FDA Approves Cochlear

Cochlear Americas, Centennial, Colo, reports that the FDA has approved the Nucleus 5 rechargeable battery system for adults and children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.

"Rechargeable batteries offer patients a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional disposable battery technology," says Teresa Adkins, vice president of Marketing for Cochlear Americas.

Cochlear has offered rechargeable batteries with previous generation hearing systems, but with Nucleus 5, its engineers say they have achieved an industry breakthrough - when using rechargeable batteries, the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor is the world's only submergible sound processor. An IP57 water protection rating means that the sound processor is not only splash resistant, but it can be submerged into three feet of still water for up to 30 minutes.

According to Chris Smith, President of Cochlear Americas, "This represents a fundamental leap forward for those who benefit from our cochlear implant technology. No other cochlear implant system has ever come close to providing patients with this level of confidence around water. With other cochlear implant systems, patients are forced to weigh the risk of accidentally dropping their sound processor in water and destroying it versus the benefit of hearing in and around water. With Nucleus 5, when using our new rechargeable battery option, there are no risks to weigh. During the summer months this is especially noteworthy, since water-based activities are such an important part of many of our patients' lives."

Introduced last September, the Cochlear Nucleus 5 System is the world's smallest, most advanced cochlear implant system on the market, which includes powerful features designed to restore hearing in deaf children so that they have the greatest potential to develop the spoken language skills necessary for school. Adults will benefit from advanced features that deliver the best listening options for phone use, communication in noisy environments and music enjoyment.