Patent ID: 7583872

Claim:
A scanning fiber endoscope comprising: a housing of the scanning fiber endoscope, the housing having a length that is less than 20 millimeters and a thickness that is less than 5 millimeters; a piezoelectric tube within the housing, a distal end of the piezoelectric tube physically coupled with the housing, wherein the piezoelectric tube is tapered, wherein the tapered piezoelectric tube has a first inner diameter at the distal end and a second inner diameter at a proximal end of the piezoelectric tube, and wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter; a cantilevered free end portion of an optical fiber, the cantilevered free end portion having an attached, proximal end that is physically coupled with the proximal end of the piezoelectric tube and a free, distal end to be moved by the piezoelectric tube, wherein at least a quarter of a length of the cantilevered free end portion is disposed within the piezoelectric tube; and a transparent material of the housing in an optical path of light directed through the cantilevered free end portion.