Norwegian tech partnership solves critical temperature challenge in medical transport and storage

Norwegian medical technology company SonoClear has solved a critical challenge in the transport and storage of its temperature-sensitive ultrasound fluid used in brain tumor surgery — with the help of a real-time monitoring sensor developed by fellow Norwegian technology company Surfact.

SonoClear’s fluid, designed to mimic brain tissue and improve ultrasound imaging during neurosurgery, must be stored and transported at temperatures between 2°C and 25°C to maintain its quality and performance. Ensuring that temperature range throughout global shipping and hospital storage has been a major concern for the company.

“That uncertainty used to keep me awake at night,” said Peter Balmforth, CEO of SonoClear. “You control every aspect of development and manufacturing, but once the product leaves your facility it may pass through several transport stages before reaching a hospital. At the hospital, a nurse receives the shipment and is responsible for storing it correctly. You rely on multiple people handling it properly along the way.”

The solution came in the form of Emma, a compact IoT sensor developed by Norwegian technology company Surfact. With the size and shape of a hockey puck, and made from recycled ocean plastic, the battery-powered device continuously monitors temperature, shock, light exposure and location in real time throughout the entire supply chain.

“But after we started using Surfact’s sensor, which follows the shipment and alerts us immediately if anything unusual happens, it was like a headache that disappeared,” Balmforth said.

Critical for Clinical Studies

The sensor provides real-time visibility to manufacturers, shippers and hospitals, ensuring that temperature-sensitive products remain within safe limits during both transport and storage — a critical factor for clinical studies, where strict regulatory requirements apply.

“Just think about the time and resources invested in maintaining temperature control before testing even begins,” Balmforth said. “If you lose control during transport or storage, all of that work can be wasted.”
Surfact sees the collaboration as a strong example of how technology can reduce waste in global supply chains.

“Our vision is to eliminate the massive global waste of food and medicines, which costs billions of dollars every year and generates huge CO₂ emissions,” said Bjørnar Lie, CTO and co-founder of Surfact. “Much of this can be prevented with better visibility and temperature control during transport. It’s especially rewarding to support a company like SonoClear that is helping advance brain surgery.”

Pursuing U.S. market breakthrough

SonoClear is currently pursuing regulatory approval in the United States. The company recently became the first fully Norwegian-owned company to receive the Breakthrough Device designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The designation is granted to medical technologies that may provide significantly improved treatment or diagnosis for serious or life-threatening conditions and gives priority status in the FDA review process.

SonoClear, which is owned by the Norwegian research institute SINTEF, recently raised USD 4,6 million in new capital and expects its product to be approved for use in the United States in the first quarter of 2027.

Surfact launched its advanced IoT sensor commercially in 2025 and is targeting the global logistics industry. The technology is already in use in 20 markets, including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Dubai and Canada. The company collaborates with several major pharmacy chains across the Nordic region.