Fluoroscopy images, for example, can be acquired with the aid of a C-arc fluoroscopy apparatus. The images then can be transferred to a navigation system, which uses the images as a basis for image-assisted or image-guided surgery. One pre-condition for accurate image-assisted or image-guided surgery is establishing a spatial correlation between a virtual representation of a patient or body data and an actual anatomy of the patient. This process is called registration. The present invention allows the accuracy of this registration process for fluoroscopy images to be verified.
Verification is beneficial because errors, which are undesirable, can occur in the registration process. Verification detects these errors and, thus, provides an indication of being within a specified or desired tolerance. Registration is often achieved by mapping points or markings on the fluoroscopy images, said markings being arranged in a known position on an attachment of the C-arc radiation source. If, however, an insufficient number of markers are mapped, or the mapping is inaccurate, registration errors can result.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,697,664, 6,675,040 and 6,662,036 include descriptions of the principle of fluoroscopic navigation. However, these references do not provide solutions for reducing or minimizing registration errors.