Miniature optical probe

An apparatus comprising:

• a fiber, wherein the fiber has an outer diameter;
• a lens, wherein an end face of the fiber is fused to an end face of the lens;
• an optical element, wherein the lens is disposed between the fiber and the optical element and wherein the optical element has an outer diameter;
• an outer tubing, wherein the end face of the fiber, the lens, and the optical element are enclosed within the outer tubing, wherein the outer tubing is transparent, wherein the outer tubing has an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter of the outer tubing is less than twice the outer diameter of the optical element;
• and
• an inner tubing, wherein a portion of the inner tubing is disposed between the fiber and the outer tubing, wherein the inner tubing has an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the inner tubing is greater than the outer diameter of the fiber, and wherein the outer diameter of the outer tubing is greater than the outer diameter of the inner tubing.

An apparatus comprising:

• a fiber, wherein the fiber is a multimode fiber;
• a lens, wherein an end face of the fiber is fused to an end face of the lens;
• an optical element, wherein the lens is disposed between the fiber and the optical element;
• and further comprising:
• an outer tubing, wherein the end face of the fiber, the lens, and the optical element are enclosed within the outer tubing, and wherein the outer tubing is transparent.