Patent ID: 7535564

Claim:
An apparatus for determining the internal outline of a duct or cavity, comprising: light-emitting means ( 71 ) suitable for generating a collimated light beam, an elongate probe element ( 51 ; 51 ′; 51 ″) suitable for being introduced into the duct and for guiding the collimated beam along a predetermined propagation direction, reflector means ( 52 ) supported by the probe element ( 51 ;, 51 ′; 51 ″) and for deflecting the collimated beam so as to illuminate the internal wall of the duct, and for deflecting the reflected or diffused light coming from an illuminated point (P) of the internal wall so as to guide it along the probe element ( 51 ; 51 ′; 51 ″), and detection means ( 76 ) for receiving an image of the illuminated point (P), which image is correlated with the optical distance of the point from the detection means ( 76 ), and for providing a corresponding electrical signal, conoscope means ( 75 ) interposed between the receiving reflector means ( 52 ) and the detection means ( 76 ) and suitable for producing, with the light guided by the reflector means, a holographic image with concentric interference fringes which is detectable by the detection means ( 76 ), the periods of the fringes being correlated with the optical distance of the illuminated point (P), wherein the reflector means comprise a micro-mirror element ( 52 ) rotatably articulated to a distal end of the probe element ( 51 ; 51 ′; 51 ″), the micro-mirror element ( 52 ) being orientable so as to deflect the collimated beam in selectively different directions.