Transient and continuant authors in robotic medicine: A scientometric view

The purpose of this study is to conduct a scientometric analysis of the body of literature on robotic medicine covered by PubMed database for a period from 2000-2011 and identify the quantum of transient and continuant authors. A total of 9906 articles were downloaded from PubMed database using the search term robotics in mesh headings subjected to scientometric data analysis techniques. A number of research questions pertaining to publication frequency, country of publication, individual productivity of authors, continuant, and transient nature of authors were proposed and answered. Based on the findings, many implications emerged that improve one’s understanding of the identity of robotic medicine as a distinct biomedical field. The pool of articles is drawn from PubMed database only though there are other databases also.