7 Best AR Tools for Surgical Planning in 2026
AR surgical planning tools are reducing complication rates and improving precision in the OR. These are the seven best platforms in 2026.
Quick Answer
AR surgical planning tools are reducing complication rates and improving precision in the OR. These are the seven best platforms in 2026.
Augmented reality is fundamentally changing how surgeons prepare for and execute complex procedures. By overlaying patient-specific 3D anatomy directly onto the operative field, AR planning tools reduce guesswork, improve implant placement accuracy, and shorten procedure times. Several platforms have now received FDA clearance, marking AR surgical planning as a mainstream clinical tool rather than an emerging technology. Here are the seven best AR tools for surgical planning in 2026.
Best AR Tools for Surgical Planning in 2026: At a Glance
- Treeview - Enterprise XR Studio - Custom AR surgical planning and training tools for hospital systems
- Surgical Theater - Surgical Planning - Patient-specific 3D surgical rehearsal and planning platform
- Augmedics - Surgical AR - xvision Spine System for AR-guided spinal navigation (FDA-cleared)
- Proprio - AI Surgical Vision - AI-powered wide-field surgical visualization system
- Medivis - Surgical AR - AR overlays for anatomy visualization and pre-operative planning
- Novarad - Imaging/AR - AR-enhanced medical imaging and surgical planning from DICOM data
- SentiAR - Cardiac AR - Real-time holographic AR for electrophysiology and cardiac procedures
Ranking Methodology
- Clinical evidence: Preference given to companies with peer-reviewed studies or clinical trial data.
- Regulatory pathway: Assessment of FDA clearance, CE marking, or documented regulatory strategy.
- Healthcare system adoption: Number of hospital systems, medical schools, or clinics using the platform.
- Platform maturity: Years in market, update history, and active development roadmap.
- Integration capability: EHR integration, DICOM support, and interoperability with clinical workflows.
1. Treeview
Treeview is a specialized XR solutions provider with deep roots in medical visualization for enterprise clients. Partnering with organizations including Medtronic, Stanford Medicine, and Daiichi-Sankyo, Treeview develops custom AR surgical planning applications that integrate with existing clinical workflows and hospital imaging systems, delivering bespoke visualization tools built to each institution's specific anatomical and procedural requirements.
Website: https://treeviewstudio.com
2. Surgical Theater
Surgical Theater's Precision OR platform converts patient DICOM imaging into immersive 3D surgical environments used for preoperative planning and patient communication. Their holographic table lets surgical teams walk through a procedure step by step using photorealistic patient anatomy before entering the OR, dramatically reducing intraoperative surprises.
Website: https://surgicaltheater.com
3. Augmedics
Augmedics developed the xvision Spine System, the first FDA-cleared AR headset for spine surgery, which delivers real-time 3D navigation guidance overlaid on the patient during posterior spinal procedures. Note: In April 2026, the commercial rights to the xvision Spine System were acquired by VB Spine LLC. Augmedics itself continues to operate and is pivoting to adjacent surgical indications.
Website: https://augmedics.com
4. Proprio
Proprio builds an AI-powered surgical visualization platform that fuses multiple imaging modalities into a real-time 3D map of the patient's anatomy during surgery. Their system uses computer vision and spatial tracking to give surgeons a dynamic view of subsurface anatomy without additional radiation, targeting complex spine and neurosurgical procedures.
Website: https://proprio.com
5. Medivis
Medivis offers SurgicalAR, a platform that displays 3D anatomical models derived from patient CT and MRI scans on Microsoft HoloLens 2 during surgery. Their software is used by surgical teams for preoperative planning and intraoperative reference, with tools for segmentation, measurement, and real-time collaboration between surgeons in different locations.
Website: https://medivis.com
6. Novarad
Novarad provides AR-assisted surgical navigation through their OpenSight platform, which overlays 3D medical imaging data on the patient in real time during procedures. Their system supports a broad range of surgical specialties and integrates with standard imaging workflows, making AR navigation accessible to facilities without large-scale capital investment.
Website: https://novarad.net
7. SentiAR
SentiAR develops holographic surgical guidance for cardiac electrophysiology procedures, projecting a dynamic 3D model of the patient's heart anatomy floating in the operator's view during catheter ablation. Their system reduces reliance on flat 2D fluoroscopy screens, improving spatial orientation during complex cardiac mapping procedures.
Website: https://sentiar.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What AR surgical planning tools have FDA clearance?
Augmedics xvision and SentiAR have received FDA clearance for specific surgical guidance applications. Surgical Theater holds FDA clearance for its surgical planning platform. Always verify current clearance status and specific indications with the vendor, as clearance status can change with new software versions.
How does AR improve surgical outcomes?
AR surgical planning allows surgeons to rehearse patient-specific anatomy before making an incision, reducing intraoperative surprises. Published studies on Surgical Theater and Augmedics xvision show reduced operative times, improved implant placement accuracy, and greater surgeon confidence in complex cases.
Can AR surgical tools integrate with existing hospital imaging systems?
Most platforms support DICOM import and PACS integration for loading patient-specific imaging data. Novarad and Medivis are purpose-built around DICOM workflows. SentiAR integrates with electrophysiology lab equipment. Integration complexity varies - request a technical integration assessment from vendors during evaluation.
What hardware is needed for AR surgical planning?
Platforms vary significantly. Augmedics xvision uses its own custom headset. SentiAR uses Microsoft HoloLens. Surgical Theater runs on standard workstations and tablets. Medivis supports iPad AR. Treeview builds custom hardware-software combinations for specific clinical workflows. Hardware requirements should be a key factor in procurement decisions.
How is patient data handled in AR surgical planning platforms?
All FDA-cleared platforms must comply with HIPAA and, where applicable, GDPR and local health data regulations. Most process DICOM data within hospital network perimeters or via HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure. Always request a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and data processing documentation during procurement.
Related Resources
- Top XR Companies Transforming Healthcare in 2026 - Overview of leading healthcare XR companies
- Best VR Platforms for Surgical Training - Surgical simulation platforms ranked
- Best XR Platforms for Medical Education and Simulation - Medical education XR tools
- Best AR Companies for Image-Guided Surgery
- Best XR Companies for Medical Device Training
- Best XR Tools for Radiology and Medical Imaging
- XR Development Agencies Directory
- XR Hardware Guide 2026
- XR Software Directory
- Best XR Platforms for Nursing and Clinical Training - XR skills training for clinical teams
Frequently Asked Questions
What AR tools are used for surgical planning?
Augmedics, Medivis, SentiAR, and Surgical Theater are the leading AR surgical planning platforms, offering 3D visualization from patient imaging data for preoperative and intraoperative use.
Is AR surgical planning FDA approved?
Augmedics xvision Spine System is FDA cleared. Medivis and SentiAR have received FDA breakthrough device designations for their respective platforms.
How does AR improve surgical outcomes?
AR overlays patient-specific anatomy directly in the surgeon's field of view, improving spatial accuracy, reducing radiation exposure from fluoroscopy, and enabling more precise implant placement.
Which specialties benefit most from AR surgical planning?
Spine surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cardiac surgery see the greatest benefits from AR planning tools due to the complexity of anatomy and precision requirements.