Robotically steerable guidewires—Current trends and future directions

Abstract

Research on robotically steerable guidewires has surged in the past decade because of their potential in addressing difficulties related to endovascular interventions. These microscale devices exhibit unique challenges in design, fabrication, and control, not necessarily present in mesoscale continuum robots such as robotic catheters and endoscopes. Existing literature on surgical robots mainly addresses advancements in robotic surgery with a focus on current trends in specific clinical procedures. Our article aims to bridge this gap by reviewing current clinical practices in endovascular interventions, highlighting the clinical motivations for the development of robotically steerable guidewires, and detailing the current advancements and future prospects in topics related to these devices.