Stryker makes medical devices and equipment used in orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement implants for hips and knees, along with surgical instruments, hospital beds and medical technology used in operating rooms. Its Mako surgical robot, which assists surgeons during joint replacement procedures, has become a competitive differentiator as hospitals increasingly favor robotic-assisted surgery for its precision and shorter patient recovery times. Demand for Stryker's orthopedic implants is closely tied to aging populations, since joint replacement surgery becomes more common as patients get older and joints wear down. The company also grows through acquisitions of smaller medical device makers, adding new product categories and technologies to its existing surgical and hospital equipment portfolio.