Ronna Medical: The Robotic System Transforming Neurosurgery

Though Ronna Medical was founded in 2021, the project began back in 2009 as university research. Determined not to let the work be shelved, the team fought to bring it into the real world. The result is a robotic assistant that performs pre-op checks, integrates surgical data, and reduces human error. Designed for silent operation, it fits seamlessly into the intense environment of an operating room – where focus and calm are critical. Ronna quietly does its job without distraction.

Neurosurgery requires the highest standards of precision in medicine. A misstep can result in loss of speech, vision or movement. To meet such demands, the Ronna team developed their own proprietary imaging system: Ronnavision. It uses dual cameras and structured light to create real-time, high-resolution spatial data. Nothing off-the-shelf could deliver the speed and accuracy needed, so they built it themselves.

Surgical frames are still the clinical gold standard – manual systems of rulers that help surgeons reach target locations. But human hands can’t consistently reach the sub-millimetre precision that neurosurgery demands. Ronna helps achieve that. It shortens procedures, reduces time under anaesthesia, and improves outcomes – all while decreasing hospital resource use. Better surgery, better recovery, lower costs.

By 2016, Ronna began clinical trials. Since then, the system has assisted in more than 50 surgeries. Initially used for brain biopsies, Ronna’s capability extends to other neurosurgical tasks like DBS, SEEG and tumour resection. It’s a modular platform – adaptable, scalable and open to integration with specialised surgical tools. Ronna is more than a robot; it’s a surgical ecosystem.

Ronna’s robotic system contains more than 2,000 components: motors, controllers, embedded systems, vision modules. Everything must work in harmony. Before entering the medical field, the team honed their skills in industrial robotics – designing systems that run 24/7 with minimal human oversight. That industrial rigour is now applied in a clinical setting, with rigorous lab testing ensuring every component is ready for surgery.

Every procedure starts with self-checks. These diagnostics ensure the robot is fully functional before the patient is in the room. Ronna is built for reliability, not drama. That means no flashing alerts, no distracting noises – just quiet, focused assistance in a high-stakes environment. Its role is to support, not compete with, the surgical team.

By shortening procedure times and improving accuracy, Ronna reduces the economic burden of neurosurgery. Surgeons can operate more efficiently, operating theatres are freed up sooner, and patients recover faster. For hospitals and patients alike, that means real savings – in time, money, and well-being.

The ambition doesn’t stop with neurosurgery. Ronna Medical sees its platform as a foundation for future procedures across multiple disciplines. Other companies can build on the Ronna base, developing specialised tools without needing to reinvent robotic precision from scratch. Ronna is designed to be open – a stepping stone, not a silo.

Working in medical robotics is a mission. For Dr. Sekoranja, the reward is knowing the work helps people heal. Unlike projects designed for conflict or destruction, Ronna’s purpose is human care. Its impact is personal, measurable, and life-improving. That’s what drives the team – and what keeps them innovating.

PTC’s John Haller explains how Ronna Medical uses Windchill – a powerful Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tool – to unify design and quality control. In highly regulated med-tech, traceability and change management are critical. Windchill offers a single source of truth, managing design files, engineering data, and compliance processes. For companies like Ronna Medical, that means faster time to market and assurance that every device meets global quality standards.