minimally invasive

American  

Or minimal invasive

adjective

1. (of medical treatments or procedures) requiring only a small incision or the insertion of an instrument into a body cavity; involving minimal damage of body tissue.

   minimally invasive endoscopy.

---

minimally invasive British  

adjective

1. (of surgery) involving as little incision into the body as possible, through the use of techniques such as keyhole surgery and laser treatment

---

Etymology

Origin of minimally invasive

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The da Vinci robot, Intuitive’s flagship product, is designed for minimally invasive surgery.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Penumbra’s portfolio focuses largely on devices used in mechanical thrombectomies, a minimally invasive procedure to remove blood clots, and for neurovascular conditions.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

By combining strong magnetic performance with bone-friendly bioactivity, these nanocomposites point toward future therapies that could treat bone tumors and restore damaged tissue through a single, minimally invasive procedure.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

Instead of removing it, surgeons performed a cryoablation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissue.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2025

The development of these extractors came after front-line medics highlighted the urgent need for a safe, fast, minimally invasive way to remove shrapnel.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025