Patent ID: 7933640

Claim:
A method of determining the position of an image of a first area of interest relative to a second area of interest comprising the steps of: connecting a first fixator carrying a first localizing device to a first point proximate said first area of interest; connecting a second fixator carrying a second localizing device to a second point proximate said second area of interest; providing an imaging device configured to acquire an image of an area of interest and carrying a third localizing device; determining a first position of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device; determining a first position of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device; acquiring an image of said first area of interest with said imaging device; determining a second position of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device; determining a second position of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device; calculating the difference between said first and second positions of said first localizing device relative to said second localizing device and the difference between said first and second positions of said third localizing device relative to said second localizing device; calculating the position of said third localizing device relative to said first localizing device if said difference is less than a predetermined threshold; and indicating an error if said difference is greater than said predetermined threshold.