Vascular assessment using statistical analysis of rapid blood pressure readings

A method for measuring internal blood pressure and mapping an internal surface of a vessel carrying a fluid, the method comprising:

• (a) locating an optical sensor in a housing having a deformable membrane;
• (b) emitting, using the optical sensor, light of a known wavelength;
• (c) capturing, using the optical sensor, light reflected from the emitted light reflecting off of the membrane;
• (d) processing, using a signal conditioner in communication with the optical sensor, detection of the reflected light to generate electrical signals proportional to corresponding amounts of deformation of the membrane caused by pressure changes in the vessel deforming the membrane;
• (e) calculating, using a computing device, pressure readings in the vessel by correlating corresponding amounts of deformation to a total fluid pressure in the vessel using the electrical signals;
• (f) storing, in a memory, a plurality of pressure readings calculated at regular intervals;
• and
• (g) correlating, with the computing device, membrane deformation to pressure wave information to determine vessel attributes following statistical analysis of pressure changes among the plurality of pressure readings.