Abstract: There is disclosed medical apparatus of the type for use in surgery such as transanal endoscopic microsurgery, as well as methods of providing access to, inspecting and enabling surgery within a body passage. In one embodiment of the invention, medical apparatus in the form of a rectal expander (10) is disclosed, the expander (10) being adapted for location at least partly within a body passage such as the rectum (12) of a patient (14), the expander (10) having a leading end (18) and an access area in the form of an opening (20) for access from the expander (10) into the rectum (12), at least part of the opening (20) being spaced from the leading end (18), and the expander (10) being controllably movable between collapse and expansion positions, for expanding the rectum (12).

Abstract: An evaluation system (10) for evaluating media is described. The system is particularly suitable for evaluating banknotes to determine their suitability for use in an ATM. The system comprises sensing means (12) for sensing properties of media (18) including the location of any imperfection in the media, and an evaluation module (16) for evaluating imperfections in the media(18). The evaluation module (16) includes a classifier (52) comprising an artificial neural network (60) and fuzzy logic (66). The evaluation module (16) may include a plurality of classifiers (52), and a second level classifier (56) for generating a suitability index (20) from the outputs of the first level classifiers (52). A method of evaluating media is also described.

Abstract: An evaluation system (10) for evaluating media is described. The system is particularly suitable for evaluating banknotes to determine their suitability for use in an ATM. The system comprises sensing means (12) for sensing properties of media (18) including the location of any imperfection in the media, and an evaluation module (16) for evaluating imperfections in the media(18). The evaluation module (16) includes a classifier (52) comprising an artificial neural network (60) and fuzzy logic (66). The evaluation module (16) may include a plurality of classifiers (52), and a second level classifier (56) for generating a suitability index (20) from the outputs of the first level classifiers (52). A method of evaluating media is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening documents such as bank notes 1 for suitability for continued circulation, in which a damage index is computed for each document from a number of factors comprising a shape factor, an orientation factor, a size factor and a location factor developed for each defect in the document. Shape and rotation factors are obtained by applying Fourier and/or Wavelet transforms to sets of contour signals developed on scanning a document for defects using an optical scanner (6).

Abstract: A device (10) to transport sheets such as bank notes (30) comprises a rectangular tube (12) along which there is a flow of air F, the tube having pairs of independently addressable computer controlled flaps (14,16,18,20,22) on opposite internal walls. The pairs of flaps are controlled to project into the tube so as to reduce its height, and cause a local Venturi effect; by operating one or more pairs of flaps at a time in sequence, the Venturi effect moves along the tube, carrying the bank note by a surfing action.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the tension in a flexible drive belt (1) which passes around a plurality of pulleys (2, 3) includes the steps of causing a portion of the belt (1) when installed around the pulleys to vibrate at a natural frequency and detecting that frequency. In one arrangement the belt (1) is set into a vibrating motion by an impulse and the frequency of the transient vibrations measured. In another arrangement the belt (1) vibrated by a drive mechanism which receives a drive signal derived from the belt movement. Specific methods and apparatus for monitoring the tension are also applied to measuring the tension in elongate flexible members other than drive belts.