Abstract: An improved marker system, components and method for use with a medical navigation system, wherein the marker system includes interchangeable tracking marker holders and fastener bases for attaching the marker holders to instruments or body parts that are to be tracked during a medical procedure. A reference star (the marker holder and tracking marker(s)) and fastener base are removably attached to one another. This enables different reference stars to be interchangeably attached to a given fastener base, or vice versa, thereby to provide the best combination of reference star and fastener base for a given application. This preferably is accomplished by a standard interface between the fastener base and the holder for the tracking markers, e.g., reflective markers. In addition, surgical instruments may have integrally formed therein the standard interface, thereby eliminating the need for a fastener base.

Abstract: A system for visually combining patient image data from transillumination and/or tomographic imaging methods and/or object image data with video images includes an image display device having an auto-stereoscopic monitor, at least one camera and a computer-assisted navigation system. The navigation system is operable to detect spatial positions of a part of the patient's body via a first tracking device attached to the body, and spatial positions of said image display device and/or said at least one camera via a second tracking device attached to the image display device or the camera, wherein the image display device and the at least one camera are assigned to each other and are formed as a portable unit.