Technological evolution and research frontiers of robot-assisted ultrasound examination: a bibliometric exploration

Technological innovations in robot-assisted ultrasound (RAUS) have remarkably advanced the development of precision and intelligent medical imaging diagnosis. This study aims to use bibliometric methods to systematically analyze the technological evolution and research frontiers in the RAUS field, providing valuable insights for future research. This study used the Web of Science Core Collection database to retrieve English-language research papers and reviews related to RAUS published between 2000 and 2024. Using analytical tools such as R (with the Bibliometrix package), VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, the study conducted a bibliometric analysis from multiple angles, including literature distribution, collaboration networks, and knowledge clustering. The visualization of analysis results comprehensively revealed the hot topics and emerging research frontiers within the RAUS field. The results reveal an exponential growth trend in RAUS research, with China leading in publication output (accounting for 28.51% of total publications), while the USA leads in terms of citation impact and international collaboration networks. Institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Chinese Academy of Sciences emerge as highly productive core contributors. The research field has formed a multidimensional interdisciplinary landscape encompassing "mathematical sciences-engineering technology-medical health." The focus is on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and its clinical application translation. From 2000 to 2014, the development of "mobile robots" laid the cornerstone for further advancements. From 2015 to 2018, research focused on the development of "surgery" and "tumors" for medical applications. From 2019 to 2024, the core focus will be on "medical robots and systems," "artificial intelligence" and "robotic ultrasound," highlighting the transformation of technology into an AI-driven model. This study systematically reviewed the development of RAUS through bibliometric methods, enriching academic understanding of the field and providing valuable guidance for future technological iterations, clinical translation, and global cooperation to ultimately achieve precision medicine and balanced medical resources.