content: <PAGE>
  
  ================================================================================
  
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                           ----------------------------
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                  CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                      OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
  
           Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2001
  
                           ----------------------------
  
                         SOMNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     Delaware
                  (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  
        000-23275                                         77-9423465
  (Commission File Number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  
                                 285 N. Wolfe Road
                                Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                  (408) 773-9121
     (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                   of Registrant's principal executive offices)
  
                           ----------------------------
  <PAGE>
  
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
       On May 4, 2001, Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
  and Registrant herein, announced the signing of a merger agreement between the
  Registrant and Gyrus Group PLC. A copy of the press release containing the
  announcement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by
  this reference.
  
  ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
  
  (c) Exhibit
  
       The following Exhibit is filed as part of this report:
  
  Exhibit No.      Description
  -----------      -----------
  
  99.1             Press Release issued by Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.
                   on May 4, 2001
  
                                    SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                    SOMNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  Date:  May 8, 2001
  
  
                                    By: /s/ John G. Schulte
                                        ---------------------------------
                                    Name:   John G. Schulte
                                    Title:  Director, President and Chief
                                            Executive Officer
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text: ================================================================================
  
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                           ----------------------------
  
                                     FORM 8-K
  
                  CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
                      OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
           Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 4, 2001
  
                           ----------------------------
  
                         SOMNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     Delaware
                  (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  
        000-23275                                         77-9423465
  (Commission File Number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  
                                 285 N. Wolfe Road
                                Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                  (408) 773-9121
     (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                   of Registrant's principal executive offices)
  
                           ----------------------------
  ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS
  
       On May 4, 2001, Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
  and Registrant herein, announced the signing of a merger agreement between the
  Registrant and Gyrus Group PLC. A copy of the press release containing the
  announcement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by
  this reference.
  
  ITEM 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
  
  (c) Exhibit
  
       The following Exhibit is filed as part of this report:
  
  Exhibit No.      Description
  -----------      -----------
  
  99.1             Press Release issued by Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.
                   on May 4, 2001
  
                                    SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                    SOMNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  
  Date:  May 8, 2001
  
                                    By: /s/ John G. Schulte
                                        ---------------------------------
                                    Name:   John G. Schulte
                                    Title:  Director, President and Chief
                                            Executive Officer