Catheter with integrated controller for imaging and pressure sensing

An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging and pressure sensing system, comprising:

• a catheter comprising:
• a controller disposed at a distal portion of the catheter;
• an ultrasound transducer disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and in communication with the controller;
• a pressure transducer disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and in communication with the controller;
• and
• a plurality of conductors extending from the controller toward the proximal portion of the catheter, at least one conductor of the plurality of conductors being configured to carry signals representing both information captured by the ultrasound transducer and information captured by the pressure transducer;
• and
• a user interface in communication with the catheter and configured to present information based on the signals carried by the plurality of conductors.

A method of assessing a patient comprising:

• receiving information captured by an ultrasound transducer disposed at a distal portion of a catheter;
• receiving information captured by a pressure transducer disposed at a distal portion of the catheter;
• generating communication signals representing the information from the ultrasound transducer and from the pressure transducer at a controller carried on the catheter;
• and
• transmitting the communication signals representing both the information captured by the ultrasound transducer and information captured by the pressure transducer from a controller carried on the catheter to a user interface.