Title: Sci-Tech: Smart scalpel technology

" Today find any CN. Inside tech today taking the guesswork out of surgery with the help of some new technology. Joining us from the Museum of Science is doctor Julius able thanks for joining us back disable good -- They're one of the first up what are the challenges today for doctors who were operating on tumors."

" In today's methods of cancer surgery surgeons can determine at what tissue they need to remove. I'm based on imaging scans like CT scans that are taken before the operation starts. Why are there operating they can't get very much feedback about exactly what tissues they're working -- If they do need to identify tissue that to cut a tiny sample. And then give it to a pathologist to analyze which can take several minutes up to half an hour during surgery."

" So not as a new technique aimed at improving all of them and it's based on. -- to existing technologies tell us about that."

" Get this -- unique developed by a researcher in Germany. Combines two technologies that have been around for a long time one of them is electro surgery which uses instruments like a scalpel. But they applied electric currents to the tissue where they contacted. And that heats up the tissue and reduces bleeding. Com but also -- heats up the -- it produces some smoke called surgical smoke which is usually just discarded removed and them thrown out. But this new technique collect that surgical smoke and analyzes it with the second technology which is mass spectrometry. And that. Technology is used in many areas of science to you analyze the chemistry of substances. Such as media forensics. Science using it to analyze and substance that a crime scene. Or testing athletes blood for steroids. So in this case the mass spectrometer will analyze the smoke from the tissue. And it can distinguish based on the chemical signature between healthy. And cancerous tissue so how -- this experimental technology change the way surgeries are performed. The big advantage is that the mass spectrometer analysis takes only a fraction of a second. So surgeons can get immediate real time information about the nature of the tissue they're working it. And on that will help them remove all of the tumor without removing any of healthy tissue around the."

" Obviously a huge advantage that don't have to destroy. Any healthy future yes. Well when might this new technique being readily available."

" That that the testing in animals has been very successful and they're starting human clinical trial this month. So the scientists are hoping it'll be available in two to five years although at the beginning it might be very expensive. So they're working with manufacturers. Manufacturers to develop more specialized and more affordable equipment for hospitals. Doctor drew you -- thanks very much it's fascinating. Thanks a lot now remember to join us every Wednesday at."