System for sensing at least two points on an object for determining the
position and orientation of the object relative to another object. Two
light emitters mounted in spaced relation to each other on an external
portion of an invasive probe remaining outside an object into which an
invasive tip is inserted are sequentially strobed to emit light. Three
light sensors or detectors, the positions of which are known with respect
to a predetermined coordinate system, detect the positions of the two
light emitters positioned on the probe. A computer connected to the probe
and to the light sensors receives data from the sensors and determines the
position and orientation of the probe relative to the predetermined
coordinate system. The computer then determines the position and
orientation of the invasive portion of the probe inside the object by
correlating the position of the invasive portion of the probe relative to
the predetermined coordinate system with the position of a model of the
object defined in relation to the predetermined coordinate system. A
display device connected to the computer indicates the location of the
invasive portion of the probe in the object by displaying a representation
of the location of the invasive portion of the probe with respect to the
model of the object.