Brake repair question

Please tell me if this sounds right.

The left front brake began squeaking on my 1994 Chevrolet Corsica. I know 
that this often means that the brake pad is wearing down, so I took the
car 
to a local repair shop and dropped it off. Later in the day the mechanic 
called me and said that it needs new pads and calipers on both sides, and 
that a hose is broken on one side. I told him to go ahead and do whatever 
needs to be done.

He called me back a while later and said that he was unable to repair the 
brakes because a special scanner was required to bleed the brake system on

this car and he does not have a scanner. I had a mechanic put new pads on
a 
couple years ago and there was no scanner involved. He is now retired and
no 
longer in business so I can't take it to him.

What is this scanner that the mechanic is talking about?

Thank you.