System and method for radio-frequency imaging, registration, and localization

A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient comprising:

• at least one tracking device;
• a tracking system that tracks the at least one tracking device;
• an imaging head having an imaging system that transmits at least one imaging radio-frequency signal within a field of view and receives at least one reflected imaging radio-frequency signal within the field of view for forming an image, the imaging head having at least one transmitter that emits the at least one imaging radio-frequency signal in the field of view, wherein the imaging head has at least one receiver that receives the at least one reflected imaging radio-frequency signal;
• and
• a navigation system that determines, based on the tracking of the tracking device and RF image data formed from the at least one reflected imaging radio-frequency signal, a location of the imaging head, the at least one tracking device and the patient during registration and navigation, within the field of view.

A method for performing a medical procedure on a patient comprising:

• positioning at least one imaging head relative to a patient to define a field of view;
• positioning at least one surgical instrument relative to a patient in the field of view;
• emitting at least one radio-frequency signal from the imaging head into the field of view;
• receiving a plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals from the field of view with the imaging head;
• determining, based on the plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals received from the field of view, at least one electrical property associated with at least one material and the at least one instrument within the field of view;
• determining, based on the at least one electrical property and the plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals received from the field of view, a location of a boundary associated with the at least one material within the field of view and the location of the at least one surgical instrument;
• and
• determining a type of instrument associated with the at least one instrument based upon a material associated with the at least one instrument and the plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals.