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.

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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

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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

Boston Scientific is spending $14.5 billion in cash and stock to buy Penumbra, another medical-device maker that makes products used in minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions such as pulmonary embolism and stroke.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

"BISC turns the cortical surface into an effective portal, delivering high-bandwidth, minimally invasive read-write communication with AI and external devices," Tolias says.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

“It’s minimally invasive, biologically natural and designed to help the scalp function optimally.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 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