Cochlear Corporation Nucleus CI
Cochlear Corporation, located in Australia, developed
and pioneered the cochlear implant. Their CI is called the Nucleus.
December 2000 - The FDA has approved the newest Cochlear
Implant from Cochlear Corporation. Called the Nucleus
24 Contour, this system places the electrode array closer to the
auditory nerve for improved performance.
April 2001 -
Cochlear Corporation announces that their Nucleus 24 implant will soon incorporate
a Phonak FM System.
March 2002 - FDA Approves ESPrit(TM) 3G Behind The Ear Speech Processor
September
2003 - Cochlear announces their next generation
implant.
November 2003 - Here's
our report on the Cochlear presentation at ALDAcon 2003.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: The FDA has approved the newest Cochlear Implant from
Cochlear Corporation. Called the Nucleus 24 Contour, this system places
the electrode array closer to the auditory nerve for improved
performance. Here are excerpts from the press release
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cochlear Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved the Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant
system. This system broadens the eligibility criteria for cochlear
implant candidates to include infants as young as 12 months and
individuals with more residual hearing. The device -- the latest
development in cochlear implant technology -- provides closer contact
with the hearing nerves for improvements in sound quality, speech
recognition and power efficiency.
The Nucleus 24 Contour's unique self-curling electrode array matches
the curvature of the average cochlea, allowing closer proximity of
electrodes to the hearing nerve fibers. The device has the ability to
stimulate 22 sites along the cochlea, allowing a broad pitch range of
sound, which can enhance speech recognition. The small size of the
device simplifies surgery and reduces pressure on cochlear structures
making it well suited for very young children.
The Nucleus 24 Contour also offers the following additional features:
1. A choice of two speech processors: ESPrit(TM) Ear Level Speech
Processor, worn behind the ear, or the SPrint(TM) Speech Processor, a
body-worn processor.
2. It is the only cochlear implant with Neural Response Telemetry (NRT(TM)),
a technological breakthrough. NRT provides information concerning the
hearing nerves response to stimulation by the implant.
3. Broadest choice of speech coding strategies (CIS, ACE(TM) and
SPEAK), the software programs used to convert pitch, loudness and timing
of sound into useful electrical signals.
More than 40 medical centers across the United States participated in
clinical trials for the Nucleus 24 Contour. To date, more than 450
people in the United States have been successfully implanted with the
device with a total of 600 worldwide.
How a cochlear implant works
A cochlear implant bypasses damaged hair cells and directly
stimulates the hearing nerve fibers in the cochlea (inner ear). A small,
directional microphone located in the headset at the ear picks up
sounds. Sound is carried through a cord to the speech processor, which
is a powerful miniaturized computer that filters, analyzes and digitizes
sounds into coded signals and sends them to the transmitting coil. The
transmitting coil sends them as FM radio signals to the cochlear implant
located under the skin. Appropriate electrical energy is delivered to
the array of electrodes, which has been inserted into the cochlea,
stimulating the auditory nerve fibers. Sound is sent through the
auditory system to the brain for interpretation.
Candidacy requirements
Candidates for the Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant system must
meet the following criteria: age 12 months and older (no upper age
limit); severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in adults and
profound sensorineural hearing loss in children in both ears; and no
medical contraindications.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: Cochlear Corporation and Phonak recently announced that they
would work together to provide Phonak FM systems on Cochlear Corporation
CIs. Hearing aid users who use these FM systems often rave about their
effectiveness, so it seems like a natural extension for cochlear
implants. Here's the press release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phonak AG, Switzerland's number one manufacturer of technologically
advanced hearing systems, recently signed an agreement for the global
distribution of Phonak's miniaturized FM (Frequency Modulation) radio
communication equipment via Cochlear Limited (Cochlear), the world's
leading cochlear implant manufacturer.
"The collaboration between two world leaders in the race for
optimum hearing solutions is a major step forward," said Peter
Pfluger, CEO of the Phonak Group, "We firmly believe that a
majority of cochlear implant patients could benefit greatly from FM
technology and are delighted that we now offer that benefit as a team
together with Cochlear Ltd.
"The agreement with Cochlear confirms our FM technology as the
industry standard; it further raises its awareness in the ENT doctors'
community and reinforces Phonak's position as the key player in this
important segment," he said.
Mr Jack O'Mahony, President/Chief Executive Officer of Cochlear said
this agreement demonstrates Cochlear's commitment to provide cutting
edge technology for Nucleus recipients.
"As we continue to help more severely and profoundly hearing
impaired children and adults, we know we must make it easier for them to
lead a rich and fulfilling life in the hearing world. This agreement
will provide benefits to our more than 30000 Nucleus recipients today
and pave the way for successful outcomes for many more recipients in the
future."
"Our mission is to be partners in hearing for life and this
agreement is another improvement in the service we offer our recipients,
their careers and teachers. As the application of FM technology for the
hearing impaired is still evolving, we do not anticipate a significant
material effect on revenues in the short term, but anticipate this
technology will be a key element in future cochlear implant
systems", he said.
Phonak FM products will be available via Cochlear's distribution
network from the middle of 2001, and offered to cochlear implant
patients to further enhance their hearing ability by means of state-
of-the-art wireless communication technology.
The distribution agreement will provide Nucleus recipients with a
proven integrated hearing solution, comprising implant, speech processor
and wireless technology in more than 55 countries. Clinicians, hearing
professionals and recipients will benefit by Cochlear providing a single
reference point for technical support of this integrated system. In the
future, Phonak's miniaturized MicroLink receivers will be directly
integrated with Cochlear's speech processors - making the integrated
solution even more attractive for cochlear recipients.
More than 30,000 people around the world already use a
"Nucleus" cochlear implant, developed and manufactured by
Cochlear and more than 6,000 new implant operations are performed each
year. Over 50% of the candidates for a cochlear implantation are
children.
As all hearing impaired individuals, cochlear recipients also
struggle when they attempt to listen to competing conversations (for
example in business meetings), in reverberating rooms (conference halls
or restaurants) or when the speaker may be some distance away (for
example, children in classrooms).
Phonak's range of wireless products (MicroVox, HandyMic transmitters
and MicroLink receivers) helps overcome these challenges. These products
improve the speech intelligibility by picking up the clearest possible
signal directly at the source (i.e. the speaker's voice, a television, a
phone etc.) and transmitting it wirelessly to a miniaturized receiver.
This receiver delivers a high quality signal directly into the hearing
instrument (for hearing-impaired people) or the speech processor (for
cochlear implant recipients).
FM technology was traditionally used in special schools for hearing
impaired children, where the teacher's voice is sent from a body-worn FM
transmitter directly to a receiver clicked onto the child's hearing
device. In this way the noise surrounding the teacher's voice is
significantly decreased. The continuing improvements in this technology
have made it possible that a large proportion of the hearing impaired
children can now be educated in a normal mainstream school environment.
Similarly, children implanted with a Nucleus implant will now also
benefit from this technology. The advent of FM technology and the trend
to implant younger children means that more children with a Nucleus
implant will now be educated in a normal classroom environment where
they are learning with hearing peers.
The technology is also designed to provide improved understanding of
speech for hearing-impaired adults. The HandyMic TX3 allows users to
"zoom" in on individuals or groups of individuals in meetings
or large settings. In the home environment, future products will allow a
hearing impaired individual or a Nucleus recipient to receive high
quality sound directly from the telephone or the television - fed into
their hearing instrument or speech processor through the wireless FM
link.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March
2002
Editor: The Cochlear ESPrit (TM) 3G behind the ear (BTE) speech
processor has been approved for use in the US by the FDA. Cochlear Corp
says that the new processor is intended to help users hear more clearly
in all environments. Here are portions of the press release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cochlear Americas announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) cleared the ESPrit (TM) 3G behind the ear (BTE)
speech processor for sale in the U.S.
The ESPrit 3G is a breakthrough in performance, comfort, convenience
and design for cochlear implant recipients. It is designed to help
recipients hear clearly in all environments. The ESPrit 3G is compatible
with all Nucleus(R) 24 cochlear implants, including the revolutionary
Nucleus(R) 24 Contour(TM).
The ESPrit 3G is the only BTE in the cochlear implant industry to
offer:
* A built-in telecoil that allows recipients wireless access to
hearing-aid compatible telephones. The built-in telecoil also allows
listeners to connect to sound systems in public venues with assistive
listening devices, which minimize background noise and help recipients
to fully experience activities such as movies, concerts and lectures.
* The Whisper setting, which improves the audibility of soft and
moderate speech. Ideal for use during dinner parties, watching
television, listening to soft speakers or someone in the distance.
* An unprecedented average of fifty-four hours of battery life,
allowing recipients to go all day without changing batteries.
* All three Nucleus digital speech coding strategies -- ACE(TM), CIS
and SPEAK -- designed to allow users to hear clearly in all
environments.
* Sleek, stylish design in a range of twelve brilliant colors. With a
weight of only 15 grams with batteries and an adjustable earhook, it is
suitable for both adults and children.
"The ESPrit 3G is a significant breakthrough in this technology
because it is the first speech processor designed to allow recipients to
concentrate on their lives instead of their hearing loss," said Jim
Miller, president, Cochlear Americas. "The built-in telecoil,
extended battery life and novel Whisper Setting allow recipients to
participate in activities that they enjoy without the difficulties
associated with conventional external devices."
The ESPrit 3G BTE speech processor will be included in Cochlear
Americas' newly introduced product range -- the Nucleus(R) 3 system. The
Nucleus 3 system can be customized to meet the particular needs of
recipients' lifestyles and to maximize hearing performance.
The Nucleus 3 system offers the following products:
* Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant system. The only cochlear
implant system approved for use in infants as young as 12 months.
* A choice of two speech processors: ESPrit 3G, a speech processor
worn behind the ear. The SPrint(TM), a body worn speech processor.
* Nucleus(R) NRT(TM) 3.0 (Neural Response Telemetry). Third
Generation Neural Response Telemetry which provides information
concerning the hearing nerves response to stimulation by the implant,
and is particularly useful in very young children.
Denver-based Cochlear Americas is the U.S. headquarters for Cochlear
Limited, the world leader in cochlear implant technology. Cochlear is a
winner of the 2001 Medical Design Excellence Awards for its design of
the Nucleus(R) 24 Contour(TM) cochlear implant and the FDA
Commissioner's Special Citation for the development and
commercialization of the Nucleus(R) 24 Multichannel Auditory Brainstem
Implant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor: Cochlear Corporation has just announced its next-generation
cochlear implant (CI). The big advantage over current CIs is an
increased ability to upgrade the CI as technological improvements
happen. In particular, the new CI will support upgrades in coding
strategy, something current CIs can't do. Here are portions of the press
release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DENVER - August 2003 - Cochlear Americas, manufacturer of the
Cochlear Nucleus(r) line of implants and the world leader in cochlear
implant technology, has forged yet another frontier in cochlear implant
research - the percutaneous Contour AdvanceT cochlear implant. The
percutaneous implant is a special type of cochlear implant that allows
researchers to externally manipulate coding strategies. Coding
strategies are the techniques used by the speech processor to translate
sound into the signals the implant sends to the cochlea.
This new research platform is currently under clinical trials and not
yet commercially available. The trials are designed to accelerate the
development of new coding strategies to provide future patients with
more advanced options. This type of research cannot be implemented with
existing cochlear implants since the electronics are housed in the
internal implant. The findings of the research will be applied to the
design of Cochlear's future generations of cochlear implants. This
research is being done in collaboration with the Research Triangle
Institute and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and Rocky
Mountain Cochlear Implant Center in Denver, Colorado. The first patient
to receive a cochlear implant with a percutaneous plug was implanted
last month at Duke University.
[snip]
"We feel that the next major breakthrough in cochlear implant
performance will be the result of advanced coding strategies," said
Jim Miller, President, Cochlear Americas. "We are delighted that
Dr. van den Honert will be leading us in this endeavor and hope that the
research will result in future developments and opportunities for
cochlear implant recipients."
