Going Global
Nottingham company lands investment to expand its share of neonatal health tech market The company behind a revolutionary newborn baby heartbeat monitoring device is set to explore foreign markets and grow its product portfolio thanks to £1m investment. BresMed’s new global HQ at Steel City House in Sheffield is the heart of the company’s worldwide operation. Commenting on the move, CEO Nic Brereton said: “I am so proud to be expanding BresMed to these premium “Despite the uncertainty surrounding premises in the city. The building very much the coronavirus pandemic, investors fits with our brand – it’s iconic with a quirky continue to be upbeat about the feel and, like us, it dares to be different.” long-term commercial potential of the business, have reinforced The company hasand come a long way since Nic thisinto through the newoffice investment. moved a one-person in the city “The need innovative medical many years ago,for adding: “Actually, it was more devices isHowever, more important a cupboard! it helpedthan me launch the ever as our healthcare systems business.” experience unprecedented pressure. This investment will help SurePulse to drive market-share gains and continue its exciting product development plans.” James Carpenter CEO, SurePulse
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urePulse Medical Ltd was established in 2014 as a joint venture between the University of Nottingham and Derby-based Tioga Ltd – combining academic strength with the expertise of one of the UK’s top electronics manufacturers. The company’s first product, the awardwinning SurePulse VS, is the world’s only wireless heartrate monitor specifically designed for newborn babies. One in 10 babies need resuscitation or stabilisation at delivery. This means that doctors often need to check vital signs continuously to guide optimal care in those critical first few minutes of life, in a bid to reduce the risks of long-term neonatal health complications such as brain damage. With the SurePulse VS, a baby’s heartrate is measured by a forehead sensor that sits inside a specially designed, disposable cap, which transmits pulse information back to a
wireless display. The device provides simple, hands-free, accurate and uninterrupted monitoring, enabling clinical staff to make fast, confident decisions and focus on performing procedures in time-critical situations.
SurePulse VS was awarded its CE mark in 2019 and has been trialled in NHS hospitals on over 300 newborns. Adoption of the device across the NHS (and other medical providers) presents far-reaching gains in neonatal healthcare, potentially saving the lives of new babies, heartache for their families and costs for the health service.
The optical sensor technology underpinning the hands-free heart monitor was developed in the Faculties of Engineering and Medicine at the University of Nottingham. The research teams were led by Professor Barrie Hayes-Gill and Dr Don Sharkey – both academic co-founders at SurePulse Medical. Professor Hayes-Gill, Research Director at SurePulse, commented: “It is a great achievement to see a medical device that was designed and trialled by our collaborative research groups reach clinics around Europe. SurePulse is another spinout success story and one that aligns with the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy to commercialise research and deliver skills and jobs in STEM fields.”
www.surepulsemedical.com
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Issue 19
