A German professor has created a computerised pillow designed to stop people snoring.

Daryoush Bazargani, professor of computer science at the University of Rostock, admitted that he invented the device to combat his own snoring.

The pillow is attached to a computer about the size of a book, which analyses the noise generated by snoring.

"The computer then reduces or enlarges air compartments within the pillow to facilitate nasal airflow to minimise snoring as the user shifts during sleep," Professor Bazargani told Reuters.

The scientist showed off a prototype at a health conference in Germany, and claimed that several US companies have already expressed an interest.