CONCORD, Mass., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OnPoint Surgical, Inc., a medical technology company which has developed an FDA cleared augmented reality (AR) surgical navigation system for spine procedures, today announced the publication of accuracy data for its OnPoint AR system in the peer-reviewed Journal of Spine Surgery. The study, "Accuracy of a high-resolution augmented reality (AR) guidance system with novel 3D stereoscopic targeting for spinal surgery," reports that the OnPoint system placed pedicle screws in cadaveric specimens with a positional error of 1.1 mm (1 SD = 0.5 mm) and an angular error of 1.3° (1 SD = 0.5°).
Journal of Spine Surgery Publishes Peer-Reviewed On-Point Surgical Augmented Reality Accuracy Data: Pedicle Screw Placement Error 2-5× Smaller Than Reported for Major Navigation and Robotic Systems
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The positional and angular error are 2–5× smaller than the errors reported for other major navigation and robotics systems. The differences were statistically highly significant for all comparisons. Screw placement accuracy in the study was 100%, with no medial or inferior breaches observed.
The study evaluated 80 pedicle screws placed by three experienced spine surgeons across five cadaveric specimens, including osteoporotic anatomy, using both open and minimally invasive techniques across the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. Positional and angular error were measured in three dimensions by comparing post-operative CT scans of the implanted screws with the planned trajectories, and radiographic accuracy was independently graded by a blinded fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist using the Heary and Gertzbein-Robbins classifications.
"The surgeons set out to publish hard numbers, and the numbers are on point," said Philipp Lang, M.D., CEO, OnPoint Surgical. "A positional error of 1.1 mm and an angular error of 1.3° are 2–5× smaller than what the major navigation and robotic platforms have reported, and the comparisons were statistically highly significant across the board. Surgeons can leverage this accuracy today in minimally invasive and complex spinal procedures."
Notably, this accuracy is enabled when using the OnPoint AR headset with its proprietary 3D stereoscopic targeting technology. The targeting provides the surgeon with a tool to be highly accurate in difficult anatomic situations, magnifying positional and angular deviation approximately ten times and overlaying it directly onto the surgical site in the surgeon's field of view — rather than on a monitor several feet away from the patient.
Other factors contributing to the impressive accuracy of the OnPoint AR system include the ergonomics of the OnPoint AR system, the high display resolution, the accuracy of the AR overlay achieved through a proprietary, patent-protected AR display alignment, a low headset weight of only 320 grams including tracking array, and a proprietary image registration technique versus traditional scanner tracking.
The publication reflects OnPoint Surgical's ongoing collaboration with leading spine surgeons, researchers, and healthcare institutions to evaluate the clinical application of augmented reality navigation. The study's authors represent Henry Ford Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, Boston University Medical Center, Kaiser Hospital Roseville, and Tulane University.
"This level of accuracy, obtained without taking the surgeon's eyes off the operative field, is a meaningful step for the cases where precision matters most, for patients with small pedicles and challenging anatomy", said Serena S. Hu, M.D., Vice Chair, Chief, Spine Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center.
The full article is available through the Journal of Spine Surgery: Abdulhak M, Srivastav SK, Pan J, Bueff HU, Voegeli T, Hu SS. Accuracy of a high-resolution augmented reality (AR) guidance system with novel 3D stereoscopic targeting for spinal surgery. J Spine Surg 2026;12(6):88. doi: 10.21037/jss-2026-1-0034.
About OnPoint Surgical
OnPoint Surgical is a medical technology company developing augmented reality surgical and machine learning navigation solutions designed to enhance visualization, guidance, and accuracy during spine procedures. The FDA cleared OnPoint AR platform combines a high-resolution, lightweight head-mounted display with proprietary 3D stereoscopic targeting and image registration to deliver published, peer-reviewed placement accuracy that integrates into existing surgical workflows. The OnPoint AR-AI technology platform is protected by more than 60 granted U.S. and international patents.
SOURCE OnPoint Surgical, Inc.
Author
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TJ Halvorson
The De Angelis Group | Orthopedics This Week | MSK Innovations
Why This Matters
Two Perspectives
MBA Lens: Economic and industry impact
OnPoint Surgical's FDA-cleared AR system published peer-reviewed accuracy data, showing 2-5x smaller pedicle screw placement errors than major navigation and robotic systems. This statistically significant advantage, coupled with 100% screw placement accuracy in cadaveric studies, positions OnPoint for strong market penetration in spine procedures, particularly for complex and minimally invasive cases, potentially disrupting existing competitive landscapes.
- The OnPoint AR system demonstrates a significant competitive edge with superior accuracy data compared to established navigation and robotic platforms.
- This peer-reviewed evidence supports adoption for complex spinal procedures, enhancing surgical precision and potentially impacting market share.
PhD Lens: Clinical and outcomes impact
A study published in the Journal of Spine Surgery reported the OnPoint AR system achieved 1.1 mm positional and 1.3° angular error for pedicle screw placement in cadavers, 2-5x smaller than other systems, with 100% accuracy. This precision is attributed to proprietary 3D stereoscopic targeting, high display resolution, and advanced image registration, offering significant clinical benefits for challenging anatomies.
- The OnPoint AR system demonstrated statistically significant superior accuracy (1.1 mm positional, 1.3° angular error) in pedicle screw placement in cadaveric specimens.
- The study involved 80 screws placed by three surgeons across diverse anatomy, with accuracy independently graded, highlighting its potential for precision in complex spinal surgeries.
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Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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