SARASOTA, Fla. (Apr. 28, 2025) – Last week marked another technological milestone at Sarasota Memorial Hospital: the neurosurgery team, led by Dr. Robert Knego, is pioneering the use of Apple Vision Pro’s mixed reality headset with eXeX’s revolutionary mapping software to digitize the setup of the operating room and optimize every step of the surgical team. The new surgical mapping software – recently honored as Time Magazine’s “Software App of the Year” for 2024 – enhances surgical coordination, efficiency and precision, ultimately reducing delays and the amount of time patients remain in the operating room.
This achievement reflects SMH’s longstanding innovation with Apple, dating back to 2009 when it pioneered a hospital system nursing app on iPhones. Today, eXeX continues to champion innovation in surgical care, now leveraging AI‐enhanced logistics to provide.
- Real‐Time Guidance: Ensuring every instrument is at hand and every step is clear.
- Enhanced Communication: From the surgeon to the surgical team, each member stays informed, oriented and aligned with every detail of the surgical procedure map and sequence.
- Standardized Workflows: Streamlined tray setups and checklists support consistency, especially crucial for complex neurosurgical procedures.
By integrating Apple Vision Pro, eXeX and SMH are setting a new precedent for immersive, data‐driven surgical support—helping the OR team stay focused, coordinated, and ready to adapt in real time.
Congratulations to Dr. Knego, the neurosurgery department, and everyone at SMH who made this first‐ever commercial use of the eXeX technology and Apple Vision Pro a success.
About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is a regional medical center offering Southwest Florida’s greatest breadth and depth of care, with 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 2 million patient visits a year across its network of care. Sarasota County’s largest employer, the community-owned health system includes two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, freestanding ERs in North Port and Lakewood Ranch, a rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health hospital, a skilled nursing facility and a comprehensive network of outpatient centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1925, SMH is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2025 and encouraging community members to visit smh.com/100 throughout the year for centennial events and updates.