Success Stories

Setra Systems Incorporated, a leading designer and manufacturer of pressure, acceleration and weight sensing devices licensed the rights to the patented Low Differential Pressure Generator developed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The technology allows an operator to calibrate low differential pressure transducers against a transfer standard rather than using dead weight testers. NASA needed a rugged, portable, inexpensive system to meet the requirements for performing precision testing under various, non-laboratory conditions. Innovators at Kennedy Space Center devised and constructed the low differential pressure generator to address this need. Setra has devoted its engineering and research efforts into the development of transducers and systems based on the highly accurate variable capacitive transduction principle. Setra's calibrator developed around the Low Differential Pressure Generator contains high accuracy pressure sensors that are able to generate stable pressure profiles that are extremely accurate.

Commercial Benefits

The Low Pressure Generator fills an unmet need for calibrating and certifying high accuracy, low differential pressure transducers. Setra is marketing the technology worldwide through their established domestic and international distribution channels. The primary target market is the pharmaceutical industry which is required by the FDA to certify the accuracy of their air handling sensors. Other opportunities exist for calibrating pressure transducers used in clean rooms, isolation rooms, laboratory fume hoods, and nuclear and aerospace laboratories.

Partnership Contributions

Setra System's product development team consists of a staff of 14 engineers, 3 laboratory technicians and 4 documentation specialists. The Low Pressure Calibrator project was assigned to the team in 2003 and Setra Systems invested over $200,000 into the development of the system incorporating the NASA technology. The calibrator is manufactured in their Boxborough Massachusetts facility.

Innovative Partnership Program Role

Setra had discovered the NASA patented technology while researching and developing similar technology to be implemented into their calibrator. They contacted NASA's Southeastern Technology Transfer Center's affiliate based at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on the availability of the technology. This inquiry was forwarded to Kennedy Space Center's IPP Office. Setra wanted to secure the NASA patent which was considered very important to their intellectual property portfolio on the calibrator. Setra worked with KSC’s IPP Office to secure exclusive rights to the patent under a license agreement.

Technology Innovators and Setra representatives standing by the new product incorporating the pressure generator technology.

Author: Setra Systems Incorporated
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