IPO Education Foundation Names Medtronic's Dr. William J. Peine as 2026 Inventor of the Year

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF) announced that William J. Peine, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Technology with the Surgical business of Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Inventor of the Year Award for his contributions to patented innovations supporting the company's Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system.

Dr. Peine is a sole or co-inventor on multiple patents protecting key features of the Hugo™ RAS surgeon console, including its overall design, hand controllers, and software that enables precise translation of a surgeon's movements to surgical instruments. These innovations help surgeons perform surgical procedures with greater control, supporting Medtronic's mission to expand access to the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients worldwide.

"Dr. Peine's work demonstrates how intellectual property helps transform breakthrough ideas into life-changing technologies," said Henry Hadad, IPOEF President and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at Bristol Myers Squibb. "His patented innovations have helped advance a platform that is improving surgical care for patients and empowering healthcare providers around the world. We are honored to recognize his contributions as our 2026 Inventor of the Year."

Designed with modular, cart‑mounted arms and an open console, the Hugo™ RAS system enables surgeons to operate through small incisions while remaining connected to the patient and operating room team. The system is used in conjunction with Touch Surgery™ ecosystem, an AI‑enabled solution that records and analyzes surgical videos to support learning, post-operative surgery review, and remote surgeon proctoring.

The Hugo™ RAS system received FDA clearance in 2025 for use in minimally invasive urologic surgical procedures like prostatectomies, nephrectomies, and cystectomies, which together account for about 230,000 surgeries per year in the U.S. Outside the U.S., the Hugo™ RAS system has been used in tens of thousands of urologic, gynecologic, and general surgery procedures across more than 35 countries in six continents.

"I'm honored to receive the 2026 Inventor of the Year award and thankful to IPOEF for the work they do," Dr. Peine said. "It takes a village to turn an idea into a complex medical device like a robotic-assisted surgery system, so I want to thank and acknowledge our extraordinary Hugo™ team and the surgeons who place their trust in Medtronic every day. It's an incredible feeling to know that the Hugo™ system is shaping the future of surgery and helping patients worldwide."

Dr. Peine has been with Medtronic for more than a decade and is a named inventor on more than 130 Medtronic patents. His distinguished career has been recognized with some of the company's highest honors, including Medtronic's Technical Contributor of the Year Award and induction into the prestigious Bakken Society, Medtronic's highest technical distinction.

The Inventor of the Year award recognizes the world's most outstanding recent inventors and how they benefit the nation's economy and quality of life. It highlights the critical role intellectual property plays in fostering innovation. Patents enable inventors and organizations to invest in the research, development, and commercialization of groundbreaking technologies, helping transform scientific discoveries into products and solutions that improve lives. Dr. Peine's work on robotic-assisted surgery technology exemplifies how strong intellectual property protection supports continued advancements in healthcare and medical technology.

Dr. Peine will be honored at the IPO Education Foundation Awards Celebration on December 15, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The annual event brings together leaders from innovation, business, intellectual property, education, and public policy to celebrate individuals and organizations whose work demonstrates the power of intellectual property to drive progress and societal benefit. Additional awards presented during the evening include the Inspiration Award and IP Champion.

Learn more about the Hugo™ RAS system.

About IPO Education Foundation

As a subsidiary of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to educational and charitable activities designed to teach, promote and understand the value of intellectual property rights and encourage innovation. To learn more visit www.ipoef.org.

Contacts:

Kristen Lurye
Deputy Executive Director
[email protected] 
202-507-4500

SOURCE Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation