~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: Advanced Bionics (the company that makes the Clarion implant)
has recently posted a new video to their website. The video discusses
the history of cochlear implant electrodes and focuses on the new
HiFocus Electrode System. And it's captioned!!!!
The downside is that it takes about 15 minutes to download on a 56K
modem. But if you're interested in this technology, the video is well
worth the download.
Here are portions of the press release.
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March 23,2000
In response to the unprecedented interest in the new CLARION HiFocus
Electrode, Advanced Bionics produced special online video and animation
to describe the history of cochlear implant electrode design and the new
HiFocus Electrode. The online video is open captioned for the hearing
impaired and features Janusz Kuzma, Director of Advanced Mechanical
Research, who led the design of the Nucleus 22, Nucleus 24, CLARION
Electrode Positioner and the new CLARION HiFocus Electrode System.
Advanced Bionics' purpose in producing this material is to share
accurate, up-to-date information about the advances in cochlear implant
technology, so that cochlear implant users, professionals and those
considering cochlear implantation can accurately assess and fully
understand the new technology.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: Those who have been following the story about the removal of
the Advanced Bionics Clarion CI from North American markets will be
interested in the recent announcement that both the FDA and Health
Canada have approved the new CII without the Positioner. Note the CII
includes the high resolution processing strategy that has only been
available in clinical trials up to now.
For additional information, please visit www.advancedbionics.com or
contact:
Emily McCargar
emilym@advancedbionics.com
661-917-4847
Here are excerpts from the press release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Valencia, CA, September 10, 2002 - Advanced Bionics(r) Corporation
(Bionics) today announced it received approval from the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada to market its high
resolution CLARION(r) CII Bionic EarT System.
The FDA approval includes the new High Resolution Sound Processing
software, which had been in clinical trials for the last year. High
Resolution Sound Processing is designed to provide deaf adults and
children the fine details of sound and a more natural hearing nerve
response.
"Ninety six percent (96%) of patients in the clinical trial
preferred High Resolution Sound Processing to other conventional sound
processing strategies," said Mary Joe Osberger, Ph.D., Director of
Clinical Research. "Clinical studies demonstrate that music sounds
better and speech sounds more natural for the majority of
patients," she added.
The FDA approval now lowers the age at implantation in the United
States from 18-months down to 12-months. The system is already available
to Canadian children 12 months of age and older.
Bionics will begin distribution of the system immediately. The system
configuration will not include the separate component called the
Positioner, which had been used in previous models. Clinical data show
that efficacy results are indistinguishable between systems configured
with and without the Positioner.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November
2006
What
is the Harmony™ HiResolution(r) Bionic Ear System? Designed to enhance
music appreciation and improve hearing in a variety of difficult
listening environments, the Harmony System couples revolutionary
internal sound processing (with the optional HiRes FidelityTM 120) with
the new Harmony behind-the-ear (BTE) external sound processor. Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January
2007
Now
you can get answers to all your questions about cochlear implants, in
person, at this free seminar. And, at the same time, you'll discover the
Harmony HiResolution Bionic Ear, a truly extraordinary breakthrough in
both performance and convenience. Join us and find out why the Harmony
HiResolution Bionic Ear is the most advanced cochlear implant that can
help you achieve your full hearing potential. Learn directly from
cochlear implant professionals and interact with cochlear implant users
about their experiences hearing the sounds of life. Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 2007
Last August, Boston Scientific Corp. chief
executive Jim Tobin sent a difficult letter to Alfred Mann , one of the
company's division chiefs. After careful discussion with his top
managers, Tobin wrote, he had concluded Mann must leave. It was no
ordinary decision, and Mann was no ordinary subordinate. At 81 years old
and with an estimated personal fortune of $2 billion, he ranks among the
most successful inventors and entrepreneurs in the history of the
medical device industry. His most recent success was selling one of his
companies in 2004 for $742 million to Boston Scientific, the Natick
life-science giant.
Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 2007
A contentious legal fight between Boston Scientific
Corp. and a California subsidiary it bought in 2004 took a sharp twist
this week when lawyers asked a judge to consider undoing the deal.
Boston Scientific of Natick bought Advanced Bionics Corp. for $742
million nearly three years ago, and since last summer has been locked in
a legal battle with the company's founder, Alfred Mann . When Mann sold
his company to the Natick medical device maker, he crafted an
arrangement to keep day-to-day control of his company. He claims Boston
Scientific executives wrongfully tried to push him out last July. On
Tuesday, New York federal judge Alvin Hellerstein agreed with Mann and
issued an injunction temporarily blocking Boston Scientific from
removing Mann from his position. He said the company must first pursue the lengthy
dispute resolution process outlined in the original merger contract.
Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April
2007
As
part of our ongoing commitment to support the families and professionals
who work with children who have cochlear implants, we are thrilled to
announce The Listening Room for Kids.
The Listening Room for Kids is a unique, dynamic, and
simple-to-use on-line aural rehabilitation program developed by Dave
Sindrey, M.CI.Sc., Cert AVT.
The Listening Room is accessible for FREE through http://www.HearingJourney.com.
It's the only program of its kind designed to assist
professionals and families in their efforts to maximize the hearing
potential of children with cochlear implants.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2007
Meningitis, specifically Pneumococcal (bacterial)
meningitis, is one of the most serious and life threatening risks for
cochlear implant recipients. Fortunately, there are effective vaccinations
against Pneumococcal infections that can immunize and protect against this
significant form of bacterial meningitis disease. Unfortunately, many
cochlear implant recipients do not get vaccinated, leaving them
unnecessarily exposed to the potential health risks associated with
bacterial meningitis. Advanced Bionics is proud to announce a new program
intended to increase awareness among cochlear implant candidates,
recipients, implant surgeons and audiologists who treat cochlear implant
recipients, regarding the importance of proper meningitis vaccination. The
key objective of this program is to increase awareness of the serious risk
associated with meningitis and encourage adult cochlear implant recipients
and parents of children with cochlear implants to seek vaccination
immediately. The program provides a financial award to parents or
guardians of all children (18 years of age and younger) implanted with
Advanced Bionics cochlear implants, to vaccinate their children against
Pneumococcal meningitis. In addition, the program will reimburse
out-of-pocket Pneumococcal meningitis vaccination expenses, not covered by
health insurance, for both children and adults with Advanced Bionics
cochlear implants.
Full Story
