World’s First Robotic Surgery Using Meta Quest and 3D Visualization Demonstrate a Real-World Application of Augmented Reality (AR)

Levita Magnetics pioneers the world's first AR-assisted robotic surgeries, combining the Meta Quest 3 headset and 3D visualization in Santiago, Chile. This breakthrough in surgical tech enhances precision and efficiency, setting a new standard in patient outcomes and offering future potential for telesurgery and AI integration.
World's First Robotic Surgery Using Meta Quest and 3D Visualization Demonstrate a Real-World Application of Augmented Reality (AR)
Image Credit: Levita | Dr. Alberto Rodriguez Navarro, minimally invasive surgeon and CEO of Levita Magnetics

Levita Magnetics’ state-of-the-art MARS robotic system offers surgeons unparalleled depth perception, designed to enable faster and more precise procedures.


In a groundbreaking advancement for medical science, surgeons in Santiago, Chile, performed the world’s first robotic surgeries combining 3D visualization and augmented reality (AR), marking a significant step forward in improving surgical speed, visualization, precision, and patient outcomes.

Surgeons used the Levitaยฎ MARSยฎ robotic platform to perform a series of 10 operationsย leveraging the Meta Quest 3 headset and theย B.ย Braunย Aesculap EinsteinVisionย 3Dย camera.

“Inย surgery, viewing is everything, andย this is aย majorย leap forwardย in surgical visualization,” said Dr. Rodriguez Navarro. “The surgeon-controlled stable surgical view provided by the MARS robotic system enables us to incorporate augmented reality and 3D visualization, allowing for an unprecedented improvement in surgical view. Our goal is to empower the surgeon with the capabilities to provide a safer, faster, and more precise procedure. This is a real-world application of AR and 3D that will truly transform the way surgery is performed.”

Dr. Rodriguez Navarro, a minimally invasive surgeon and CEO of Silicon Valley-based Levita Magnetics, was instrumental in developing the MARS robotic platform. This FDA-cleared innovative robotic system features Levita’s proprietary Dynamic Magnetic Positioningโ„ข technology,ย allowingย surgeons toย maneuverย instrumentsย insideย theย bodyย usingย magnets. MARS reduces the number of incisions and results in faster recovery, less pain, and fewer scars*.

By incorporating immersive 3D visualization into the surgeon’s view from the operating table, Levita is enhancing visibility and depth perception, resulting in more efficient surgeries. AR headsets offer the ability to enlarge and reposition the 3D view on the dynamic screen, making surgeriesย moreย ergonomicย whileย keepingย theย surgeonย closely connectedย toย theย patientย withinย the sterile surgical field.

Global Impact of the First AR-Driven Robotic Surgeries

Theย surgeriesย performedย atย Hospital Luisย Tisnรฉ,ย partย ofย theย governmentalย healthcareย systemย in Chile, showcase the technology’s potential to make advanced robotic procedures more accessible to public hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ACS), where healthcare resources are often limited.

“The use of augmented reality in robotic surgeries is a pioneering advancement in the public systemย inย Chile andย worldwide,ย allowing usย toย improveย precisionย inย abdominalย surgeries,”ย said Dr. Osvaldo Salgado, the Vice Minister of Health in Chile. “These surgical interventions were performedย using augmentedย realityย andย theย Levita roboticย platform,ย allowing theย patient’s internal structures to be visualized in 3D and improving safety and efficiency.”

Advancing Telesurgery and AI in Robotic Surgery

ARย headsets projectย aย high-definition,ย virtualย screenย directly inย frontย ofย theย surgeon, markingย the first step toward a fully integrated virtual diagnostics dashboard. While this technology is not cleared by the FDA and not yet available for sale, Dr. Rodriguez Navarro envisions providing real-time access to vital signs, patient history, previous diagnostic images and other critical information, all within the surgeon’s virtual visual field.

This innovation also opens the door to telesurgery and telementoring, with the potential to transformย surgicalย practicesย worldwide,ย especiallyย inย remoteย areasย withoutย surgical expertise.

As the platform continues to evolve, the Levita team is working to integrate artificial intelligence (AI),ย enablingย real-timeย surgeryย dataย analysis.ย Thisย AI-poweredย innovationย willย improveย decision- making during the procedure and will in the future provide automation for surgical tasks.

“We believe that AI and augmented reality will soon become the standard in surgical practice, enhancingย efficiency,ย reducing complications,ย andย ultimatelyย improvingย patientย outcomes,”ย said Dr. Rodriguez Navarro. “This technology is designed for a global impact, ensuring that the benefits of advanced surgery reach everyone, everywhere.”

Aboutย Levita

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Levita Magnetics was founded by innovator and surgeon Dr. Albertoย Rodriguezย Navarro.ย Itsย proprietaryย technologyย isย designed toย advanceย minimallyย invasive surgery. Levita developed the Levita Magnetic Surgical System and MARS, proprietary technologies designed to minimize the footprint of surgery and improve patient outcomes. For more information visit levita.com.

*Based on a retrospective study of 296 patients comparing magnetic liver retraction vs. a conventional liverย retractor inย bariatricย surgery. Patientsย inย theย Magneticย Surgery cohortย hadย significantlyย decreasedย 12- hour post-operative pain scores and hospital length of stay.


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