Method and apparatus for orienting image representative data

1. A method for processing a three-dimensional image file captured directly from a live subject, said file including the cranium of said subject, said method comprising:

providing a database comprising a plurality of three-dimensional first image files, each one of said three-dimensional first image files captured directly from a corresponding different one first live subject;

processing each of said three-dimensional first image files such that all of said three-dimensional first image files are in uniform orientation with a reference three-dimensional first image file, said reference three-dimensional image file being established from said plurality of three-dimensional first image files;

receiving said three-dimensional image file captured directly captured from said live subject, said three-dimensional image file including the cranium of said live subject; and

registering said received three-dimensional image file to said uniform orientation.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , comprising:

establishing said reference three-dimensional image file by:

selecting one three-dimensional first image file of said plurality of three-dimensional first image files as an initial reference file;

registering all of said plurality of three-dimensional first image files with said initial reference file by: aligning all of said plurality of three-dimensional image files to said initial reference file, averaging all of said plurality of three-dimensional image files aligned to said initial reference file to produce a new reference file, re-aligning all of said plurality of three-dimensional first image files to said new reference file, and repeating the averaging and aligning steps to produce said reference file.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 , comprising:

orienting all of said plurality of three-dimensional first image files to said reference file; and

orienting said three-dimensional image file to said reference file.