Innovative medical device manufacturer joins Texas State's STAR Park

SAN MARCOS - Sempulse, an innovative medical device manufacturer, will relocate its headquarters to the Science Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Park at Texas State University. Sempulse developed a patented, noninvasive vital signs sensor that adheres to the back of the ear and acquires patients’ five major vital signs. 

The move to STAR Park at Texas State will allow Sempulse to expand its presence in Austin and San Antonio, making San Marcos a perfect hub, and provides the opportunity to leverage Texas State faculty and students as a resource for developing new offering. 

Sempulse began designing sensor systems for military use, specifically in battlefield triage. The company realized its FieldVitals solution had the potential to revolutionize civilian spaces as well, in prehospital and multiple casualty environments. The Sempulse system represents a paradigm shift for first responders, letting them focus on their primary responsibility: treating the wounded. 

In field triage, emergency medical service providers decide the severity of patients outside of the hospital, determine their prioritization for care, and then select their intended care center destination. Today, many medics have to manually take vital signs with their fingers and stethoscopes and then subjectively decide who to help first. Sempulse's Halo applies in seconds to the back of the ear and wirelessly monitors 100+ patients' vital signs, non-invasively and in non-sterile conditions. It measures pulse oximetry, heart rate, respiratory rate, core body temperature, and the industry's first cuffless blood pressure within two seconds of application. 

The data is then securely transmitted to a medic's tablet and simultaneously to remote physicians to allow them to add their expertise. 

The Sempulse system can be used in disaster response, search and rescue operations, international aid programs, epidemic outbreaks and mass casualty events like a terrorist attack. It also has consumer applications including in hospitals, emergency rooms, waiting rooms and nursing homes. 

STAR Park, the new headquarters for Sempulse, is Texas State's 58-acre research park dedicated to collaboration with industry, government laboratories and nonprofit research institutions to accelerate innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship in the Texas Innovation Corridor. 

“Sempulse is on a mission to change the healthcare industry as we know it and we’re excited for STAR Park to be a part of their journey,” said STAR Park Executive Director Stephen Frayser. 

“STAR Park provides the unique opportunity to leverage the resources and support provided by Texas State University as well as allowing us to have access to partners in San Antonio and Austin, making STAR Park the ideal location for Sempulse,” said Sempulse CEO Kurt Stump. 

Sempulse has had considerable support and backing from the Department of Defense. The company is also currently expanding into a number of other areas: enhancing peak performance training for athletes, utilizing cloud services to connect physicians, patients and field personnel, providing better telemedicine services to rural and remote areas, monitoring rehabilitation and outpatient services for chronic diseases as well as optimizing health outcomes through machine learning.