System and method for positioning an imaging device

A method of positioning an imaging device relative to a patient, comprising:

• positioning a reference marker adjacent a desired field of scan corresponding to an anatomical element of a patient;
• causing an imaging device to align with the reference marker, based on tracking information received from a navigation system, the tracking information corresponding to the reference marker and a navigated tracker disposed on the imaging device;
• receiving image data from the imaging device;
• processing the image data using an image data processing algorithm to automatically determine whether an entirety of the anatomical element is in the image data;
• transmitting instructions configured to cause the imaging device to move again if the entirety of the anatomical element is not in the second image data;
• and
• transmitting instructions configured to cause the imaging device to perform at least one full scan of the anatomical element when the entirety of the anatomical element is in the image data.

A system for positioning an imaging device relative to a patient comprising:

• at least one communication interface for communicating with an imaging device and a navigation system;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed, cause the processor to:
• cause a reference marker to be positioned adjacent a desired field of scan corresponding to an anatomical element of a patient,
• cause an imaging device to align with the reference marker, based on tracking information received from a navigation system, the tracking information corresponding to the reference marker and a navigated tracker disposed on the imaging device,
• receive, via the communication interface, image data from the imaging device,
• process the image data using an image data processing algorithm to automatically determine whether an entirety of the anatomical element is in the image data to yield and anatomical determination,
• generate a repositioning requirement based on the anatomical determination, and
• transmit instructions based on the repositioning requirement and configured to cause the imaging device to move if the entirety of the anatomical element is not in the image data.