A pediatric tissue illuminator includes a semi-rigid lighting head removably connected to a powered base unit for illuminating an infants tissues while stabilizing a limb for venipuncture. The lighting head includes a series of LEDs and is placed behind an infants arm, thereby directing light therethrough for enhanced viewing. A printed circuit board in the lighting head routes electrical conductors to the LEDs. A translucent soft covering is disposed between the printed circuit board and the infants body. The base unit includes a control circuit for varying the application of electrical power to the lighting head via an electrical cable. The arm board/light head is inexpensive enough to be disposable. Alternatively, a re-useable light head may be used with disposable semi-rigid housings.
