Systems and methods for aligning surgical devices

A system for targeting a feature on a surgical device, includes a shape sensing element coupled to an interrogator and operable to provide information to related to said portion's position in a reference frame in communication with the targeted feature. The interrogator is operable to poll the shape sensing element for information related to said portion's position in the reference frame. A surgical tool is coupled to the targeting system in communication with the shape sensing element. The data processor is operable to communicate with the interrogator to output position information of the portion of the shape sensing element with respect to a calibrated position, defined as the position of the portion of the shape sensing element in the reference frame when the guide axis is aligned to the targeted feature. A display provides the user visual information comparing the position of the tool to the targeted feature.