Philips selected for ARPA-H program to advance AI-enabled robotic stroke care
Rhea-AI Summary
Philips (NYSE: PHG) has been selected for the U.S. ARPA-H Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) program and awarded up to US$33.7 million to advance AI-enabled robotic automation for stroke care. Philips will work with Johns Hopkins University, Boston University and clinical collaborator Dr. J Mocco of Weill Cornell Medicine.
The project focuses on remote-assisted and increasingly automated endovascular procedures on the Azurion image-guided therapy platform, developing technologies for robotic device control, endovascular navigation, image-based guidance, workflow automation and remote intervention. According to Philips, these technologies are under development and any future clinical use will depend on applicable regulatory requirements.
Positive
- Up to US$33.7 million ARPA-H AIR program award for AI-enabled robotic stroke care
- Government-backed, non-equity funding supports R&D in image-guided, AI-enabled robotic interventions
- Collaboration with Johns Hopkins, Boston University and Weill Cornell enhances robotics and clinical translation capabilities
Negative
- None.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
August 26, 2026
- Philips receives up to US
$33.7 million award from ARPA-H to expand access to AI-enabled robotic stroke care, supporting the program's goal of expanding access to specialized interventions - Philips will collaborate with Johns Hopkins University and Boston University to develop technologies for remote and increasingly automated endovascular procedures
- Building on Philips' leadership in image-guided therapy and the Azurion platform, the work lays the foundation for a future interventional suite that integrates robotics, AI-enabled automation and smart devices into a single clinical workflow
Cambridge, MA, USA and Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced it has received an up to US
Access to timely stroke treatment remains one of healthcare's greatest challenges. In the United States, approximately 335,000 patients each year are eligible for thrombectomy [1], a minimally invasive procedure that, when performed early enough, can reverse the effects of a stroke and prevent long-term disability. Yet only around
Robotic procedure automation
Philips is advancing robotic procedure automation by integrating imaging, robotics, AI-enabled automation and smart interventional devices on its Azurion image-guided therapy platform. This project will develop technologies for endovascular navigation, robotic device control, image-based procedural guidance, workflow automation and remote intervention. These technologies will be designed to support image-guided procedures while enabling increasing levels of supervised autonomy under expert clinical oversight.
“This ARPA-H program accelerates our long-term vision for image-guided intervention,” said Bert van Meurs, Chief Business Leader Image-Guided Therapy at Philips. “We're helping shape a future where expert care is no longer limited by geography or workforce constraints. The goal is not to replace expertise, but to make expertise scalable and accessible.”
“Strong robotics and AI research has laid the scientific foundation for this effort, building on years of foundational work in image-guided and robotics procedural automation to help expand access to time-critical stroke intervention,” added Betsabeh Madani-Hermann, Head of Research at Philips.
Academic Collaborations
Philips will collaborate with Johns Hopkins University and Boston University as part of the program, combining Philips' expertise in image-guided therapy and workflow automation with leading academic capabilities in robotics, clinical translation and procedure automation. Johns Hopkins University will be responsible for developing autonomous device navigation, led by Axel Krieger, PhD, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering. Boston University will be responsible for developing steerable catheters, co-led by Tommaso Ranzani, PhD, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Materials Science & Engineering (MSE); and Sheila Russo Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Materials Science & Engineering (MSE).
“Robotics has the potential to improve precision and accuracy in endovascular stroke care, while also extending specialist expertise through remote procedures,” said Dr. J Mocco, Chair of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and an additional clinical collaborator with Philips. “I am excited to work alongside Philips and the academic partners in this program to translate this potential into clinically meaningful innovation, developing technologies that support clinicians and are designed to improve patient outcomes.”
Today, Philips supports clinicians with more than 20,000 image-guided therapy systems installed across more than 80 countries. Every second, somewhere in the world, a patient is treated using a Philips image-guided therapy system. Building on this global foundation, Philips has more than 40 years of experience in shaping and leading public-private partnerships that accelerate healthcare innovation and complement its global R&D programs. The ARPA-H AIR program represents the next step in that commitment, advancing Philips' vision to help make expert endovascular care available to more patients through innovative image-guided therapies.
Read more
- The future of stroke intervention: Neurosurgeon Dr. J Mocco on the promise of robotics and AI
Dr. J Mocco shares a clinician’s perspective on the challenges facing stroke care today and how robotics and AI could help bring life-saving interventions to more patients. - Beyond Robotics: The Next Evolution of Image-Guided Therapy
Dr. Atul Gupta explores why robotics is only one part of a much broader transformation – bringing together imaging, AI, intelligent workflows and robotics to extend the reach of clinical expertise.
The technologies described are under development. Future clinical use or commercial availability will be subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
[1] ARPA-H. Autonomous Interventions and Robotics (AIR) Program. Available at: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/air
[2] Asif KS, Otite FO, Desai SM, et al. Mechanical Thrombectomy Global Access For Stroke (MT-GLASS). Circulation. 2023.
[3] World Stroke Organization. Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2025.
For further information, please contact:
Joost Maltha
Philips Global External Relations
Tel.: +31 6 1055816
E-mail: joost.maltha@philips.com
Avi Dines
Philips North America
Tel: +1 781 690 3814
E-mail: avi.dines@philips.com
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips’ patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2025 sales of EUR 18 billion and employs approximately 64,800 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.
Attachments
- Philips Robotics Control Room Visualization for Interventional Procedures
- Philips Azurion Image Guided Therapy Platform
