The Combined Catheter: Integrating drug delivery and pressure measurement to improve stratification of therapy in patients with coronary artery disease.

A single catheter now combines drug delivery and pressure measurement, letting cardiologists decide in real time whether a patient needs a stent or medication alone. This matters because current practice often requires separate tools and multiple steps to measure Fractional Flow Reserve—a key indicator of whether a coronary blockage is severe enough to warrant a stent. The combined device streamlines that process, making the procedure faster and simpler for the clinician while delivering the same proven diagnostic accuracy. If adopted widely, the technology could change how the NHS manages coronary artery disease. Patients would experience fewer procedures and better-targeted treatments, avoiding unnecessary stents and their associated risks. The financial impact is concrete: the NHS could save £20 million each year through reduced procedure times, fewer complications, and more efficient use of catheterisation laboratory resources. For a health system under constant cost pressure, that saving translates directly into capacity for other cardiac care.