US Patent 11681093 Multicore fiber with distal motor

An optical probe imaging system includes an optical probe having a multicore optical fiber. Distal optics image light propagating in the multicore optical fiber so as to generate a light pattern on a sample that is based on a relative position of the cores. A distal motor causes the light pattern to traverse a path across the sample. An optical receiver includes a first receiver receiving light that has traversed the path across the sample from one of the at least two cores and a second receiver receiving light that has traversed the path across the sample from the other of the cores, such that the first receiver and the second receiver detect light in parallel. A processor maps relative position of the cores at the distal facet based on signals generated by the receiver.