A scalpel that can diagnose? Scientists unveil a ‘Lab-on-a-Scalpel’ for real-time surgical insights

Imagine a surgeon in the middle of a complex operation, able to get instant biochemical feedback not from a lab down the hall, but from the very tool in their hand. This vision is now one step closer to reality thanks to researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague).

The team, led by Professor Zdeněk Sofer, has developed and validated a “Lab-on-a-Scalpel” concept, a surgical tool with an integrated diagnostic sensor. They published their findings in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

This innovation addresses a critical challenge in surgery: the time lag between sample collection and lab results. During invasive procedures, a patient’s biochemical profile can change rapidly, but traditional testing methods are too slow to provide the real-time data needed for immediate, informed decisions.

The research team has created a disposable, compact electrochemical sensor that is fully 3D-printed and seamlessly incorporated into a standard medical scalpel handle. The genius of the design lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Using a common desktop-sized 3D printer, the team fabricated a multi-layered sensor from a special filament combining polylactic acid (a bioplastic) with conductive carbon nanomaterials, which allows the device to perform complex electrochemical analysis.

To validate their concept, the researchers tested the scalpel’s ability to detect epinephrine (adrenaline), a critical hormone that indicates stress and is often administered during surgery. The performance proved to be exceptional: The sensor detected concentrations as low as 130 nanomolars (nM) using only a single 50-microliter drop for a full analysis—a crucial advantage when biological fluids are limited.

Furthermore, in studies using artificial blood samples, the device demonstrated high accuracy, ranging from 91% to 105%. Remarkably, each disposable sensor can be produced on-demand for approximately €0.40, making it a highly practical and scalable solution for sterile environments.

The Lab-on-a-Scalpel is more than just a clever device; it represents a paradigm shift toward Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics directly in the operating theater. By eliminating the delays of off-site lab work, this technology could give clinicians the power to monitor a patient’s condition in real time.

“During a critical procedure, waiting for a lab report is a luxury you don’t have,” explains Professor Sofer. “Our goal was to create a multifunctional tool that minimizes the number of instruments in the room and maximizes the amount of actionable information available to the surgeon. This study shows that it’s possible.”

The future applications for this technology are vast. Further development could enable the instant monitoring of key metabolites, ions, and pH levels directly in tissue, leading to enhanced decision-making in oncological and emergency surgeries, where every second counts. It also opens the door for integration with robotic-assisted surgery, allowing robotic platforms to adjust their actions based on the patient’s live biochemical profile and ushering in an era of “smart” surgical environments.

While this is currently a proof of concept, the study confirms that advanced, functional diagnostic tools can be created with widely available technology, paving the way for a new generation of smart surgical instruments that could one day make surgery safer and more responsive than ever before.

Imagine a surgeon in the middle of a complex operation, able to get instant biochemical feedback not from a lab down the hall, but from the very tool in their hand. This vision is now one step closer to reality thanks to researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (UCT Prague).

The team, led by Professor Zdeněk Sofer, has developed and validated a “Lab-on-a-Scalpel” concept, a surgical tool with an integrated diagnostic sensor. They published their findings in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

This innovation addresses a critical challenge in surgery: the time lag between sample collection and lab results. During invasive procedures, a patient’s biochemical profile can change rapidly, but traditional testing methods are too slow to provide the real-time data needed for immediate, informed decisions.

The research team has created a disposable, compact electrochemical sensor that is fully 3D-printed and seamlessly incorporated into a standard medical scalpel handle. The genius of the design lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Using a common desktop-sized 3D printer, the team fabricated a multi-layered sensor from a special filament combining polylactic acid (a bioplastic) with conductive carbon nanomaterials, which allows the device to perform complex electrochemical analysis.

To validate their concept, the researchers tested the scalpel’s ability to detect epinephrine (adrenaline), a critical hormone that indicates stress and is often administered during surgery. The performance proved to be exceptional: The sensor detected concentrations as low as 130 nanomolars (nM) using only a single 50-microliter drop for a full analysis—a crucial advantage when biological fluids are limited.

Furthermore, in studies using artificial blood samples, the device demonstrated high accuracy, ranging from 91% to 105%. Remarkably, each disposable sensor can be produced on-demand for approximately €0.40, making it a highly practical and scalable solution for sterile environments.

The Lab-on-a-Scalpel is more than just a clever device; it represents a paradigm shift toward Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostics directly in the operating theater. By eliminating the delays of off-site lab work, this technology could give clinicians the power to monitor a patient’s condition in real time.

“During a critical procedure, waiting for a lab report is a luxury you don’t have,” explains Professor Sofer. “Our goal was to create a multifunctional tool that minimizes the number of instruments in the room and maximizes the amount of actionable information available to the surgeon. This study shows that it’s possible.”

The future applications for this technology are vast. Further development could enable the instant monitoring of key metabolites, ions, and pH levels directly in tissue, leading to enhanced decision-making in oncological and emergency surgeries, where every second counts. It also opens the door for integration with robotic-assisted surgery, allowing robotic platforms to adjust their actions based on the patient’s live biochemical profile and ushering in an era of “smart” surgical environments.

While this is currently a proof of concept, the study confirms that advanced, functional diagnostic tools can be created with widely available technology, paving the way for a new generation of smart surgical instruments that could one day make surgery safer and more responsive than ever before.