Optical Tracking for Orthopaedic Navigation and Robotic Surgery
As Orthopaedic surgery shifts toward robotic-assisted workflows and Ambulatory Surgery Centres (ASCs), OEMs are building navigation systems that demand higher accuracy, lower latency, and more compact form factors. Polaris® Optical tracking provides real-time, sub-millimetre data that supports computer-assisted and robotic navigation for hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasty.
OEM Navigation, Robotics, and ASC Workflows with
Polaris Optical Tracking
Polaris provides the real-time positional data that connects pre-operative planning, intraoperative tracking, and system-level feedback inside OEM orthopaedic navigation and robotic workflows.
Reliable Performance
Stable tracking in real OR environments, designed to support consistent performance and minimize workflow disruptions.
Consistent Accuracy
Sub-millimetre tracking designed to provide positional data for OEM orthopaedic navigation systems supporting bone preparation and implant placement workflows.
Faster Integration, Scalable Design
Supports efficient system development and expansion across navigation and robotic-assisted workflows.
Trusted by OEMs Building the Next Generation of Orthopaedic Navigation
Real stories from the people who make NDI exceptional.
Disclaimer: Individual customer experience. Results may vary based on OEM system and clinical application.
We are demonstrating that integrating active robotics with the NDI tracking system in surgical solutions can provide an extraordinary experience for both users and patients. I appreciate NDI’s reliable quality system and proactive support for our R&D and sales activities.”
Jun Lee
CEO, Curexo Inc.
Robotic-Assisted Orthopaedic Navigation
Polaris integrates into OEM robotic orthopaedic systems to provide high-speed instrument, anatomy, and robotic component tracking, supporting guided bone resection, implant placement, path planning, and intraoperative joint assessment within OEM robotic workflows.
What Polaris Tracks in Robotic-Assisted Navigation:
Robotic Arm Components
Polaris tracks the robotic base and end-effector in real-time, providing positional feedback for robotic path planning and guided bone resection.
Surgical Instruments
Cutting tools, saws, and handheld instruments are tracked to support real-time navigation guidance during bone preparation and joint evaluation.
Patient Reference Frames
Reference arrays on bony anatomy maintain spatial registration between the patient, the robotic system, and the navigation plan throughout the case.
Implant Positioning Guides
Polaris tracks alignment tools and trial components during implant placement, providing positional data that supports component orientation, seating depth, and overall alignment verification.
Recommended Products
Polaris Vega® XT
High-speed, low-latency Optical tracking with sub-millimetre accuracy over a large measurement volume. Designed for dynamic workflows requiring real-time coordination of instruments and robotic components.
Polaris Vega® VT
Optical tracking with integrated HD video. Supports visualization workflows and augmented reality overlays.
Polaris IRED Active Markers
Reusable, low-profile active markers for tracking robotic bases and end-effectors.
Polaris Radix™ Lens
Wipeable, retro-reflective passive markers. Resist contamination from blood and bone debris.
Polaris Accuracy Assessment Kit™ (AAK)
Portable, on-demand accuracy verification for Polaris Optical Trackers. Supports routine accuracy checks on the manufacturing floor, in clinical environments, or in research settings.
Computer-Assisted Orthopaedic Navigation
Polaris integrates into OEM orthopaedic navigation systems to provide real-time instrument and anatomy tracking data used in OEM workflows for bone preparation, implant placement, and joint evaluation.
What Polaris Tracks in Computer-Assisted Navigation:
Surgical Instruments
Polaris tracks cutting guides, saws, and hand-held instruments in real-time, providing the positional data that navigation systems use to guide bone resection and verify cut accuracy.
Patient Reference Frames
Implant Positioning Guides
Polaris tracks alignment tools and trial components during implant placement, providing positional data that supports component orientation, seating depth, and overall alignment verification.
Recommended Products
Polaris Lyra®
Compact, cart- or bed-mountable Optical Tracker. Sub-millimetre accuracy in a form factor designed for ASC and space-constrained OR environments.
Polaris Radix™ Lens
Wipeable, retro-reflective passive markers. Resist contamination from blood and bone debris during bone resection and implant placement.
Polaris Accuracy Assessment Kit™ (AAK)
Portable, on-demand accuracy verification for Polaris Optical Trackers. Supports routine accuracy checks on the manufacturing floor, in clinical environments, or in research settings.
Developing a Next-Generation Orthopaedic Platform?
Connect with our Product Integration team to identify the right Polaris tracking and marker configuration for your hip, knee, or shoulder navigation system.
Frequently Asked Questions: Optical Tracking for Orthopaedic Navigation
Why does tracking matter in orthopaedic surgery?
Orthopaedic navigation and robotic-assisted surgery depend on real-time, high-accuracy position data to guide bone resection, support implant alignment, and enable intraoperative joint assessment. Without continuous tracking data, OEM navigation systems cannot provide real-time positional feedback, leaving surgical decisions dependent on manual measurement and visual estimation. As image-guided surgery adoption grows across knee, hip, and shoulder arthroplasty, and as procedures move into ambulatory surgery centres, OEMs face increasing demands for higher tracking accuracy, lower latency, contamination-resistant markers, and system designs compact enough for ASC environments. These requirements make the choice of tracking technology a foundational decision in navigation and robotic platform development.
What types of orthopaedic procedures does NDI Optical tracking support?
NDI Polaris Optical tracking supports OEM development of navigation and robotic-assisted systems for primary and complex hip, knee, and shoulder arthroplasty. This includes total knee arthroplasty (TKA), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and revision procedures.
What is the difference between computer-assisted and robotic-assisted orthopaedic navigation?
Computer-assisted navigation systems use Optical tracking data as one input for displaying real-time positional information during bone preparation and implant placement procedures. Robotic-assisted navigation adds a robotic arm or handheld robotic device to the workflow, using the same tracking data to support guided cutting, dynamic joint assessment, and robotic path planning. Both rely on accurate, real-time 6DOF data from optical tracking systems.
Which NDI products are recommended for robotic orthopaedic navigation?
NDI recommends the Polaris Vega XT for high-speed, sub-millimetre tracking across a large measurement volume. Polaris IRED Active Markers support tracking of robotic bases and end-effectors, and Polaris Radix Lens markers resist contamination during bone resection.
Which NDI products are recommended for computer-assisted orthopaedic navigation?
NDI recommends the Polaris Lyra for its compact, cart- or bed-mountable design, paired with Polaris Radix Lens markers. This configuration is designed for ASC and space-constrained OR environments while maintaining sub-millimetre tracking accuracy.
How does NDI Optical tracking perform in ambulatory surgery centre (ASC) environments?
The Polaris Lyra was designed with ASC constraints in mind. Its compact form factor supports cart or bed mounting, and fits within the smaller footprint of ASC operating rooms, while delivering the same sub-millimetre accuracy required for joint replacement navigation.
Are NDI tracking markers resistant to contamination during orthopaedic procedures?
Yes. Polaris Radix Lens markers are wipeable, retro-reflective markers engineered to resist contamination from blood and bone debris during bone resection and implant placement. This contamination resistance helps maintain tracking visibility and reliability.
What does NDI track during an orthopaedic navigation procedure?
NDI Optical tracking provides real-time 6DOF position and orientation data for surgical instruments, patient anatomy reference arrays, implant positioning guides, and (in robotic workflows) robotic arm components including bases and end-effectors. The specific tracked elements depend on the OEM’s system design and clinical application.
Can NDI support both optical and electromagnetic tracking for orthopaedic applications?
NDI provides both Polaris Optical tracking and Aurora Electromagnetic tracking technologies. For orthopaedic navigation and robotic-assisted surgery, Polaris Optical tracking is the recommended technology due to its sub-millimetre accuracy and suitability for tracking instruments and robotic components in surgical environments. Aurora Electromagnetic tracking is used in applications where line-of-sight is obstructed.
What is the Polaris Accuracy Assessment Kit (AAK)?
The Polaris AAK is a portable kit that enables on-demand verification of Polaris Optical Tracker accuracy. It supports routine accuracy checks on the manufacturing floor, in clinical environments, or in research settings, helping maintain sub-millimetre confidence for precision-critical orthopaedic procedures.