ABSTRACT
In order to maintain good communication between the optical tracking system and image-based surgical navigation software through the serial port, we developed a serial communication software by calling the WinAPI function with Visual C++ 6.0. We then completed the data reading, integration and analysis. We further calculated the relative position between the surgical instruments and the patient coordinate system, realized the registration between the CT model data and the spatial location of patient by using ICP algorithm, and finally achieved real-time tracking surgical instruments on the surgery. The practical effects of clinical surgery have proved that this system has good robustness, real-time property and reliability, which can meet the requirements of clinical surgery.