Abstract: A device for detecting properties of soft tissue. The device comprises a probe coupled to drive means to urge the probe against the soft tissue, a detector for determining applied stress to the soft tissue, and an ultrasonic transmitter configured to, in use, transmit ultrasound waves through at least a portion of the probe and through the soft tissue. A system including the device is also provided along with a corresponding method.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is described, including a piezoelectric element, a fluid medium contact layer, a matching layer between the piezoelectric element and the fluid medium contact layer, and a backing layer. Ultrasound sensor devices utilising the ultrasonic transducer are also described, for use in systems for analysing a fluid such as milk.

Abstract: A moving robot has at least one surface wave transducer or a transmitter and receiver, to identify defects on or in a surface on which the robot moves, and provide data indicative of the location, size and/or orientation of the defects from robot position data.

Abstract: An apparatus or system for identifying a conduit, having a flexible wall, and comprising at least one open end. The apparatus or system has a gas pressure signal generator for applying a pressure signal at the open end of the conduit to be identified to cause the conduit to be subjected to an increase in internal gas pressure. At least one sensor is provided for measuring, at a measuring location remote from the open end, at least one of the following variables a) width of the conduit, b) diameter of the conduit, c) temperature of the conduit wall, d) load on the conduit wall, and e) strain on the conduit wall. The conduit is identified when the sensor(s) detect(s) a change or changes in the variable(s) experienced by the conduit so identified in response to the gas pressure signal.

Abstract: A moving robot has at least one surface wave transducer or a transmitter and receiver, to identify defects on or in a surface on which the robot moves, and provide data indicative of the location, size and/or orientation of the defects from robot position data.

Abstract: A dental charting system having a control device configured to be held by a user or which is mounted to another device held by a user and the control device including one or more movement sensors for sensing movement of the control device in space and generating representative movement signals. A gesture processing module is provided to receive and process the movement signals to detect the occurrence of a gesture event from a set of predetermined gesture events, and which generates representative gesture control signals. A dental charting application program is also provided and runs on a host device and which provides a graphic user interface on a display associated with the host device for interacting with the application program, the application program being configured to receive and process the gesture control signals to enable interaction with the graphic user interface by the user via hand gesture movements of the control device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a characteristic, such as the stiffness, of a portion of a wood specimen characterised by the steps of a) producing an acoustic signal in the wood specimen part way along the length of the wood specimen, and b) sensing a response in the wood specimen part way along the length of the wood specimen including a reverberation from a first end of the wood specimen, and c) calculating a characteristic of a portion of the wood specimen from analysis of the sensed response. A related method and apparatus may be used to determine a characteristic of a portion of a tree stem during harvesting of a tree and the characteristic used to optimise the value of a log cut from the stem.

Abstract: Apparatus (preferably portable) enabling a felled tree stem or log to have its stiffness characterized. The analysis is performed with best fit recognition procedure or one that emphasizes high harmonics to determine a fundamental frequency related to acoustic speed, which is indicative the stiffness characteristics of the tree stem or log. The apparatus uses a compliantly mounted accelerometer pressed against one end of the tree stem to defect reflections from the other end after impacting the first end. Also disclosed is a method of cutting a stem into logs by establishing a function that represents the nature of speed variation with distance along the stem characteristic for a species and locality. The average speed along a stem and the speed function are used to compute the likely speed at points along the stem, and then the stems are routed for cutting according to their speed.

Abstract: Use of a single end testing of stems of felled trees whereby by inducing a sonic wave with an impact and by reference to detected reflections and with a knowledge of the length of the stem the stiffness and/or strength characteristics of the stem or logs to be cut therefrom can be derived. A preferred procedure is a determination of the fundamental frequency f0 which relates to velocity V, the speed of longitudinal compressional motions along the stem, and L, the length of the stem, as follows: V=2Lf0. From that value V or a function of V can be derived an indicator of stiffness and/or strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a single end testing of stems of felled trees whereby by inducing a sonic wave with an impact and by reference to detected reflections and with a knowledge of the length of the stem the stiffness and/or strength characteristics of the stem or logs to be cut therefrom can be derived. A preferred procedure is a determination of the fundamental frequency f0 which relates to velocity V, the speed of longitudinal compressional motions along the stem, and L, the length of the stem, as follows: V=2Lf0. From that value V or a function of V can be derived an indicator of stiffness and/or strength. For example the modulus of elasticity (MOE) is such an indicator and can be determined by the equation MOE=&rgr; V2 where &rgr; is density. For green felled timber &rgr; can be estimated as approximating 1000 kg/m3.

Abstract: A dynamometer comprises means to mechanically couple a hydraulic pump to the engine output, means indicating the rotational speed of the engine output, means indicating the torque and/or power of the engine output, valve means for controlling the load absorbed by the hydraulic pump, computerised control means receiving the signals indicative of engine speed and output torque and/or power and capable of controlling the valve means to vary the load applied to the engine to operate the engine under programmed varying speeds and/or loads, and output means to display and/or print data indicating engine power and/or torque at one or a range of engine speeds. Preferably the dynamometer operates in either a set speed mode in which the engine is maintained at a constant seed under varying loads or a set load mode in which the engine is maintained under a constant load with varying speeds.