Patent ID: 8540627

Claim:
An endoscope for a patient comprising: a light source operably coupled to an optical fiber array comprising a plurality of optical fibers adapted to be disposed in the patient, the optical fiber array including a tube about which the plurality of optical fibers are disposed, wherein the tube has grooves that extend longitudinally along the tube, one of the plurality of optical fibers disposed in each of the grooves, the optical fiber array including a probe tip having a reflector disposed in each groove which reflects the light from the optical fiber in the groove when the reflector is in the patent and reflects light from the patient to the optical fiber when the array is in the patient, the optical fiber array transmitting the light from the light source into the patient, and transmitting the light reflected by the patient out of the patient, the plurality of the optical fibers of the array in optical communication with the light source; and a detector for receiving the light from the array and analyzing the light, the plurality of the optical fibers of the array in optical communication with the detector.