Patent ID: 7857758
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: A61B,G01B,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical probe comprising: a tubular outer envelope, a support member which extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer envelope inside the outer envelope, an optical fiber which extends in the longitudinal direction alongside and outside of the support member inside the outer envelope, a drive means which is connected to the base end portion of the support member and rotates the support member in the circumferential direction of the outer envelope, a light deflecting element which is rotated together with the support member and deflects light emitted from an end of the optical fiber in the circumferential direction of the outer envelope, a light collecting means which collects light emitted from an end of the optical fiber and converges it on a body-to-be-scanned disposed externally of the circumference of the outer envelope, and a light guide means which guides light reflected by the body-to-be-scanned to an end of the optical fiber to enter the optical fiber from the end, wherein the support member extends along a central axis that is offset from a center of rotation of the support member, and wherein the optical fiber extends along a central axis that is offset from the center of rotation of the support member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the central axis of the support member is offset.