Mechanical joint for use in fiber optic imaging systems

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• an actuator configured to generate a force to vary an orientation of a first end of the optical fiber;
• and
• a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber, wherein the joint is configured to couple the force generated by the actuator to the optical fiber, and wherein the joint comprises:
• a neck extending along an axis, the optical fiber being threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis,
• a collar extending along the axis, wherein the actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis, and
• a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar,
• wherein the joint has a first stiffness with respect to the axis, a second stiffness with respect to a first radial direction, and a third stiffness with respect to a second radial direction orthogonal the first radial direction, and
• wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness and the third stiffness.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• an actuator configured to generate a force to vary an orientation of a first end of the optical fiber;
• and
• a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber, wherein the joint is configured to couple the force generated by the actuator to the optical fiber, and wherein the joint comprises:
• a neck extending along an axis, the optical fiber being threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis,
• a collar extending along the axis, wherein the actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis, and
• a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar, wherein the flexural element comprises a gimbal structure.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• an actuator configured to generate a force to vary an orientation of a first end of the optical fiber;
• and
• a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber, wherein the joint is configured to couple the force generated by the actuator to the optical fiber, and wherein the joint comprises:
• a neck extending along an axis, the optical fiber being threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis,
• a collar extending along the axis, wherein the actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis, and
• a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar, wherein the flexural element comprises one or more beams extending from the neck to the collar.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an optical fiber;
• an actuator configured to generate a force to vary an orientation of a first end of the optical fiber;
• and
• a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber, wherein the joint is configured to couple the force generated by the actuator to the optical fiber, and wherein the joint comprises:
• a neck extending along an axis, the optical fiber being threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis, and wherein the neck defines one or more slots along a periphery of the neck,
• a collar extending along the axis, wherein the actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis, and
• a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar.