Google is teaming up with Johnson & Johnson to build robots that can help surgeons in the operating room. The alliance announced this week is between Ethicon, a medical device company within Johnson & Johnson, and Google's Life Sciences division. "The companies will bring together capabilities, intellectual property and expertise to create an innovative robotic-assisted surgical platform capable of integrating advanced technologies with the goal of improving health care delivery in the operating room," according to the announcement.
The initiative dovetails with two of Google's initiatives beyond its main business of Internet search and advertising. Google has been investing in medical research aimed at extending lives and in robotic technology that can free up humans to do other things. Financial terms of the deal aren't being disclosed.
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