Global trends and emerging frontiers in robot-assisted vascular intervention: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Robot-assisted vascular intervention may reduce occupational radiation exposure, improve procedural stability, and expand access to specialized endovascular care, but its global research landscape and developmental trajectory remain unclear. Publications related to robot-assisted vascular intervention were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2006, to February 28, 2026. After screening according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 161 eligible articles were included. Bibliometric and visual analyses were performed using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to evaluate publication trends, countries, institutions, journals, authors, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, thematic clusters, and emerging hotspots. Annual publications increased markedly after 2020 and peaked in 2024. Reviews (29.8%) and observational clinical studies (26.7%) predominated, whereas randomized controlled trials remained scarce (1.9%). CorPath GRX was the most frequently reported robot-assisted vascular intervention platform, while the emergence of ETcath200 and others newer systems reflected increasing global platform diversification. The United States was the leading contributor, followed by China and the United Kingdom. The University of California System, Houston Methodist, and the University of Toronto were the most productive institutions. Highly cited studies were dominated by the studies of robotic-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention, although peripheral and neurointerventional applications have become increasingly prominent. Keyword analyses suggested an evolution from early feasibility, safety, and radiation-protection concerns toward broader clinical translation, remote intervention, artificial intelligence, and autonomous navigation. Robot-assisted vascular intervention is a rapidly expanding, multidisciplinary field, but its evidence base remains relatively immature. Future research should emphasize multicenter validation, cross-specialty collaboration, procedural standardization, and intelligent robotic assistance to support safer and more reproducible endovascular care.