Trinity Health Oakland in Pontiac is the first hospital in the United States to complete a total knee replacement surgery using Pixee Medical’s newly FDA-approved Knee+ NexSight augmented reality system.
The pioneering procedure, performed by Dr. Safa Kassab, an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital, further strengthens Trinity Health Oakland’s reputation as a surgical leader in the region, officials state.
“I’ve completed more than 10,000 knee replacements in my career, and I can say without question that augmented reality provides me with a transformative level of clarity and precision,” says Kassab.
“This innovative technology allows me to safely navigate around critical anatomical structures and align the patient’s joint within less than one degree of perfection. This level of accuracy is simply unattainable with a human’s eyes and hands. It elevates my capability, delivering a more accurate, hopefully longer lasting knee for my patients.”
Knee+ NexSight, which received FDA approval in April 2025, offers accuracy and reliability comparable to robot-assisted surgical systems. During the operation, the surgeon wears a headset that enhances real-time decision-making, allowing for the precise positioning of knee implants tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy.
Kassab is a recognized leader in the field of augmented reality for knee replacement, having successfully performed more than 1,000 augmented reality guided procedures using Knee+ technology, the predecessor to Pixee Medical’s Knee+ NexSight technology.
Deployment of the new augmented reality surgical platform comes amid significant investment and expansion of Trinity Health Michigan’s surgical program.
The health system recently announced the acquisition of “da Vinci 5” robots at Trinity Health Ann Arbor and Chelsea Hospital, and a “da Vinci Xi” robot at Trinity Health Livonia,
Trinity Health Michigan, one of the state’s largest employers, has more than 24,000 full-time employees serving 29 counties. Trinity Health Michigan is composed of nine hospitals located in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Howell, Livonia, Muskegon, Oakland, and Shelby, along with two medical groups.
The health system has 2,314 beds and 5,446 physicians, and advanced practice providers. With operating revenues of nearly $4.2 billion. The organization operates numerous ambulatory care locations, home health and hospice agencies, and 23 senior living communities that are owned and/or operated by Trinity Health.
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