MECHANICAL JOINT FOR USE IN FIBER OPTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS

The invention relates to an apparatus, comprising: an optical fiber (106); an actuator (114) configured to generate a force to vary an orientation of a first end (108) of the optical fiber (106); and a joint (200, 500, 600, 700) mechanically coupling the actuator (114) to the optical fiber (106), wherein the joint (200, 500, 600, 700) is configured to couple the force generated by the actuator (114) to the optical fiber (106), and wherein the joint (200, 500, 600, 700) comprises: a neck (208, 502, 602, 702) extending along an axis (z, 150, 512, 608, 714), the optical fiber (106) being threaded through an aperture extending along the axis (z, 150, 512, 608, 714) through the neck (208, 502, 602, 702), wherein the optical fiber (106) is attached to the joint (200, 500, 600, 700) at a surface of the neck (208, 502, 602, 702) facing the axis (z, 150, 512, 608, 714), a collar (210, 504, 604, 704) extending along the axis (z, 150, 512, 608, 714), wherein the actuator (114) is mechanically attached to the joint (200, 500, 600, 700) at an inner surface (224) of the collar (210, 504, 604, 704) facing the axis, flexural elements or other components with asymmetrical stiffness connect the neck to the collar.