XCath Develops Robotic System to Improve Brain Aneurysm and Stroke Care

Houston-based startup XCath is developing a robot-assisted system for endovascular brain aneurysm repair and stroke treatment, aiming to standardize complex procedures and expand access to care. Cerebral aneurysms—weak bulges in brain arteries—can rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke and nearly 500,000 deaths worldwide annually. Endovascular interventions are preferred over open surgery but require high technical skill, and a global shortage of neurointerventionists limits patient access.

XCath’s robotic platform seeks to replicate the precision of top neurointerventionists while enabling more physicians to perform these procedures safely. Last month, the company successfully treated three patients in Panama, marking its first in-human procedures and only the second use of a surgical robot in intracranial neurovascular intervention.

The system also supports remote operation, potentially expanding access to urgent stroke care through telesurgery. XCath plans to initiate a clinical trial for brain aneurysm repair and aims to demonstrate the feasibility of robotic stroke treatment.

22-12-2025