Background　Based　on　the　background　of　minimally　invasive　surgery　and　applications　of　medical　robots,　a　vascular　interventional　robotic　system　has　been　developed　that　can　be　used　in　the　field　of　vascular　intervention.　Methods　The　robotic　system　comprises　a　propulsion　system,　an　image　navigation　system　and　a　virtual　surgery　training　system.　Integration　of　the　three　systems　constitutes　a　vascular　intervention　prototype　robotic　system　used　to　carry　out　in　vitro　vascular　intervention　and　animal　experiments.　Results　On　a　transparent　glass　vascular　model,　a　catheter　was　shown　to　enter　an　arbitrary　branch　of　the　vascular　model　with　catheter　motion　meeting　the　requirements　of　clinical　vascular　intervention　surgery　(VIS);　i.e.　error　band　of　catheter　motion　＜0.5　mm.　In　the　animal　experiments,　1.33-2.00　mm　(4F-6F)　diameter　catheters　were　selectively　inserted　successfully　into　predefined　targets　in　the　animal,　such　as　the　renal,　cardiovascular　and　cerebrovascular　artery.　Compared　with　conventional　manual　surgery,　the　time　for　robotic　surgery　is　a　little　longer.　There　were　no　operative　complications　in　the　animal　experiments.　Conclusions　These　simulation　and　animal　study　results　demonstrate　that　this　vascular　interventional　robotic　system　allows　doctors　to　perform　angiography　remotely　and　prevents　them　from　radiation　exposure.　The　system　may　be　the　basis　for　further　clinical　applications　of　vascular　intervention.　Copyright　(C)　2011　John　Wiley　&　Sons,　Ltd.