Patent ID: 7072046

Claim:
An optical imaging system for irradiating light that emanates from a light source and constructing an observed image of an object according to information of return light received from the object, said optical imaging system comprising: a replaceable optical probe for propagating the light, which emanates from said light source, to an object, and receiving return light from the object; a device main body including a light receiving means that receives return light from said light source and object, and converts the light into an electric signal, and having said optical probe freely detachably attached thereto; a detecting means for detecting the characteristics of an optical probe attached to said main body; a designating means for designating the conditions for controlling an optical probe according to the characteristics of the optical probe detected by said detecting means; and at least one of a focal range, a focal position and a numerical aperture of the optical probe being included in the characteristics of the optical probe.