Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Companies (JJMDC) is partnering with big tech to strengthen its digital surgery solutions. The New Brunswick, NJ-based company said on Monday it is collaborating with Microsoft to expand its digital surgical ecosystem.

As part of the strategic partnership, Microsoft will serve as JJMDC's preferred cloud provider for the company's digital surgery solutions and help JJMDC build out its digital surgery platform and internet of things (IoT) device connectivity.

In an email to MD+DI, the company said it was in the beginning stages of the collaboration with Microsoft. It noted the will enable our cloud capabilities on Azure so our cloud connected devices, apps and solutions will exist on one platform to improve the overall customer experience and the goal of improving patient outcomes.

“The digital revolution that’s going on all around us is happening in medical devices as well,” Peter Schulam, Head of the Office of Digital Innovation at JJMDC, said in an email to MD+DI. “Our instruments, which before were purely mechanical, can now generate data. We have to think about how we’re going to aggregate and process that data, and through this collaboration, we’re ensuring it’s on a unified cloud platform. This will enable physicians and surgeons to gain insights, with the potential to increase consistency and improve the standard of care.”

Digital expansion is one of medtech’s hottest trends and has paved the way for M&A. Last week, Stryker, in a bid to expand its digital presence, announced it would acquire Vocara Communications for $3.9 billion.

San Jose, CA-based Vocara has a portfolio comprised of multiple products including clinical communication, secure text messaging, alarms & notifications, patient experience, and analytics tools. 

And in 2021, Baxter made a move to expand its digital presence by acquiring Hillrom for $12.4 billion.

“Everything we do in our lives is highly digital,” said Peter Schulam, Head of the Office of Digital Innovation at JJMDC. “Think about your home and your car and how connected things are. Everyone is living this every day, and I think everyone is ready for healthcare to follow. At JJMDC, we are well-positioned to transform the future of medical intervention for generations to come.”