Orientation reference system for medical imaging

The present invention relates to positioning a medical imaging system in relation to an object. In order to provide improved positioning possibilities which facilitate the workflow during an intervention, a medical imaging apparatus (10) is provided with an image acquisition arrangement (12), which is positionable in relation to an object (16) to acquire image data (18) of the object from different directions. An output unit (14) is arranged to provide the image data. According to the invention, first movement direction indicators (22) are provided to indicate possible movement directions of the image acquisition arrangement in relation to the object. Further, a display apparatus (24), comprising a display area (26) to display image data (30) of an object provided by an image acquisition arrangement and a movement direction indication (28), may be provided, wherein the movement direction indication is configured to provide second movement direction indicators (32) in relation to the displayed image data of the object to indicate possible movement directions of the image acquisition arrangement in relation to the object. The first movement direction indicators and the second movement direction indicators are equivalent.