Russian Scientists Develop AR Glasses to Assist Surgeons in Real Time

A new augmented reality system could give Russian surgeons real-time, holographic views of blood vessels and organs during operations.

Russian researchers are developing augmented reality (AR) glasses designed to revolutionize the operating room. The system projects transparent anatomical overlays—such as blood vessels and nerves—directly into the surgeon’s field of view, offering enhanced spatial awareness during procedures.

Built on the Arduino Nano microcontroller, the glasses superimpose digital imagery onto the real-world surgical environment. This fusion allows for more accurate navigation and reduces the risk of intraoperative error.

AR technology has already shown promise in neurosurgery, where it reduced navigation errors by 30 percent, and in cardiac surgery, where it shortened average procedure time by 15 percent.

While the current prototype is too bulky for regular glasses, it serves as a testing ground for the software and anatomical database. Researchers aim to miniaturize the hardware in the future, turning the system into an indispensable surgical assistant.

If introduced into clinical settings, the AR glasses could significantly improve the precision and safety of surgeries across Russia.