Real-Time Blood Propofol Concentration Monitoring
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SOMNUS n. som-nuhs:
The Roman god of sleep. The personification of sleep. Greek counterpart is Hypnos.
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Things are changing fast at Somnus Scientific as we develop our products and engage with more people. We are also finding more interest from agencies and the media.
Propofol the better choice for sedation
Positive news as NHS moves towards reducing carbon footprint
Dr Tim Craft interviewed on BBC Radio
Video Spotlight
Somnus explains the new products being developed by Somnus and how they can benefit patients and clinicians
Somnus Business development Lead Malcolm Stewart explains…
We are developing...
A Suite Of Products To Measure Blood Propofol Concentration At the Point of Care
There is mounting evidence that patients given sedation (for instance in intensive care) are frequently over-sedated. As a result, they take longer to get off breathing machines (ventilators), stay in ICU longer than they need to, and are less likely to survive. Propofol is the most commonly used sedative in the majority of ICUs but there is currently no way of measuring how much is in the patients’ blood stream in real-time.
Despite increasing evidence of benefits to patients and the environment of using Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) rather than volatile or gaseous anaesthesia, adoption of TIVA by clinicians is limited partly by the lack of a real-time blood propofol concentration monitor.
Somnus Scientific Limited is developing a suite of products to fill these gaps
What is Propofol?
Propofol Is An Intravenous Hypnotic Drug
It is short acting and so needs to be given by continuous infusion into a vein for all but the quickest procedures. In low dose it produces sedation (makes the patient sleepy) and if higher doses are given it produces general anaesthesia (unconsciousness).
Many patients require sedation to tolerate treatments (such as being on a ventilator in ICU) or procedures (such as colonoscopy – a camera examination of the inside of the bowel). Published research shows that it is not always easy to get the dose right with some patients receiving too much and others too little
When it is administered by continuous infusion to maintain anaesthesia (keep people unconscious) it has substantial benefits for patients compared with the use of anaesthetic gases. These benefits include a carefully controlled, smooth induction of anaesthesia and a rapid, high quality recovery with a very low incidence of nausea. Propofol appears to have less impact on memory, especially in susceptible patients. Retrospective analysis suggests that patients who have cancer and are anaesthetised with propofol are more likely to be alive 5 years later than those given gaseous anaesthesia. Emerging laboratory evidence is helping to explain this.
Learn moreEvidence
TIVA has benefits for patients including fewer symptoms such as postoperative nausea and vomiting and a better recovery profile.
View EvidenceLearn more about Somnus
Even more highlights for Somnus in the last year: •Holding our first face-to-face investor meeting •Publication of a scientific paper describing our novel technology. Read more at
Read MoreSome more highlights for Somnus in 2021: Winning the Royal Society of Chemistry’s award for Emerging Technology in Health • Expanding our research team at our labs in St Neots • Publication of a scientific paper describing our novel technology.
Read MoreSomnus Scientific is exploring whether we can help in the determination of a safe discharge following sedation with propofol
Read MoreNew blog posted on the Somnus site.
Read MoreSome headlines for Somnus from 2021: • Winning Innovation of the year from the Association of Anaesthetists • Approval from the Health Research Authority for testing using human plasma • A successful fund-raise at £100,000 over target Looking forward to more in 22!
Read MoreThe latest Somnus Investor News is now available. If you would like to be on our mailing list DM us. More info at
Read MoreWhy is TIVA with propofol a good option for patients, clinicians and the environment?
Read MoreThe Somnus website has a range of short videos with our senior team explaining the products that we are working on to benefit patients, clinicians and the environment.
Read More@lancs7 We haven’t anaesthetised adults in an AR in Bath for more than 20 years. There are huge benefits in this. Scrub teams understand our challenges more. Know how to help. Monitoring stays connected at time of max physiological change. 50% fewer pt slides. Tim
Read MoreHow can TIVA with propofol make a contribution to reducing the NHS' carbon footprint?
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