While propofol is slowly moving through Drug Enforcement Administration’s bureaucracy to become a Schedule IV substance within the next couple of months, an “imminent” decision according to many sources, medical device manufacturers are working on blood analyzers for the substance. Sphere Medical, from Cambridge, UK, has just announced CE Marking for the Pelorus 1000, the world’s first commercially available propofol analyser. The device is not yet indicated for clinical care, so it is not to be used for dose adjustments in operating rooms or ICUs, but as CEO of the company Stuart Hendry said,
“I am extremely pleased that Sphere has been able to bring this innovation to the market following successful clinical trials earlier this year some of which were published at the ASA. We are already working with leaders in the critical care field and I look forward with anticipation to the studies being performed that will begin prove the clinical and economic benefits of real time measurement of propofol concentration.”
Here are stated benefits of the system from the product page:
Fast results
* 5 minutes’ analysis time
* Highly sensitive measurement principle for accurate, reliable resultsEasy and convenient operation
* Operation via dedicated touch-screen computer
* Single-use cartridge for each measurement
* No sample preparation required
* Benchtop device with small footprint
* Simple start-up and shut-downQuality control and calibration
* QC at three concentration levels (provided)
* Simple daily calibration routine
Press release: Sphere Medical achieves CE Marking for the Pelorus 1000 the World’s first commercially available propofol analyser… (.PDF)
Pelorus 1000 product brochure… (.PDF)
Related: DEA: Propofol Headed for Controlled Substance Schedule …