Multicore fibers and endoscope configurations are provided, along with corresponding production and usage methods. Various configurations include an adiabatically tapered proximal fiber tip and/or proximal optical elements for improving the interface between the multicore fiber and the sensor, photonic crystal fiber configurations which reduce the attenuation along the fiber, image processing methods and jointed rigid links configurations for the endoscope which reduce attenuation while maintaining required flexibility and optical fidelity. Various configurations include spectral multiplexing approaches, which increase the information content of the radiation delivered through the fibers and endoscope, and configurations which improve image quality, enhance the field of view, provide longitudinal information. Various configurations include fiber-based wave-front sensors. Many of the disclosed configurations increase the imaging resolution and enable integration of additional modes of operation while maintain the endoscope very thin, such as spectral imaging and three dimensional imaging.L'invention concerne également des fibres multicœurs et des configurations d'endoscope, ainsi que des procédés de production et d'utilisation correspondants. Diverses configurations comprennent une pointe de fibre proximale à conicité adiabatique et/ou des éléments optiques proximaux pour améliorer l'interface entre la fibre multicœur et le capteur, des configurations de fibres de cristal photonique qui réduisent l'atténuation le long de la fibre, des procédés de traitement d'image et des configurations de liaisons rigides jointes pour l'endoscope qui réduisent l'atténuation tout en maintenant la flexibilité et la fidélité optique requises. Diverses configurations comprennent des approches de multiplexage spectral, qui augmentent la teneur en informations du rayonnement délivré à travers les fibres et l'endoscope, et des configurations qui améliorent la qualité d'image, améliorent le
