Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source having multiple solid state sources, such as LEDs, and emits light of a color temperature of about 5500° K. The system further includes a flexible optical cable formed by a centrally located optical fiber and five corresponding peripheral optical fibers distributed around the center fiber and a sheath for maintaining the optical fibers in a predetermined spatial relationship, with each of the solid state sources is butt-coupled to one end of a single optical fiber. The solid state sources are thermally coupled to a cooling system, which may include fans or other active cooling elements.

Abstract: A light source specially adapted for use in dental procedures is described. The light source includes multiple solid state sources such as LEDs. The light sources emit light of a color temperature of about 5500° K. or more, which enables a dentist using the light source to detect caries in a patient's oral cavity more easily and reliably. Each of the sources is preferably butt-coupled to one end of a single optical fiber. The sources are also thermally coupled to a cooling system, which may include fans or other active cooling elements. The sources are arranged spatially inside a housing to facilitate bundling them into a flexible optical cable. The optical cable transmits the light emitted by the sources to a conventional dental lighting handpiece.