<PAGE>   1
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 1998
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                             ENDOSONICS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                                          68-0028500
(State of incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                2870 KILGORE ROAD
                            RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95670
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                             -----------------------

                         Navius 1996 Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                             -----------------------

                               RICHARD L. FISCHER
                           VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                             ENDOSONICS CORPORATION
                                2870 KILGORE ROAD
                            RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95670
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:

                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               2800 Sand Hill Road
                          Menlo Park, California 94025
                                 (650) 854-4488

                               Page 1 of 9 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 7
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)


<PAGE>   2

================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                     Proposed      Proposed Maximum
                                                Maximum Amount        Maximum          Aggregate        Amount of
                                                     to be        Offering Price    Offering Price    Registration
    Title of Securities to be Registered         Registered(1)       Per Share                             Fee
---------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ --------------
<S>                                                <C>                <C>              <C>               <C>          
Navius 1996 Stock Option Plan   
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................       230,715 Shares     $  5.52(2)       $1,273,547        $  354.05

-----------------------
</TABLE>

(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
     Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plan being registered
     pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any stock dividend,
     stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected
     without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the
     number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely for
     the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Computation based on the
     weighted average per share exercise price (rounded to nearest cent) of
     outstanding options under the referenced plan, the shares issuable under
     which are registered hereby.


                                       2
<PAGE>   3



                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

     (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, filed on March 31, 1998, which contains audited financial
statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such statements
have been filed.

     (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since the end
of the fiscal year covered by the audited financial statements described in (a)
above.

     (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act on February 21, 1992, including any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation reduces the liability of a
director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breaches of his or her fiduciary duty of care to the fullest extent permissible
under Delaware law. The Bylaws of the Registrant further provide for
indemnification of corporate agents to the maximum extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, the Registrant has entered into
Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors.

Item 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.           EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Exhibit
                  Number
                  -------
                  <S>         <C>
                  5.1         Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                              Corporation.
 
                  23.1        Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                              Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  23.2        Consent of Independent Auditors (see p. 9).

                  24.1        Powers of Attorney (see p. 6).
</TABLE>
---------------


                                       3
<PAGE>   4



Item 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)......to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

               (2)......that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

               (3)......to remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in a
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the question has already been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]



                                       4
<PAGE>   5



                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant,
EndoSonics Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Rancho Cordova, State of California, on this
18th day of March 1999.

                                       EndoSonics Corporation


                                       By:  /s/ Richard L. Fischer
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Richard L. Fischer
                                            Vice President, Finance and 
                                            Chief Financial Officer







                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Reinhard J. Warnking and Richard L.
Fischer, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each
with the power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file such amendments, together
with exhibits and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting to each attorney-in-fact and agent, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he or she might or
could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               Signature                                    Title                               Date
               ---------                                    -----                               ----
<S>                                      <C>                                              <C>
/s/ Reinhard J. Warnking                 (Principal Executive Officer)                    March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Reinhard J. Warnking

/s/ Richard L. Fischer                   (Principal Financial and Accounting              March 18, 1999
------------------------------            Officer)
Richard L. Fischer
                  
/s/ Julie A. Brooks                      Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Julie A. Brooks

/s/ Thomas J. Cable                      Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Thomas J. Cable

/s/ Dale Conrad                          Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Dale Conrad    

/s/ Edward M. Leonard                    Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Edward M. Leonard

/s/ Roger Salquist                       Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Roger Salquist

/s/ Jakob Stapfer                        Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Jakob Stapfer  

/s/ Gregg W. Stone                       Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Gregg W. Stone  

/s/ W. Michael Wright                    Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
W. Michael Wright

</TABLE>


                                       6
<PAGE>   7


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Exhibit                                                                        
   Number                                                                         
  -------                                                                        
  <S>         <C>                                                                
    5.1       Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation             

    23.1      Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation            
              (included in Exhibit 5.1).

    23.2      Consent of Independent Auditors                                      

    24.1      Powers of Attorney (see p. 6).

</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14900}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ENDOSONICS CORP", "cik": "0000883420", "assigned-sic": "3845", "irs-number": "680028500", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-74639", "film-number": "99567901"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2870 KILGORE ROAD", "city": "RANCHO CORDOVA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95670", "phone": "9166388008"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2870 KILGORD ROAD", "city": "RANCHO CORDOVA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95670"}}
1
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 1998
                                                 Registration No. 333-__________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                             ENDOSONICS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                                          68-0028500
(State of incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                2870 KILGORE ROAD
                            RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95670
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                             -----------------------

                         Navius 1996 Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                             -----------------------

                               RICHARD L. FISCHER
                           VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                             ENDOSONICS CORPORATION
                                2870 KILGORE ROAD
                            RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95670
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                             -----------------------
                                    Copy to:

                                Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                               2800 Sand Hill Road
                          Menlo Park, California 94025
                                 (650) 854-4488

                               Page 1 of 9 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 7
               (Calculation of Registration Fee on following page)
2

================================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                     Proposed      Proposed Maximum
                                                Maximum Amount        Maximum          Aggregate        Amount of
                                                     to be        Offering Price    Offering Price    Registration
    Title of Securities to be Registered         Registered(1)       Per Share                             Fee
---------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------ --------------
Navius 1996 Stock Option Plan   
   Common Stock,
   $0.001 par value.........................       230,715 Shares     $  5.52(2)       $1,273,547        $  354.05

-----------------------
(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
     Common Stock which become issuable under any of the Plan being registered
     pursuant to this Registration Statement by reason of any stock dividend,
     stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected
     without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the
     number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)  Computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act solely for
     the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Computation based on the
     weighted average per share exercise price (rounded to nearest cent) of
     outstanding options under the referenced plan, the shares issuable under
     which are registered hereby.

                                       2
3

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

     The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

     (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, filed on March 31, 1998, which contains audited financial
statements for the Registrant's latest fiscal year for which such statements
have been filed.

     (b) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") since the end
of the fiscal year covered by the audited financial statements described in (a)
above.

     (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act on February 21, 1992, including any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have
been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be
part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.  Not applicable.

Item 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.  Not applicable.

Item 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation reduces the liability of a
director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breaches of his or her fiduciary duty of care to the fullest extent permissible
under Delaware law. The Bylaws of the Registrant further provide for
indemnification of corporate agents to the maximum extent permitted by the
Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, the Registrant has entered into
Indemnification Agreements with its officers and directors.

Item 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.  Not applicable.

Item 8.           EXHIBITS.
Exhibit
                  Number
                  -------
5.1         Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                              Corporation.
 
                  23.1        Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional
                              Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  23.2        Consent of Independent Auditors (see p. 9).

                  24.1        Powers of Attorney (see p. 6).
---------------

                                       3
4

Item 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)......to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

               (2)......that, for purposes of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

               (3)......to remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in a
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the question has already been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                            [Signature Pages Follow]

                                       4
5

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant,
EndoSonics Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Rancho Cordova, State of California, on this
18th day of March 1999.

                                       EndoSonics Corporation

                                       By:  /s/ Richard L. Fischer
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Richard L. Fischer
                                            Vice President, Finance and 
                                            Chief Financial Officer

                                       5
6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Reinhard J. Warnking and Richard L.
Fischer, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact and agents, each
with the power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file such amendments, together
with exhibits and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting to each attorney-in-fact and agent, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he or she might or
could do in person, and ratifying and confirming all that the attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                    Title                               Date
               ---------                                    -----                               ----
/s/ Reinhard J. Warnking                 (Principal Executive Officer)                    March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Reinhard J. Warnking

/s/ Richard L. Fischer                   (Principal Financial and Accounting              March 18, 1999
------------------------------            Officer)
Richard L. Fischer
                  
/s/ Julie A. Brooks                      Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Julie A. Brooks

/s/ Thomas J. Cable                      Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Thomas J. Cable

/s/ Dale Conrad                          Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Dale Conrad    

/s/ Edward M. Leonard                    Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Edward M. Leonard

/s/ Roger Salquist                       Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Roger Salquist

/s/ Jakob Stapfer                        Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Jakob Stapfer  

/s/ Gregg W. Stone                       Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
Gregg W. Stone  

/s/ W. Michael Wright                    Director                                         March 18, 1999
------------------------------
W. Michael Wright
6
7

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit                                                                        
   Number                                                                         
  -------
5.1       Opinion of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation             

    23.1      Consent of Venture Law Group, a Professional Corporation            
              (included in Exhibit 5.1).

    23.2      Consent of Independent Auditors                                      

    24.1      Powers of Attorney (see p. 6).