Optical probe and optical tomographic image production apparatus using the probe

An optical probe comprising:

• a probe outer-tube that has substantially cylindrical form, and which is inserted into a subject to be examined;
• an optical fiber that is arranged in the inner space of the probe outer-tube in the longitudinal direction thereof;
• and
• a leading-end optical system that is rotatable with respect to the probe outer-tube, and which deflects light output from the leading end of the optical fiber toward a measurement target in the subject to be examined, wherein the probe outer-tube has a light-transmitting area and a light-blocking area, and wherein the light-transmitting area is formed along a rotation direction of the optical fiber and transmits the light output from the leading-end optical system, and wherein the light-blocking area is formed at a start position and an end position of the light-transmitting area and blocks the light output from the leading-end optical system.