Real-Time Confocal Gate Optimization for Intravascular OCT Catheters Using Adaptive Optics

We present an adaptive confocal gate optimization technique for intravascular OCT catheters that compensates for catheter sheath aberrations in real time. The method uses a deformable mirror conjugated to the catheter tip to dynamically adjust the confocal gate, improving lateral resolution by 40% and signal-to-noise ratio by 6 dB compared to fixed-optics designs.