Cochlear Corporation
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.
March
2007 - Cochlear Americas CI Presentation
June
2007 - Cochlear Americas Streamlines CI Care
July 2007 - Cochlear Announces CI
Products for Kids
July 2007 - Educators Guide to
Cochlear Implants
August 2007 - Cochlear's net profit cracks $100m barrier
February 2008 - Cochlear Americas Nucleus Freedom Sound
Processor Compatibile for All Nucleus Implants
April 2008 - Interview about Cochlear's new mapping
software
June 2008 - Cochlear: Nucleus Freedom is still the most
reliable implant device on the market
July 2008 - Cochlear Has Provided 120,000 Nucleus(R)
Cochlear Implants
September 2008 - Cochlear Offers HOPE Online Learning
Modules
September 2008 - Cochlear Celebration 2009
April 2009 - Cochlear Americas Introduces Listening
Rehabilitation Program
June 2009 - Cochlear Seeks FDA Approval for New Implant
July 2009 - Cochlear Introduces "Sound and WAY Beyond"
July 2009 - Cochlear to introduce new, slimmer implant
August 2009 - Cochlear's New Implant Launched in Europe
- Still Awaiting FDA Approval in US
September 2009 - Cochlear Introduces the New Nucleus 5
System
September 2009 - FDA Approves Cochlear's Nucleus(R) 5
System
September 2009 - Cochlear Developing Fully Implantable
Cochlear Implant
September 2009 - Lots More Information on Cochlear's
Nucleus 5 on UK Website
December 2009 - Cochlear Describes Advantages of its
Implants
January 2010 - Cochlear Americas Obsolescing 3G and
Sprint Processors
March 2010 - Clinical Evaluation of the Nucleus 5 CI
System
March 2010 - Nucleus Upgrade Immediately Available for
Freedom Users
May 2010 - Cochlear Seeks Expansion in Implant Candidacy
June 2010 - US Settles False Claims Act Allegations
With Cochlear Americas
July 2010 - Cochlear(tm) Nucleus(r) 5 Rechargeable
Battery System Gets FDA Approval
September 2010 - FDA Approves Cochlear's Nucleus 5
Rechargeable Battery System
September 2010 - Cochlear won't hear of mergers or
acquisitions
October 2010 - Nucleus 5 Euro Accessory Adaptor - Now
Available!
April 2011 - The Nucleus(r) 5 Upgrade - Now Available
for Nucleus 24 Implant Recipients!
August 2011 - Cochlear Profits Up 16%
September 2011 - Cochlear facing six-year low in earnings
September 2011 - Cochlear announces recall but cost unknown
October 2011 - Moisture blamed for Cochlear implant
malfunctions
October 2011 - Cochlear leaky seals cost $150m
December 2011 - Cochlear identifies cause of implant
failures
February 2012 - Cochlear Americas Announces Aural
Rehabilitation App
February 2012 - Cochlear Recall Cost Exceeds $100 Million
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 2007
Hearing implant company Cochlear has reported a
full year net profit of $100.13 million, a rise of 25 per cent. Core
earnings were up 24 per cent to $107.56 million for 2006/07, which
exceeded the company's guidance of $100 million. Looking ahead to fiscal
2008, the company said core earnings profit could grow by approximately 15
to 20 per cent. "The outlook is for continued core earnings growth of
approximately 15 to 20 per cent, depending on the strength and rapidity of
the Australian dollar's appreciation," Cochlear said. . . . Total sales of
Cochlear's implants jumped by 24 per cent on last year, with 15,947 units
sold. Total revenue for the year was $559.4 million, which too was a 24
per cent increase on 2006.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cochlear Americas, a leader in cochlear implant
technology, has announced the flagship Nucleus Freedom sound processor is
now compatible with all previous Nucleus generation implants. This means
that recipients implanted with earlier technology like Nucleus 22, Nucleus
24 ABI and Nucleus 24 Double Array implants can benefit from the latest
hearing technology.
"This new compatibility demonstrates Cochlear's
lifetime commitment to all of our Nucleus implant recipients," says Chris
Smith, president, Cochlear Americas. "Recipients implanted over 20 years
ago can now enjoy many of the same benefits of future implant recipients.
These innovations provide users with the freedom to enjoy music and handle
even the most challenging situations such as conversations in a noisy
restaurant as well as sports and activities around water."
The Nucleus Freedom sound processor is the fifth
upgrade for Nucleus 22 recipients and is designed to provide water and
sweat resistance; superior hearing performance in a variety of
environments with Cochlear's SmartSound 2 innovation technology;
rechargeable and/or disposable battery options; digital technology to
provide clear sound; an array of wearing options and colors.
More information is available at
www.cochlear.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2008
Dybala: Now, tell us about your new cochlear
implant software platform. What are the main components of the Custom
Sound Suite 2.0?
Markos: Custom Sound Suite 2.0 is comprised of two
different software programs: Custom Sound 2.0 and Custom Sound EP 2.0. It
is used by clinicians to program all Nucleus devices, and it has new,
great features that are designed to enhance the hearing experience for all
of our recipients. The key components that I would like to highlight are
Implant ID, SmartSound 2, which are our preprocessing strategies; the new
Hearing Mentor; and Freedom for Nucleus 22.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2008
For more than 25 years, Cochlear has delivered the
most reliable implant devices. Each new generation of Nucleus implants has
been more reliable than the last, and Nucleus Freedom is no exception. Our
3 year Cumulative Survival Percentage (CSP) data demonstrates that Freedom
is still the most reliable implant device on the market. The graphs below
show how the Nucleus Freedom device compares in reliability to the other
cochlear implant manufacturers.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2008
HOPE Online seminars are intended for educational professionals,
therapists, and clinicians who work with children with hearing loss. Some
seminars are also appropriate for parents.
Participants may retain a copy of the instructors' PowerPoint
presentation and other handouts. Continuing Education Units (CEU's) from
ASHA and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) are offered for all live
online seminars while CEU's from AAA are also available for recorded
courses.
A Certificate of Participation is provided for those who complete a
Feedback form. Such certificates can be submitted for CEU credits as well.
Courses given by individuals who are Certified Auditory Verbal Therapists
are also eligible for credits from AG Bell's Academy for Listening and
Spoken Language.
The following Learning Modules for professionals provide guidance by
specifying self study tracks that may be helpful in organizing one's
utilization of recorded HOPE Online seminars. A module that is especially
recommended for parents is provided at the end.
For more information and to register for HOPE Online learning, please
visit the HOPE area of the Cochlear Americas website:
www.cochlear.com/HOPE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September
2008
Cochlear
Americas invites you to plan your next family vacation with us!
When:
March 26-29, 2009
Where:
Hyatt Regency Orange County, Garden Grove, CA
Registration: Online Registration is Now Available. Space is limited, so
please register today!
Highlights
Include:
* Private
Party at Disneyland's Big Thunder Festival Arena and Twilight pass to
Disneyland
*
Informational EXPO---hands-on tips to maximize your performance
* Vast
offering of educational and informative sessions to enhance your cochlear
implant experience
* Teen
Scene program to include bowling and lunch (additional registration
required- space is limited)
*
Children's program with child care and activities for younger kids
(additional registration required-space is limited)
More Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 2009
Rehabilitation is critical for an adult to achieve
the maximum benefit from a cochlear implant. Auditory training can help in
listening situations including using the telephone, enjoying music and
understanding speech in noise . . . We've partnered with leading clinical
resource developers to bring you Sound and WAY Beyond(tm), a self-paced,
interactive rehabilitation program that allows you to practice and perfect
your listening skills at home. Your results can be summarized and printed,
facilitating meaningful discussions with your audiologist and therapist.
Better hearing starts here:
* Designed
to improve vowel, consonant and sentence hearing
* Designed
to enhance telephone use and music enjoyment
*
Interactive, self-directed modules for adults and teens at all skill
levels
* Features
10,000 sounds, words and sentence
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 2009
Shares in bionic-ear implant company Cochlear rose
nearly 2 per cent this morning on growing speculation the company will
soon win US Food and Drug Administration approval for its new implant and
processor. The win from the US regulator would allow a launch at a
forthcoming key US conference in mid-June in Seattle. Analysts expect a
launch in the European Union towards the end of this year. UBS analyst
Andrew Goodsall said expectation of the US clinics is that the "sleek
design and features'' of Cochlear's new product will appeal to the market
and is likely to result in market share gains.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 2009
Sound and WAY Beyond is an interactive software
product designed to be used by adults and teens who have cochlear
implants. It is for home use by recipients to help them learn to recognize
the sounds of life from simple tones to speech and music to achieve their
personal best. We consider this to be part of a comprehensive program of
rehabilitation that every adult or teen cochlear implant recipient should
at least consider use of and hopefully pursue. The product also has
modules for sentences and has the capacity to guide the user through
progressively harder exercises over time. So if someone starts using it
immediately following activation of a cochlear implant, he or she can
begin at a very basic level. With progress and improvement, the program
can increase the level of difficulty. It has the ability to introduce, for
example, background noise, and has different voices, so some of the speech
materials are harder to understand than others. When used in the
recommended manner, Sound and WAY Beyond helps the recipient go through
the repetition and redundancy that helps train the brain to recognize
sounds. The reason that it includes "WAY Beyond" in its name is because
there was an earlier version of this product that we previously
distributed that had a more limited set of practice materials. This is a
more powerful version.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 2009
THE bionic ear implant company Cochlear is
expected to introduce its new "super thin" next-generation device this
month after a positive response at a key British implant conference. The
device is 3.9 millimetres thick, compared with the older product's 6.9
millimetres. A UBS health-care analyst, Andrew Goodsall, said he believed
briefings of European Union clinics across Germany and Britain on the new
implant were on the agenda. "We understand that Cochlear is now rolling
out the product this month, via multi-centre trials which allow key
centres to 'champion' the product," he said. He continued to expect US
Food and Drug Administration approval for the implant in coming weeks,
which augured well for a US launch in the September quarter. UBS is
tipping European Union approval for a launch in the December quarter.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2009
BIONIC ear maker Cochlear Ltd plans to develop an
implant with no external parts after securing an exclusive licence
agreement with US-based Otologics LLC for the use of new implant
technology. Cochlear announced on Wednesday that it had purchased patent
rights and joint development activities from medical device company
Otologics LLC for $US25 million ($A29.02 million). Cochlear chief
executive Chris Roberts said the deal was another step towards achieving
the company's long-term goal of developing an implant that was not
visible. "The purchase is particularly useful in the complex area of
implantable microphones, vital for the development of a totally
implantable cochlear implant," Dr Roberts said. Cochlear was now in the
development stage of making the product.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2009
Bob McPherson of bhNEWS is an indefatigable
hearing loss sleuth; he's always got the story. Here are his comments on
the information available on the new Cochlear implant.
After covering Cochlear's new flagship to be for
over 3 months, it was with an initial sigh of relief when Cochlear
Americas formally announced the Nucleus 5 system on their website
yesterday, September 8, 2009. Regrettably, the pages left much to be
desired - a sandwich rather than the meal I think we all expected. I'm
sure they will get better with time. However, across the big pond,
Cochlear UK did a royal bang-up job in their website presentation - that
meal - soup to nuts! One important issue covered - the rechargeable
battery options. ( Presently awaiting US FDA approval) Another, the
industry's first bilateral Personal Audio Cable. And more.... So,
surf across the waters now, to enjoy and learn, in the Brit's
introduction to the Cochlear Nucleus 5 cochlear implant system.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2009
I've never been a fan of the CI wars, and I've
been happy to see that they've been somewhat less virulent the last couple
of years. But they certainly haven't gone away. Here's the latest from
Cochlear regarding its implants. The first link describes the advantages
of the Cochlear CI, and the second link does a comparison of the new
Cochlear implant to others on the market. As always when reading
information from one company, remember that this is just one view of
reality and may not tell the complete story.
http://www.cochlearamericas.com/advantage
http://www.cochlearamericas.com/compete
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 2010
This is the first time I've seen information on a
clinical trial posted online, and I think it's a wonderful idea! This
particular posting is for the clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 5 CI
System, which is expected to begin this month. According to the website,
they will begin recruiting participants soon. Thanks to bhNEWS (groups.yahoo.com/group/bhNEWS)
for the lead on this story.
Here's the site!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 2010
Bionic-ear implant company Cochlear is reportedly
seeking consent from the US Food & Drug Administration to conduct a major
multi-implant centre study to examine a broader criteria for hearing loss
and word recognition for its range of Cochlear implants. It is believed
that if the powerful FDA agrees to the study, due later this year, it
could represent a key force in expanding the number of people able to be
reimbursed for the company's implant. UBS healthcare analyst Andrew
Goodsall said with more than 65 per cent penetration among infants in the
developed world, Cochlear's future earnings growth would be more dependent
upon adult patients.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2010
COCHLEAR chief executive Chris Roberts, much like
Brian McNamee at CSL, is a victim of his company's success. Investors are
demanding the same growth trajectory of the past 28 years and will punish
the hearing implant maker for any divergence, despite an ever expanding
earnings base. Last month's 19 per cent increase in 2010 net profit to
$155 million was ahead of guidance and beat market expectations, yet
Cochlear's swollen earnings multiple of 22 was seen to be at risk because
of concerns about future growth in the implant market. In those
circumstances, the pressure to acquire can become intense, with Cochlear
mentioned in connection with Siemens' hearing aid operations, and the
soon-to-float audiology business of local private equity group Crescent
Capital Partners. Mr Roberts, though, is not one for diversions, saying it
will be "decades" before the company exhausts its opportunities around the
world for organic growth.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2010
What is the Euro Accessory Adaptor?
The Euro Accessory Adaptor is designed to work
with an FM system by creating a convenient interface for connecting a
wireless FM receiver, such as the Phonak MLxS, to the Nucleus 5 Sound
Processor. If you or a loved one is a recipient of the Nucleus 5 Cochlear
Implant System who uses a FM system and would like to receive this
accessory at no charge, please visit:
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 2011
After piercing last week's gloom with a 16 per
cent lift in annual profit to $180 million, his more animated discussion
concerns rival hearing device maker Advanced Bionics, and when its product
will make a complete return to the market. It's the downside of being a
high-growth, single-product company -- there tends to be a
disproportionate focus by investors on potential market disruptions. So
when asked if last year's 17 per cent growth in unit sales of cochlear
implants were sustainable, given that AB returned to the European market
in April and at some stage will do likewise in the US, Roberts prefers to
rhapsodise about his own product.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2011
COCHLEAR'S voluntary global recall of its
unimplanted Nucleus 5 hearing device could see the company post its
weakest full-year earnings in six years as sales decline. The world's
largest hearing implant maker began the recall on Monday after an increase
in the number of failures, and has ceased manufacturing the unit while it
investigates the cause of the "shut down", which it says does not injure
users. While Cochlear plans to increase production of the device's
predecessor, the Nucleus Freedom, the company could not forecast the
financial impact of its first major product recall or how long it would
take for the device to re-enter the market. Analysts expect the Nucleus 5
to be out of the market for at least six months. The news spooked
investors expecting the Nucleus 5 to help the company top last year's
reported profit of $180 million, with Cochlear shares on Monday shedding
20 per cent or more than $800m from the company's value. Cochlear shares
yesterday closed up 4.5 per cent at $60.10 in a positive market.
Full
Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2011
Shares in bionic ear implant company Cochlear
could dive sharply today after the global leader in hearing technology
announced a voluntary recall of its unimplanted CI500 cochlear range. The
Sydney-based company said in an announcement to the Australian Stock
Exchange that it had begun notifying healthcare professionals and
regulatory authorities about the recall. Cochlear said the financial
impact of the recall was difficult to forecast at this stage. Cochlear
said in its announcement that all existing recipients with a Nucleus C1500
series implant can continue to use their system as normal.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2011
THE cause of Cochlear's voluntary recall of its
biggest-selling product is becoming clearer ahead of this month's
potentially fiery annual meeting, with clinics suggesting the hearing
implant is malfunctioning due to moisture inside it. . . which causes
diode malfunction. Diodes are used to receive power and radio signals to
the implant. "Advice to clinics suggests that analysis of the moisture
indicates that it is not related to body fluid," UBS analyst Andrew
Goodsall said. "This may suggest that there has not been failure of the
implant's hermetic seal post-implantation, which may imply that the
moisture relates to manufacturing. However, the issue remains under
investigation."
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2011
LEAKY seals are being blamed for causing
Cochlear's latest bionic ear device to break down and spark a massive
recall that could cost the company up to $150 million. Cochlear stunned
shareholders and customers in September when it issued a global recall of
its biggest-selling hearing implant, the Nucleus CI500, after several
stopped working. Shareholders at Cochlear's annual meeting in Sydney on
Tuesday heard that, while investigations were ongoing, experts believed
there was a problem with moisture leaking into the devices through the
airtight seals. Chief executive Chris Roberts said the cost of collecting
all the CI500 devices shipped from Cochlear's Australian manufacturing
plant would be between $130 million and $150 million, a hit that would be
taken in the first half of this financial year. He said that out of the
30,000 or so devices that had been implanted in patients, dozens had been
returned to Cochlear for tests that had revealed problems with the
hermetic seals.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 2011
--
Cochlear identifies cause of implant failures that led to recall
--
Understanding forms basis for plan to return Nucleus CI500 series to
market
-- 1.9% of
series devices have failed
Cochlear Ltd. said Tuesday hearing implant
failures that led to the voluntary recall of its unimplanted Nucleus CI500
series were caused by microcracks in a joint that let water into the
device. "This understanding of the root cause now forms the basis of the
plan for the return of the Nucleus CI500 series implant to market," Chief
Executive Chris Roberts said in a letter to clinicians filed with the
Australian Securities Exchange.
Full Story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 2012
Cochlear has suffered a $20 million dollar loss in
the first half of its financial year after a mass recall of one its most
popular bionic ear devices. Cochlear shares were up $2.12, or 3.7 per
cent, to $60.23 in early trade. The hearing implant maker’s earnings
plunged into the red for the half year to December 31 after having to fork
out more than $100 million to recall faulty Nucleus C1500 devices.
Advertisement: Story continues below Cochlear described the first half of
the financial year as challenging, due in large part to its global recall.
So far the cost of the recall had hit $138.8 million before tax, the
company said.
Full Story
