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1. A surgical assembly comprising a switching assembly which is arranged to receive a DC signal for use in generating an electrical field proximate a site of a surgical procedure for ionizing and removing particles suspended proximate the surgical site, and a second signal for use in cutting, sealing or cauterizing tissue of the patient during the surgical procedure, the surgical assembly further comprising a surgical tool comprising a tool-piece, the switching assembly being arranged to switch the application of the DC signal and the second signal to the tool-piece, and a controller for controlling the switching assembly to control the application of the DC signal to the tool-piece during a first time interval and the application of the second signal to the tool-piece for a second time interval, the DC and second signals being separated by a third interval of 10-100 ms during which the DC and second signals are removed from the tool-piece, wherein the controller comprises a timing arrangement configured to time the application of the DC signal to the tool-piece following the second interval, such that the first and second intervals are non-overlapping intervals, wherein the timing arrangement is arranged to time the application of the DC signal in dependence of a cessation of the second signal, wherein any residual capacitive charge accumulated during the preceding first interval is allowed to discharge or dissipate during the third interval, the surgical assembly comprises at least one resistor for enabling the discharge or dissipation of the residual charge, and the controller further comprises a sensing arrangement for sensing the second signal, the sensing arrangement being arranged to output a sensing signal to the controller in dependence of the sensed second signal to prevent simultaneous application of the DC and second signals.
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