Patent ID: 8041413
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An automated medical system, comprising: a first instrument assembly including a second instrument assembly including a computing system operatively coupled to the first and second ultrasound imaging transducers, wherein the computing system is configured to control and process ultrasound signals transmitted and received by the first and second ultrasound imaging transducers, and wherein the computing system is configured to determine a relative spatial orientation of the first and second ultrasound imaging transducers based at least in part on detecting a signal transmitted by one of the first and second ultrasound imaging transducers and received by the other of the first and second ultrasound imaging transducers and a determined position of the transmitting one of the ultrasound imaging transducers, the computing system configured to utilize a magnitude of an amplitude of a signal detected by the receiving one of the transducers to determine a transmission orientation of the transmitting one of the ultrasound imaging transducers relative to the receiving one of the ultrasound imaging transducers.