Methods and systems for providing depth information

A medical navigation system for use with a tracking system during a medical procedure on a patient, the tracking system configured to obtain tracking information about position and orientation of an instrument during the medical procedure, the medical navigation system comprising:

• a depth detector configured to obtain depth information about variations in depth over a site of interest;
• and
• a controller in communication with the tracking system and the depth detector to receive the tracking information and the depth information, respectively, the controller having a processor coupled to a memory, the controller configured to enable selection of output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both, and further configured to cause at least one output device to provide output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both, in accordance with the selection, the at least one output device being a display device, and the controller further configured to cause the display device to display the output overlaid on an image of the site of interest, and to cause display of the output including changing a visual characteristic of contour lines overlaid on the image;
• wherein the relative depth data is determined by the controller using the tracking information and the depth information, and represents the depth information relative to the position and orientation of the instrument;
• and
• wherein the general depth data represents the depth information over the site of interest independently of the position and orientation of the instrument.

A method for use with tracking information about position and orientation of an instrument during a medical procedure on a patient, the method comprising:

• receiving depth information about variations in depth over a site of interest;
• enabling selection of output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both;
• providing output representing relative depth data, general depth data, or both, in accordance with the selection by displaying the output overlaid on an image of the site of interest;
• and
• changing a visual characteristic of contour lines overlaid on the image;
• wherein the relative depth data is determined using the tracking information and the depth information, and represents the depth information relative to the position and orientation of the instrument;
• and
• wherein the general depth data represents the depth information over the site of interest independently of the position and orientation of the instrument.