Earlier this year Johnson & Johnson released what they call a Computer Assisted Personal Sedation System (CAPS) codenamed Sedasys. This automated system does real time monitoring of your vital signs and provides procedural sedation during colonoscopies by administering and titrating our favorite hypnotic/amnestic agent, propofol. But since propofol is also used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, who's not to say that it might progress to that, especially for low risk procedures?
Some anesthesiologists are already concerned with anesthesia specialization going to nurses, which is all well and fine. Ultimately, the goal for anesthesiologists and anesthetists is the same; providing safe, high quality anesthesia services with an aim for the best possible patient outcome. However, with health care reform on the horizon, we're also looking more and more into cost savings. But to machines? Sure it'll take out the human error factor, but machines fail too. One thing for sure though, it'll reduce the human touch of anesthesia care.
I, for one, welcome our future robotic overlords. As long it's not the one putting the scope in my butt. Just kidding, I'm still on the fence about this one.
More information here: http://www.sedasys.com/
FDA link can be found here.
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