Light engine for imaging system

A light engine for a nano-arthroscope assembly, the light engine comprising:

• a light source, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) mounted to a circuit board;
• an optical component positioned proximate to the LED, wherein the optical component collimates light emitted from the LED;
• a lens positioned to receive the light collimated by the optical component, wherein the lens focuses the received light to a focal point outside of the lens;
• an aperture positioned between the optical component and the lens, wherein the aperture allows a center portion of the collimated light to pass from the optical component to the lens;
• and
• a bundle of light fibers positioned proximate to the lens, wherein the bundle of light fibers includes a first end that is positioned at or distal from the focal point of the light focused by the lens such that the light is coupled into the first end of the bundle of light fibers at the focal point.