Optical force sensor with a catheter/sheath

A method of quantifying a force exerted by a medical device against an area of tissue, the method comprising:

• placing a distal portion of the medical device in contact with the area of tissue, the medical device including an optical element, the optical element having an optical fiber with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG);
• advancing the medical device such that the distal portion of the medical device exerts a force against the area of tissue;
• obtaining strain data from the optical element with an optical interrogator;
• transmitting the strain data from the optical interrogator to processing circuitry, the processing circuitry correlating the strain data to a pressure value;
• automatically preventing, by the processing circuitry, an operation of the medical device on the area of tissue when the pressure value indicates the distal portion of the medical device is in contact with non-target tissue;
• and
• repositioning the medical device when the pressure value indicates the distal portion of the medical device is in contact with non-target tissue.