healthcare) and X-ray (Siemens Healthineers)—making it one of the most comprehensive solutions for intraoperative imaging coverage.

The integration of bkActiv with Stealth AXiS, as well as the previous integration of bkActiv with Brainlab, points to a clear trend: intraoperative ultrasound is evolving from an independent auxiliary tool to a native module of navigation systems. For cranial surgery, the advantages of ultrasound over intraoperative CT/MRI include no radiation, the ability to perform repeated real-time scans, uninterrupted surgical workflow, and lower equipment costs. Existing studies have shown that intraoperative ultrasound changes surgical decisions in more than 60% of cases and reduces revision rates by 16%–31% in ventricular shunt surgeries.

However, the application of intraoperative ultrasound in spinal surgery is still in its early stages. Currently, this integration explicitly covers only cranial surgery scenarios. The mainstream solutions for intraoperative imaging in spinal surgery remain O-arm (intraoperative CT) and fluoroscopic navigation. Whether ultrasound can deliver similar value in the spinal field still requires more clinical validation.