Inside KARL STORZ's Big Bet on Connected Surgery

KARL STORZ doubles down on connected surgery with Innersight3D and key software acquisitions

8 Jul 2025

KARL STORZ is placing software at the centre of its growth strategy as surgical technology shifts towards fully connected operating rooms. The German company in July launched Innersight3D, a platform designed to enhance visualisation and workflow in minimally invasive surgery, marking its most significant step yet into digital integration.

The move follows two acquisitions earlier in the year. In January, KARL STORZ bought the medical division of US software group TIV, gaining its CollaboratOR platform, which allows surgical teams to share video, images and data across multiple device brands. In April, the company acquired intellectual property and staff from Diaspective Vision, a German specialist in hyperspectral and multispectral imaging.

Executives describe these deals as part of a broader plan to link devices, data and surgical teams through software rather than focusing solely on instruments. Industry analysts say competitors including Stryker, Olympus and digital health start-ups such as Proximie and Caresyntax are pursuing similar strategies. "Whoever controls the software layer controls the operating room," said one analyst.

Digital systems promise gains in efficiency and collaboration by reducing delays, improving scheduling and enabling remote surgical support. Yet hospitals remain cautious, citing the need for proven outcomes, strict cybersecurity safeguards and protection from vendor lock-in.

By combining TIV's collaboration tools, Diaspective's imaging capabilities and its own established hardware portfolio, KARL STORZ aims to position itself at the forefront of the shift towards connected surgery. The success of Innersight3D could strengthen its foothold in a sector where leadership is increasingly defined by software as much as by surgical instruments.