System and method for positional registration of medical image data

A method of coregistering medical images comprising:

• applying a surface detector assembly to a first skin surface of a medical patient, wherein the surface detector assembly comprises a surface frame detachably coupleable to the first skin surface and a camera system fixedly attached to the surface frame, the surface frame providing a frame of reference for the surface detector assembly to detect skin surface landmarks;
• acquiring a first surface image of the first skin surface of the medical patient using the surface detector assembly;
• determining positional coordinates of at least one surface landmark located within boundaries of the surface frame in the first surface image;
• acquiring a first medical image of the medical patient having the surface frame depicted therein;
• recording the medical images and positional coordinates of the surface frame as applied to the first skin surface of the medical patient;
• applying the surface detector assembly to a second skin surface of the medical patient;
• acquiring a second surface image of the second skin surface of the medical patient, the second skin surface at least partially overlapping the first skin surface;
• determining positional coordinates of at least one surface landmark located within boundaries of the surface frame in the second surface image;
• acquiring a second medical image of the medical patient having the surface frame depicted therein;
• comparing the at least one surface landmark in the first surface image to the at least one surface landmark in the second surface image;
• identifying at least one common surface landmark based on the comparison;
• and
• coregistering the first medical image with the second medical image based on positional coordinates of the at least one common surface landmark.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that cause a processor to:

• access a first medical image of a medical patient having a first surface frame depicted at a first position on the medical patient;
• access a first surface image acquired of a skin surface of the medical patient beneath the first surface frame;
• detect surface landmarks located within the first surface frame within the first surface image;
• access a second medical image of the medical patient having a second surface frame depicted at a second position on the medical patient, the second position at least partially overlapping the first position, wherein the second surface frame is different than the first;
• access a second surface image acquired of the skin surface of the medical patient beneath the second surface frame;
• detect surface landmarks located within the second surface frame within the second surface image;
• compare the surface landmarks within the first surface landmarks within the second surface image;
• identify at least one common surface landmark within the first surface image and the second surface image based on the comparison;
• and
• coregister the first medical image with the second medical image based on positional coordinates of the at least one common surface landmark.