E-Mail IMAGE: Richard (Todd) Allen, MD, PhD, (left) uses an augmented reality headset during a spine surgery at UC San Diego Health. view more Credit: UC San Diego Health Sciences Spine surgeons at UC San Diego Health are the first on the West Coast to begin using a form of augmented reality in their practice. The three-dimensional navigation system and headset allow surgeons to "see" inside the body, helping them quickly and accurately place implants in each patient's unique anatomy. This system, first used by the health system on April 1, 2021, lets surgeons maintain their focus directly on the patient, rather than on a distant screen displaying the patient's CT scans.