Method and apparatus for moving a reference device

1. A method of maintaining a registration of a subject space to an image space, the method comprising:

accessing image data of a subject, wherein the image data defines the image space;

generating a map between the subject space and the image space while a first tracking device is in a first position relative to a mounting portion, wherein the generated map is to form a registration of the subject space to the image space, wherein the subject defines the subject space;

moving a probe having a second tracking device at a first time relative to the first tracking device while the first tracking device is in the first position;

tracking at the first time the second tracking device;

moving the first tracking device, relative to the mounting portion, from the first position to a second position after tracking at the first time the second tracking device, so as to at least one of translate or rotate the first tracking device relative to the mounting portion;

after moving the first tracking device to the second position, moving the probe at a second time after the first time relative to the first tracking device while the first tracking device is in the second position;

tracking at the second time the second tracking device;

determining an adjustment factor based on tracking at the first time of the second tracking device and tracking at the second time of the second tracking device; and

maintaining the registration of the subject space to the image space is based at least on the determined adjustment factor;

wherein moving the probe at the second time relative to the first tracking device while the first tracking device is in the second position is to account for the moving of the first tracking device to the second position and maintain the registration in a semi-automatic manner after moving the first tracking device to the second position;

wherein the adjustment factor includes at least one of a translation amount or a rotation amount;

storing in the memory system the adjustment factor;

wherein determining the adjustment factor includes recalling from the memory system the stored adjustment factor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the adjustment factor is semi-automatic.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein during the semi-automatic determination of the adjustment factor, a user does not directly input the first position of the first tracking device relative to the mounting portion or the second position of the first tracking device relative to the mounting portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

tracking the first tracking device at the first position; and

tracking the first tracking device at the second position;

wherein tracking at the first time of the second tracking device, tracking at the second time of the second tracking device, tracking the first tracking device at the first position, and tracking the first tracking device at the second position are all performed with a first tracking system.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

fixing a reference arm of a dynamic reference frame having the first tracking device at a first location and in a first orientation relative to the mounting portion when the first tracking device is in the first position; and

fixing the reference arm, after moving the reference arm from the first location and the first orientation, at a second location and in a second orientation relative to the mounting portion when the first tracking device is in the second position.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising mounting the dynamic reference frame to the subject with the mounting portion in a fixed position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion remains fixed relative to the subject during the moving of the first tracking device from the first position to the second position.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

tracking the first tracking device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a first three-dimensional location and a first orientation of the first tracking device in the first position relative to (i) the mounting portion and (ii) the accessed image data; and

determining a second three-dimensional location and a second orientation of the first tracking device in the second position relative to (i) the mounting portion and (ii) the accessed image data after the generating the map.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recalling the stored adjustment factor.

11. A method of maintaining a registration of a subject space to an image space, the method comprising:

operating a dynamic reference frame having a mounting portion and an arm, wherein the mounting portion is configured to be fixed to a subject, wherein the arm is selectively moveable and fixable in a first position and a second position relative to the mounting portion;

operating a sensor positioned relative to the mounting portion;

operating an arm tracking device connected to the arm;

wherein the sensor is configured to transmit a sensor signal from the sensor to a navigation system, wherein the sensor signal is indicative of the first position of the arm and the second position of the arm;

operating a processor included with the navigation system for:

receiving the sensor signal;

based on the sensor signal,

recalling from a memory system an adjustment factor that defines a difference between the first position and the second position;

maintaining the registration of the subject space to the image space after moving the arm to the second position based at least on the recalled adjustment factor; and

storing in the memory system, prior to the operating the processor, the adjustment factor to be recalled from the memory system;

moving an instrument relative to the subject space;

tracking an instrument tracking device connected to the instrument; and

operating the navigation system to display a tracked position and orientation of the instrument relative to the image space while the arm tracking device is in the first position and while the arm tracking device is in the second position;

wherein the operating the navigation system to display is based on the registration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the sensor includes operating at least one of an encoder, a magnetic sensor, a voltage divider, a potentiometer, a counter, or a switch.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the sensor includes operating at least an encoder.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the sensor includes operating at least a potentiometer positioned between a first starburst portion and a second starburst portion of the dynamic reference frame.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is integrated with the dynamic reference frame.

16. A system for maintaining a registration of a subject space to an image space, the system comprising:

a dynamic reference frame having a first tracking device and a mounting portion configured to be fixed to a subject, wherein the first tracking device is configured to be moved between at least a first configuration relative to the mounting portion and a second configuration relative to the mounting portion;

a memory system having stored thereon at least one adjustment factor including at least one of translation information or rotation information regarding a difference between the first configuration and the second configuration;

a probe configured to contact the first tracking device in the first configuration and the second configuration;

a second tracking device connected with the probe, wherein the second tracking device is configured to be tracked when the probe is contacting the first tracking device in the first configuration or the second configuration;

a processor system configured to,

form the registration of the subject space to the image space with the first tracking device of the dynamic reference frame in the first configuration,

recall the at least one adjustment factor from the memory system based on the tracked position of the second tracking device when the probe is contacting the first tracking device after the first tracking device is moved to the second configuration, and

maintain the registration of the subject space and the image space based on the recalled at least one adjustment factor.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a tracking system;

wherein the tracking system is configured to track the first tracking device and the second tracking device; and

wherein the processor system is configured to receive a tracking signal from the tracking system regarding the second tracking device when the probe is in contact with the first tracking device of the dynamic reference frame.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the recalled at least one adjustment factor is based on the tracking signal regarding tracking the second tracking device at least at the second configuration and comprises at least one known translation information or rotational information regarding the second configuration.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a display device configured to display an image that defines the image space;

wherein the processor system is further configured to generate an icon superimposed on the image to represent a position and an orientation of an instrument having a third tracking device.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a first tracking system; and

a second tracking system;

wherein the first tracking system is configured to track at least the first tracking device;

wherein the second tracking system is configured to track at least one of the first tracking device, the second tracking device, or the third tracking device.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor system is further configured to generate the icon superimposed on the image based on the registration that is maintained based on the recalled adjustment factor.

22. The system of claim 21 , further comprising an imaging system configured to acquire image data of the subject for the image.

23. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

a sensor attached to the dynamic reference frame and configured to (i) sense at least one of a position or an orientation of the first tracking device relative to the mounting portion at the second configuration, and (ii) transmit a sensor signal to the processor system indicative of the at least one of the position or the orientation;

wherein the processor system is configured to maintain the registration based on the recalled at least one adjustment factor and the sensor signal.