Google, Johnson & Johnson team up to build robot surgeons

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google is teaming up with Johnson & Johnson to build robots that can help surgeons in the operating room.

The alliance announced this week 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.

The companies will try to engineer robotic technology that will reduce patient trauma and accelerate post-surgery healing.

Google will work with Ethicon, a medical device company owned by Johnson & Johnson.

Financial terms of the deal aren't being disclosed.

Johnson & Johnson's innovation center in California negotiated the partnership with Google, which is based in Mountain View, California.