A stereotactic navigation system for navigating an instrument to a target
within a patient may include a stereotactic head frame, an imaging
device, a tracking device, a controller and a display. The stereotactic
head frame is coupled to the patient and is used to assist in guiding the
instrument to the target. The imaging device captures image data of the
patient and of the stereotactic head frame. The tracking device is used
to track the position of the instrument relative to the stereotactic head
frame. The controller receives the image data from the imaging device and
identifies the stereotactic head frame in the image data and
automatically registers the image data with navigable patient space upon
identifying the stereotactic head frame, while the display displays the
image data.