A system and method that enable real-time optical measurements of tissue reflectionspectral characteristics while performing ablation, involves the radiationof tissue and recapturing of light from the tissue to monitor changes in the reflectedoptical intensity as an indicator of steam formation in the tissue for preventionof steam pop. The system includes a catheter adapted to collect light reflectedfrom tissue undergoing ablation, a detection component that identifies andseparates constituent wavelengths of collected light, a quantification apparatusfor generating measured light intensity data for the collected light, and a processorthat analysis the measured light intensity data in relation to time.
