Patent ID: 7853311

Claim:
A method for correlating the buttock with the femoral canal of the femur of a body, said method comprising the steps of: applying a radio-transparent drape having at least two indicia each comprising a radio-opaque longitudinal axis to the leg of the body such that a first portion of the drape extends in an anterior-posterior plane relative to the body, said applying step further providing for a second portion of the drape to extend laterally relative to the body, said applying step providing further for each of the indicia to be contained in respective first and second portions of the drape, said applying step providing further for each of the indicia to be longitudinally and centrally aligned relative to the leg; directing imaging radiation through said drape such that a radiographic image of said body and indicia is formed on a medium; comparing, by viewing the radiographic image, the relative positions of each of the indicia relative to the longitudinal axis of the femoral canal; translating the drape, as required, relative to the leg such that one of the indicias is contained in an anterior-posterior plane which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the femoral canal, and such that the other of the indicia is contained in a lateral plane which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the femoral canal; and locating the intersection of the indicia on the buttock, the intersection of the indicia defining a start point for a reference axis which, when intersecting said start point and parallel to the indicia, coincides with the longitudinal axis of the femoral canal.