Patent ID: 7731404

Claim:
An illuminator ( 10 ) for a plurality of optical fibers ( 12 ) comprising: a housing ( 14 ), said housing ( 14 ) being substantially flat with upper and lower surfaces and a thickness much less than its length or width and having at least one cutout ( 24 e ) formed in one of said upper and lower surfaces; first and second compartments ( 16 , 18 ) in said housing separated by a printed circuit board; a battery ( 20 ) in said first compartment ( 16 ) and a single light source ( 22 ) in said second compartment ( 18 ) deriving power from said battery ( 20 ), said light source ( 22 ) being mounted upon said printed circuit board ( 24 ); a substantially U-shaped heat sink ( 24 b ) positioned in said first compartment ( 20 ), said heat sink ( 24 b ) having a bight ( 24 d ) affixed to said printed circuit board and legs ( 24 c ) extending from said bight, at least one of said legs ( 24 c ) being positioned in said at least one cutout ( 24 e ); an optical coupler ( 26 ) associated with said light source ( 22 ), said optical coupler ( 26 ) comprising a central body ( 28 ) arrayed along a light source axis ( 30 ) and having a proximal end ( 32 ) with a lens ( 34 ) adjacent said light source ( 22 ) and a distal end ( 36 ); two lateral projections ( 38 ) on said central body ( 28 ), said lateral projections ( 38 ) including mounting means ( 40 ) for affixing said optical coupler ( 26 ) to said printed circuit board ( 24 ); said distal end ( 36 ) being formed to accept an optical fiber bundle ( 42 ).