VisAR (augmented reality system for spinal surgery)

2022: Augmented Reality System Market Entry for Spinal Surgery

In mid-June 2022, Novarad released the VisAR spinal surgery system, which uses augmented reality to superimpose a navigation plan directly on the patient's body. The system relies exclusively on finished AR equipment, which significantly reduces its cost.

Novarad announced that VisAR technology has been approved for use on U.S. soil as a guide during spinal surgeries, giving U.S. surgeons a new, potentially more effective alternative to existing surgical navigation systems. Physicians initially analyze patient imaging data using pre-surgery planning software from the VisAR platform, which allows them to add virtual annotations and perform segmentation of collected scans.

Augmented Reality System Market Entry for Spinal Surgery

Medical personnel can then convert the imaging data into a 2D or 3D immersive hologram, which is then applied directly to the patient's body, using markers from computed tomography to accurately position the hologram. According to the developers, using a virtual card as a continuous guide can help surgeons install pedicular screws along the spine with an accuracy of two millimeters.

{{quote 'This is a revolutionary technology that ensures the accuracy of the robot, the portability of the stethoscope and the versatility of human intelligence. Similar to the satellite navigation system in surgery, VisAR provides a roadmap to guide the surgeon to the pathology of interest, said Novarad CEO Wendell Gibby. }} Doctors see the hologram throughout the procedure with Microsoft's HoloLens 2 augmented and virtual reality headset, thanks to a partnership between Novarad and Microsoft. The retail price of the headset starts at $3.5 thousand.

Novarad intends to obtain international permits for the spine navigation system, as well as additional permits in the United States for head and neck-oriented versions of the technology, which are under consideration by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2022.^[1]

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