A system and method for registering pre-operative images of an object with
an intra-operative image of the object is disclosed. Prior to an
operative procedure, Digitally Reconstructed Radiographs (DRRs) are
generated for the pre-operative images of each individual patient.
Signatures are extracted from the DRRs. The signatures are stored in a
knowledge base. During the operative procedure, a signature is extracted
from the intra-operative image. The intra-operative signature is compared
to the stored pre-operative signatures. A pre-operative image having a
best signature match to the intra-operative signature is retrieved. The
retrieved pre-operative image is registered with the intra-operative
image.