Intelligent Operating Room Knife Sniffs Out Cancer Cells

Hospitals in London, UK are testing a new intelligent surgery knife, which analyzes the smoke produced as the surgeon cuts through the patient’s tissue to sniff out cancer cells.

During a standard surgery, the suspected tissue is removed and sent to the lab for screening which can take between 10 to 30 minutes for the results to get back to the surgeon.

The knife connects via a tube to a monitor, which analyses the smoke created as the surgeon cuts in real-time and instantly signals if the sliced tissue is cancerous or healthy.

The monitor displays the results using a trio of colours; Red – indicates cancer, Green – healthy tissue, and Yellow – unidentified.

Surgeons are optimistic the intelligent knife will not only reduce surgery time but will assist the surgeon in removing the correct amount of damaged tissue.