Optical probe and optical measuring method

摘要

An optical measurement method that can suppress variation in detection sensitivity even if an optical probe is bent, and an optical probe suitably used for the method are provided. An optical probe 10 includes an optical fiber 11 that transmits light between a proximal end 11a and a distal end 11b, an optical connector 12 connected with the optical fiber 11 at a side of the proximal end 11a, a focusing optical system 13 and a deflecting optical system 14 optically connected with the optical fiber 11 at a side of the distal end 11b, and a support tube 15 and a jacket tube 16 surrounding the optical fiber 11 and extending along the optical fiber 11. The optical fiber 11 is twisted by a number of turns in a range from one turn/m to 50 turns per meter around an axis of the optical fiber as the center and fixed relative to the support tube 15.

主权项

1. An optical probe, comprising:
an optical fiber that transmits light between a proximal end and a distal end; an optical connector connected with the optical fiber at a side of the proximal end; a focusing optical system having one end connected with the optical fiber at the distal end, the focusing optical system focusing the light emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber; a deflecting optical system optically connected with the optical fiber at a side of the distal end, the deflecting optical system deflecting the light emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber; a support tube surrounding the optical fiber, extending along the optical fiber, fixed relative to the optical connector at the side of the proximal end, and fixed relative to any of the optical fiber, the focusing optical system, and the deflecting optical system at the side of the distal end; and a jacket tube surrounding the support tube, extending along the support tube, and being rotatable relative to the optical fiber, the optical connector, the focusing optical system, the deflecting optical system, and the support tube, wherein the optical fiber is twisted by a number of turns in a range from 1 turn/m to 50 turns/m around an axis of the optical fiber as the center and fixed relative to the support tube, wherein the support tube has a structure in which a plurality of linear bodies are stranded and twisted, and wherein, in a free state in which rotation is not introduced from the connector, a twist direction of the optical fiber and a twist direction of the support tube are opposite to each other.