I. Introduction
Tapered optical fibers are the building blocks for several micro-optical devices used in applications such as sensing and optical filtering. Of particular interest are the microfiber loops [1], [2], knots [3], [4], and coils [5], [6]. Usually, fabrication of these devices involves shaping the waist of a tapered fiber, where the waist diameter is smaller than, say, . Manipulation of such micro-sized fibers requires specialized tools and precise handling, requirements that increase as the diameter decreases.