The funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will support the development of autonomous technology for mechanical thrombectomy.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health awarded Siemens Healthineers up to $31.1 million over five years to accelerate the development of autonomous remote endovascular robotics. The technology is designed to enable robots to perform long-distance treatment of acute ischemic stroke through mechanical thrombectomy without direct human input.
Siemens Healthineers will contribute $5.4 million as a cost share over the course of the project, bringing the total combined investment to as much as $36.5 million.
Expanding Access to Stroke Care
Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a blood clot from a blocked blood vessel in the brain to restore blood flow following an acute ischemic stroke. While the procedure can improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability, access remains limited.
Today, the procedure is almost exclusively available in comprehensive stroke centers, which means large parts of the population are excluded from access, the company says. In the US, more than half of the population lives more than an hour from a clinic capable of performing the procedure, and only an estimated 12% of 335,000 eligible stroke patients receive the treatment each year, notes a company release from Siemens Healthineers.
“Early access to the right treatment makes all the difference for stroke patients. 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,” says Philipp Fischer, head of advanced therapies at Siemens Healthineers, in a release. “The ARPA-H investment is a big step in advancing autonomous remote endovascular robotics for the benefit of patients and communities around the world.”
Strategic Collaboration
Under the award, Stryker is acting as a sub-awardee, continuing a strategic partnership established between the two companies in 2025 to accelerate innovation in robotic neurovascular interventions.
“This funding represents an important milestone in our collaboration with Siemens Healthineers and reinforces our shared commitment to advancing neurovascular care through innovation. Together, we’re developing technologies designed to help overcome barriers to treatment and bring advanced stroke care closer to more patients and communities,” says Jim Marucci, president of Stryker’s neurovascular division, in a release.
The funding is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Autonomous Interventions and Robotics program, led by program manager Ileana Hancu, PhD.
Photo provided: Siemens Healthineers
