Registration of anatomical data sets

A computer-implemented method of associating spatial information related to a first volume data set of a first anatomical structure with a second volume data set of the first anatomical structure, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining the first volume data set of the first anatomical structure with a computer surgical navigation system;
• assigning a first arbitrary reference frame to the first volume data set;
• calculating an inherent feature in the first volume data set, wherein the inherent feature has a unique position and orientation in relation to the first anatomical structure that can be identified from any reference position;
• correlating the inherent feature to the first arbitrary reference frame;
• associating additional spatial information with the first volume data set, wherein the additional spatial information has a unique spatial relationship correlated with the first arbitrary reference frame;
• obtaining the second volume data set of the first anatomical structure with the computer surgical navigation system;
• assigning a second arbitrary reference frame to the second volume data set;
• identifying the inherent feature in the second volume data set;
• correlating the inherent feature to the second arbitrary reference frame;
• registering the first volume data set with the second volume data set based on the inherent feature, wherein the registering step is performed by a computer;
• correlating the additional spatial information to the second volume data set in registration therewith;
• and
• displaying the additional spatial information in registration with the second volume data set on a display device.

A system for collecting and manipulating a volume data set of an anatomical structure, comprising:

• means for obtaining a first volume data set of an anatomical structure of a patient and a second volume data set of the anatomical structure;
• means for calculating an inherent feature of the first volume data set and the second volume data set, wherein the inherent feature has a unique position and orientation in relation to the anatomical structure that can be identified from any reference position;
• means for assigning a first arbitrary reference frame to the first volume data set and a second arbitrary reference frame to the second volume data set;
• means for correlating the inherent feature to the first arbitrary reference frame;
• means for associating additional spatial information with the first volume data set, wherein the additional spatial information has a unique spatial relationship correlated with the first arbitrary reference frame;
• means for registering the first volume data set with the second volume data set based on the inherent feature;
• and
• means for correlating the additional spatial information to the second volume data set in registration therewith.

A method of establishing a position of a portion of a bone that has been altered from a normal shape, comprising the steps of:

• collecting a first volume data set for a first bone that is unaltered with an imaging device, wherein the first volume data set includes volume data for first and second portions of the first bone;
• identifying a first unique spatial characteristic of the volume data for the first portion of the first bone;
• establishing a first arbitrary reference frame for the first volume data set correlated with the first unique spatial characteristic;
• identifying a unique spatial relation between the first arbitrary reference frame and the second portion of the first bone;
• identifying a second bone that normally mirrors the first bone about a centerline, wherein the second bone includes a first portion and a second portion that correspond as substantially mirror structures to the first and second portions of the first bone, respectively, and wherein the second bone has been altered from a normal shape such that the first portion of the second bone is in an altered position with regard to the second portion of the second bone;
• collecting a second volume data set of the first portion of the second bone with the imaging device;
• identifying a second unique spatial characteristic of the second volume data set, wherein the second unique spatial characteristic substantially mirrors the first unique spatial characteristic;
• registering in mirrored correlation the first volume data set with the second volume data by correlating the first unique spatial characteristic with the second unique spatial characteristic;
• and
• re-establishing the normal position of the second portion of the second bone to coincide with the position of the second portion of the first bone as related to the registered position of the first portion of the first bone.