A system and method for automatically initializing or initiating a motion compensation algorithm is provided. The system includes a processing apparatus configured to acquire data representing information relating to movement of a medical device, determine whether the medical device is stationary based on the information represented by said data, and automatically initiate the execution of the motion compensation algorithm in response to a determination that the medical device is stationary. In an exemplary embodiment, the system further comprises the medical device. The method comprises acquiring data representing information relating to movement of a medical device. The method further comprises determining whether the medical device is stationary based on the information represented by the acquired data. The method still further comprises automatically initiating the execution of the algorithm in response to a determination that the medical device is stationary.
