Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft Corp announced a partnership on Monday to support the development of the drug and device company’s digital surgery products.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices will partner with the software company to advance its digital surgery platform and connected medical devices. The deal makes Microsoft Johnson & Johnson’s preferred cloud provider of digital surgical tools, according to one company. Press Releases.

The companies plan to apply Microsoft’s artificial intelligence, data analytics and “internet of things” capabilities to improve connectivity between J&J surgical robots, visualization and other digital tools. The companies plan to develop digital tools that simplify surgical procedures or support surgical decision-making.

Larry Jones, chief information officer and vice president of global medical devices at Johnson & Johnson, said in a news release.

In recent years, device makers such as Johnson & Johnson have been seeking more digitally connected surgical tools, including artificial intelligence, preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care and ‘Smart’ surgical implants Send data directly to the doctor.DePuy Synthes, the orthopedic arm of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, has also been working on How to combine sensors Enter patient care.

Johnson & Johnson has previously listed digital surgery as a growth area.

The company is in the midst of a restructuring with plans to focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices as it spins off the consumer health business into a separate public company.Johnson & Johnson, of which announced plans It will break out of its consumer business in November, with the separation expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Johnson & Johnson executives said at the time that the company intends to accelerate its work in orthopedics, surgery and vision, with a focus on digital surgery, and in its pharmaceutical business to focus on oncology, immunology and new cell and gene therapies.

Johnson & Johnson recorded sales of $23.3 billion in the third quarter, the most recent quarter for which it reported earnings, including $13 billion from pharmaceuticals, $6.6 billion from medical devices and $3.7 billion from consumer health products. Sales rose 10.7% from a year earlier, and net income rose 3.2% to $3.7 billion.

Duato said at the JPMorgan event that J&J has three core priorities this year: preparing to divest its consumer business; growing prescription drug revenue at a compound annual rate of 5%; and revitalizing its medical device business.

Those plans will include access to adjacent and faster-growing medtech markets through R&D and acquisitions, Duato said. Over the past five years, Johnson & Johnson has spent $10 million on medical device acquisitions, he said.

“In all areas of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, mergers and acquisitions are a key factor for us moving forward,” Duato said.