Patent ID: 8285364
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a roll orientation of an instrument assembly positioned within a patient, comprising: rotating a transducer on a first instrument assembly and emitting a plurality of ultrasound signals in different planes; receiving, by a computing system configured to process ultrasound signals, an indication that the plurality of ultrasound signals are being transmitted from the transducer on the first instrument assembly positioned within the patient, and are being received by a transponder on a second instrument assembly positioned within the patient; determining, by the computing system, an intensity for each of the plurality of ultrasound signals; evaluating, by the computing system, the intensity of each of the plurality of ultrasound signals received by the transponder to identify which of the received signals is a direct signal; and determining, by the computing system, a roll orientation of the first instrument assembly relative to the second instrument assembly based on the identified direct signal.