FDA Clears Novarad's OpenSight System to Use With Microsoft's HoloLens for Surgical Planning

October 24, 2018—Novarad announced that the company's OpenSight augmented reality (AR) system, which is used with the Microsoft HoloLens headset, has FDA 510(k) clearance for use in preoperative surgical planning. OpenSight interactively renders two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and four-dimensional imaging and overlays it directly onto the patient’s body.

According to the company, OpenSight used with the Microsoft HoloLens headset allows a physician both to see the three-dimensional patient images in AR and to see the patient (in reality) at the same time. AR also lets providers see complete real-world surroundings, avoiding the disorientation of virtual reality.

Novarad stated that OpenSight AR allows a better understanding of anatomic relationships because the images are colocalized to the patient. Preoperative planning with OpenSight makes it possible to highlight relevant anatomy and critical structures to avoid, as well as to position virtual tools and guidance systems to more accurately plan a surgical approach. Multiple headsets can be shared among users to improve the training of less experienced residents. A teaching version of the software is also available that allows medical students to perform virtual dissections on cadavers, added the company.