An optical head for equipping the distal end of a flexible optical fiber
bundle, designed to be urged into contact with an analyzing surface and
including optical elements for focusing an excitation signal into a
so-called excitation focal point located at a specific depth beneath the
analyzing surface and for sampling a signal backscattered by the
excitation focal point which is carried back by the fiber bundle. The
head includes an optics-holder tube wherein are inserted on one side the
distal end portion of the fiber bundle and on the other optical elements,
the latter including a plate placed in contact with the end of the fiber
bundle whereof the index is close to that of the fiber core and a
focusing optical block, an output window being further provided adapted
to provide index adaptation so as to eliminate parasitic reflection
occurring on the analyzing surface.