STEGMA - Sensor TEchnology for Greater Medical Apparatus

The STEGMA (Sensor TEchnology for Greater Medical Apparatus) project is a new 3 years research project running until 2027 and targeting the development of a new technology platform for small and very stable pressure sensors for the medical market. The pressure ranges cover 100 mbar, 500 mbar and 1 bar differential sensors as well as 1 bar absolute sensors (with a built in vacuum reference). The project is a cooperation between MEMSCAP AS and SINTEF Digital MiNaLab, Norway's leading MEMS research institute. Within STEGMA, MEMSCAP and SINTEF will build on the knowledge and successful technology development for the aerospace industry within former research programs, in order to expand MEMSCAP's medical products’ portfolio and manufacturing capabilities. One target application will be respirators (for new born babies or infants) that require high accuracy and low pressure range due to limited air flow. The smaller size also paves the way for next generation of implantable devices and improves MEMSCAP competitive solutions in both the Invasive Blood Pressure and filtration market segments. The total project cost is NOK 40 Mill, where NOK 14 Mill is funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Primary target in this project is to expand the MEMSCAP product portfolios and manufacturing capabilities by developing a new world class technology platform for Pressure Sensor Chip-Stacks that can be used for a large variety of new products for the company’s medical business area. MEMSCAP wants to offer a new world class pressure sensor family of relative, differential and absolute sensor modules by utilizing new enabling MEMS technology that has been made possible by building on knowledge and successful technology developed for the aerospace industry. The research cover design of small area chip-stacks and new processes for high performance 100 mbar, 500 mbar and 1 bar differential pressure sensors and a 1 bar absolute pressure sensors. Verification of the research results cover low cost manufacturing capability of chip-stacks and performance testing for high-end medical sensor applications. This highly focused project is a cooperation between MEMSCAP AS and SINTEF Digital MiNaLab.