A confocal probe is provided with an optical fiber introducing light
having wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range in the
confocal probe, a collimating lens that collimates light emerged from an
end surface of the optical fiber, a dispersing prism that receives the
light collimated by the collimating lens and disperses the received light
in a predetermined direction, light emerged from the dispersing prism and
having the same wavelength being kept collimated, and a light converging
optical system that converges the light emerged from the dispersing prism
on a target (i.e., region of interest).