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: A body part heating system (10) comprises a temperature sensor (28) adapted to measure the temperature of a body part, and a heater (34a, 34b) in communication with the temperature sensor (28). The heater (34a, 34b) is adapted to be activated to heat the body part in response to the temperature sensor (28) sensing the occurrence of a predefined thermal event such as a temperature drop below a predefined level. The heating system (10) may be in the form of a glove and may be used to treat the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon.