Patent ID: 8374475

Claim:
Optical waveguide assembly comprising a storage device, the storage device having a housing and a rotatable reel, the storage device being configured for storing a flexible optical waveguide, and wherein the reel is coupled to an optical waveguide unit having an external diameter of at most 2 mm for winding and/or unwinding the optical waveguide unit, wherein the housing is associated with an external elongated protective enclosure, the enclosure being configured to receive at least part of the optical waveguide unit, wherein at least part of the optical waveguide unit extends through the external elongated protective enclosure to a distal end thereof, and wherein a distal end of the optical waveguide unit is configured to be coupled to the distal end of the external elongated protective enclosure, the coupled arrangement between the distal end of the optical waveguide unit and the distal end of the external elongated protective enclosure establishing a stop for preventing further movement of the distal end of the optical waveguide unit into the external elongated protective enclosure.