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Siemens Healthineers has been awarded up to $31.1 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate the development of an autonomous, remotely operated endovascular robotic system designed to perform mechanical thrombectomy on stroke patients.

The funding will be provided over five years, with the aim of developing a robotic system capable of carrying out endovascular procedures without direct human input. Siemens Healthineers will contribute a further $5.4 million through a cost-sharing arrangement.
The initiative aims to address a critical gap in U.S. stroke care, where many patients do not have immediate access to neurointerventional specialists capable of performing thrombectomy.

Without rapid intervention, patients may be limited to pharmacological thrombolytics, which do not always provide optimal outcomes. Catheter-based thrombectomy, which removes blood clots through an interventional procedure, has become a standard of care in some parts of the U.S., but access remains concentrated primarily in major cities and comprehensive stroke centres. When performed quickly, thrombectomy can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability.

The development of this technology mirrors the major transformation that took place in cardiac care for heart attacks around 35 years ago. During the early 1990s, hospitals increasingly moved from thrombolytics towards percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The significantly improved outcomes associated with PCI ultimately made thrombolytics largely obsolete for myocardial infarction.

Many experts believe a similar transition is now taking place in stroke care, although there remains a shortage of highly trained neurointerventional specialists. Autonomous robotic technology could help address this shortage by expanding access to advanced stroke treatment across the country, including rural and potentially remote communities.

“Early access to the right treatment makes all the difference for stroke patients,” explained Philipp Fischer, head of advanced therapies at Siemens Healthineers, in a statement. “By integrating robotics, imaging, devices and artificial intelligence, we want to transform the way endovascular therapy is delivered, towards greater accessibility and precision across a broader range of care settings.”

Fischer added that the ARPA-H investment represents a major step forward in the development of autonomous, remotely operated endovascular robotics, with the potential to benefit patients and communities around the world.

In the U.S., more than half of the population lives more than an hour away from a hospital capable of performing thrombectomy. ARPA-H estimates that only around 12% of the 335,000 stroke patients eligible for mechanical thrombectomy receive the treatment each year. Because stroke treatment is highly time-sensitive, delays can increase the risk of long-term disability or death while also driving up healthcare costs.

Stryker, which has an established collaboration with Siemens Healthineers, is also receiving a portion of the funding. The two companies entered into a strategic partnership in 2025 aimed at accelerating innovation in robotic neurovascular interventions.

© Siemens Healthineers