BrainLab Takes iPhone-like Digital Lightbox to Next Logical Step

We have previously mentioned that BrainLab‘s Digital Lightbox reminds us of a giant iPhone. Clearly agreeing with our way of thinking, last week at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons we saw BrainLab demonstrate an implementation of their knee navigation software that simply uses an iPhone/iPod Touch, coupled with a passive tracking attachment and iPhone App. The iPhone, with attached markers, is used to identify bony landmarks on the knee, which are then fed into the BrainLab software for 3-D guidance of knee surgery. The iPhone screen is used as the display, both for marker placement prompting and leg-alignment indicators during the procedure. Using the motion tracking sensor and the iPhone as an input and display, rather than the other solutions BrainLab supports (shown below), reduces the footprint needed in the OR.

There is no mention of the iPhone version of their imaging suite on the BrainLab website, but the FDA 510(K) clearance given for its Uni-Knee software does not define the display technology used, seemingly allowing this configuration.
uni-knee product page…
FDA 510K Summary…