| abstract |
The present invention is a sheath. A flexible bidirectional rotating photoconductive system (10, 135, 137) located within the sheath (44). And an optical probe (130) comprising a viscous buffer fluid (140) located in the sheath. This photoconductive system can conduct, converge and collect light of a predetermined range of wavelengths. The sheath and viscous buffer fluid are transparent to at least some of the light wavelengths described above. The refractive index of the viscous liquid is usually chosen so as to eliminate the light effect induction by propagation through the sheath. The optical probe has a diameter of less than approximately 500 μm for use in scanning light from a highly flexible fiber to the sample. In one embodiment, the probe includes a viscous buffer fluid suitable to prevent non-uniform rotational strain (NURD). |