Augmented Reality Glasses for Guiding Surgeons
This patent describes a head-mounted augmented reality display, like smart glasses, specifically designed to help surgeons by overlaying digital patient data and markers directly onto their view of the patient during medical procedures.
Original patent title: “Head-mounted augmented reality near eye display device”
This patent describes a head-mounted augmented reality display, like smart glasses, specifically designed to help surgeons by overlaying digital patient data and markers directly onto their view of the patient during medical procedures. Granted to Augmedics in 2024 with 22 claims and 14 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The device is a head-mounted display, such as smart glasses or a helmet (claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 2, 3), worn by a user, likely a surgeon. It features two optical combiners, one for each eye, that allow the user to see through them to the real world, including a "portion of a region of interest of a patient" (claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Simultaneously, two micro-projectors display digital images from a database onto these combiners. Lenses then make these projected images appear in focus at about 50 cm, seemingly floating in the real world (claim 1). An infrared sensor tracks physical markers placed near the patient's area of interest, allowing the system to accurately align the digital information with the real anatomy (claim 1). For example, a surgeon could see a 3D model of a patient's spine overlaid precisely on the patient's back during a spinal fusion surgery.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Augmented reality displays not specifically configured to facilitate a medical procedure.
- Head-mounted AR devices that do not include an infrared sensor for tracking markers near a patient's region of interest.
- AR systems where the projected image is not adapted to be in focus at approximately 50 cm.
- AR displays where the optical combiners cannot tilt downwards at an angle of up to 40 degrees from horizontal.
- General AR glasses used for gaming, navigation, or industrial maintenance outside of medical procedures.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining the specific optical arrangement for near-eye projection (focused at 50 cm) with the ability to tilt the optical combiners and the use of an infrared sensor to track physical markers, all tailored for precise overlay during medical procedures. This allows for accurate, hands-free guidance in a sterile environment.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Augmedics xvision Spine System
Surgical navigation systems
Augmented reality for medical training
Head-mounted displays for interventional radiology
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant for the field of surgical navigation and medical imaging. By directly overlaying critical patient data, like CT scans or surgical plans, onto the surgeon's view, it aims to improve precision and reduce the need to look away at separate monitors. Augmedics, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is known for its xvision Spine System, which uses similar technology to guide spinal surgeries, suggesting this patent covers core aspects of their commercial offering.
Filed
August 4, 2023
Granted
August 20, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Augmedics Ltd. is actively building on this technology with its xvision Spine System, which is already in use in hospitals. Other companies in the surgical AR space, such as Medivis and Brainlab, are also developing solutions for real-time surgical guidance using augmented reality, though their specific implementations may differ.
Market impact
This patent supports the development of a new category of surgical tools that integrate digital information directly into the surgeon's field of view. It enables products like the xvision Spine System, which aims to enhance precision and safety in complex procedures. The technology helps shift the paradigm from traditional screen-based navigation to immersive, heads-up guidance, potentially reducing operative time and improving patient outcomes.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The device is a head-mounted display, such as smart glasses or a helmet (claims 2, 3), worn by a user, likely a surgeon. It features two optical combiners, one for each eye, that allow the user to see through them to the real world, including a "portion of a region of interest of a patient" (claim 1). Simultaneously, two micro-projectors display digital images from a database onto these combiners. Lenses then make these projected images appear in focus at about 50 cm, seemingly floating in the real world (claim 1). An infrared sensor tracks physical markers placed near the patient's area of interest, allowing the system to accurately align the digital information with the real anatomy (claim 1). For example, a surgeon could see a 3D model of a patient's spine overlaid precisely on the patient's back during a spinal fusion surgery.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining the specific optical arrangement for near-eye projection (focused at 50 cm) with the ability to tilt the optical combiners and the use of an infrared sensor to track physical markers, all tailored for precise overlay during medical procedures. This allows for accurate, hands-free guidance in a sterile environment.
What it does not cover
- Augmented reality displays not specifically configured to facilitate a medical procedure.
- Head-mounted AR devices that do not include an infrared sensor for tracking markers near a patient's region of interest.
- AR systems where the projected image is not adapted to be in focus at approximately 50 cm.
- AR displays where the optical combiners cannot tilt downwards at an angle of up to 40 degrees from horizontal.
- General AR glasses used for gaming, navigation, or industrial maintenance outside of medical procedures.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
23/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$131K – $419K
Midpoint $262K · 16.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Elimelech, N., Benishti, N., Wolf, S., & Gerland, E. (2024). Augmented Reality Glasses for Guiding Surgeons (U.S. Patent No. 12,069,233). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12069233/head-mounted-augmented-reality-near-eye-display-device
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Augmented Reality Glasses for Guiding Surgeons cover?
This patent describes a head-mounted augmented reality display, like smart glasses, specifically designed to help surgeons by overlaying digital patient data and markers directly onto their view of the patient during medical procedures.
Who owns patent US 12069233?
Augmedics owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 4, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 12069233 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 14 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant for the field of surgical navigation and medical imaging. By directly overlaying critical patient data, like CT scans or surgical plans, onto the surgeon's view, it aims to improve precision and reduce the need to look away at separate monitors. Augmedics, the assignee, is known for its xvision Spine System, which uses similar technology to guide spinal surgeries, suggesting this patent covers core aspects of their commercial offering.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Augmented reality displays not specifically configured to facilitate a medical procedure.
Patent monitoring