It does not need “sterilized.”
Surgeons wear lights, and magnification all the time that is not sterile. Those are cleaned. The same cleaning would be good enough on the Apple device.
The resolution and cameras are amazing on it. While using it they can always remove it if they feel it is not working for their purpose. I think it is worth experimenting with the device and their surgical common and uncommon sense.
The other items, if devices, are sterilized prior to being introduced to the surgical suite and are labeled as such. Post use the term used is ‘sanitized and/or disinfected’ (unless they are cleaned and resterilized as much equipment is) and devices that claim they can be cleaned as such go through testing to prove it and validate the cleaning process - which are included in their service manuals. Failure to prove the process is validated or field issues resulting from improper cleaning can lead to recalls against the manufacturer by the FDA (of which I’ve unfortunately been a part for similar in the past).
Again - Apple doesn’t claim they are to be used as aids in treatments, diagnosis, etc so they aren’t medical devices. If they made the claim it would be required that they demonstrate the above.
Hospitals have a lot of leeway on what they use and aren’t regulated by the FDA - they have a different industry led body that drives their practices that require the review board (or similar) mentioned in the article.
I think it’s fine they are using them and encourage such experimentation - as I mentioned before I don’t always agree with the regs....but if Apple were to claim any of these uses then the regs would apply and it would be a different story...which is why Apple doesn’t make the claim.
Have a good weekend :)