Cochlear Ltd. Gets FDA Approval For Water-Resistant Rechargeable Batteries for Cochlear Implants
Cochlear Ltd.'s Water-Resistant Nucleus 5 Cochlear Implant Sound Processor
Cochlear implant recipients will be able to enjoy visits to the beach and swimming pool following the recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the new water-resistant rechargeable batteries in Cochlear Limited’s new Nucleus 5 cochlear implant systems.
Cochlear’s next-generation Nucleus 5 system, introduced in 2009, features the industry’s smallest behind-the-ear sound processor, the thinnest implant, a wireless remote assistant that makes it easy to change program settings, and an “Autophone” sensor that knows when you are on the telephone and automatically switches from the external microphone to telecoil reception. Cochlear also claims it has documentation of superior speech comprehension with the new system.
All those advanced features and slick packaging won a prestigious Red Dot design award for Cochlear Ltd. in June. But when you consider how important it is not to worry about getting caught in the rain or how much fun it can be to hear the waves splashing when you’re taking a dip in the ocean, it’s no wonder the water-resistant feature is getting so much attention. Cochlear says the Nucleus 5 device can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.
“No other cochlear implant system has ever come close to providing patients with this level of confidence around water,” said Chris Smith, president of Cochlear Americas. “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.”
When you think of the number of deaf children who use cochlear implants from infancy, it’s gratifying to know there’s one more activity of a normal childhood they’ll be able to enjoy. It’s also gratifying news for harried parents who must make sure the precious equipment that gives their kids the gift of hearing survives the rough-and-tumble of a normal active childhood.
It’s Official: Bilateral Cochlear Implants Improve Quality Of Life
What people like Michael Chorost have long-suspected appears to be true: hearing in stereo is good for your health. A study by the Indiana University School of Medicine found “cochlear implants in both ears significantly improve quality of life in patients with profound hearing loss and that the cost of the second implant is offset by its benefits.” Read more
Vaccination Can Lessen Meningitis Risk For Cochlear Implant Patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a new warning that cochlear implant patients make sure they get vaccinated against bacterial meningitis, a potentially deadly infection causing inflammation of the meninges, or lining of the brain. Read more
NBA Basketball Legend Kevin McHale Supports Cochlear Implants For Kids
Former Boston Celtics great and current Minnesota Timberwolves General Manager Kevin McHale has recently made news for his 5-for-1 NBA mega-trade, but it’s his 4-for-1 deal that’s been turning heads outside the basketball world: four cochlear implants for the cost of one. In partnership with four other board members, McHale has co-founded the Help Me Hear Foundation, an organization dedicated to granting free cochlear implants to impoverished deaf children. Read more
Future Cochlear Implant Patients Might Preserve Some Residual Hearing
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new, less-invasive means of implanting electrodes into the cochlea that may ultimately do less damage to hearing nerves in the cochlea and preserve more residual hearing in the patient. Read more
Advanced Bionics Is An Independent Cochlear Implant Maker Again
In 2004, it seemed to be a marriage made in heaven: Boston Scientific, the world’s leading manufacturer of cardiac stents and other implant devices, acquired Advanced Bionics, one of the world’s three cochlear implant manufacturers for $740 million plus additional payments based on future growth. But the marriage quickly soured and after several difficult years dissolved entirely last week. Read more
Josh Swiller Can Tell You Exactly What It’s Like To Be Hard-Of-Hearing
Josh Swiller, who started an excellent blog several years ago about what it’s like to get a cochlear implant, wrote a great article for the New York Times Sunday Magazine today that may be the best description I’ve read of what it’s like to be hard-of-hearing. Read more
Postmodern Man: Michael Chorost’s Cochlear-Implant Book, Rebuilt, Is About A Whole Lot More Than Cochlear Implants
You can learn everything you ever wanted to know about cochlear implants, and more, from Michael Chorost’s new book, Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human. Read more
Infants With Cochlear Implants Get More Language Sooner
A recent research report published by a team at Indiana University provides more evidence that the younger a hearing-impaired child receives a cochlear implant, the quicker he or she is to acquire spoken language. Read more
Cochlear Implants and Music
I went to my daughter’s piano recital last night and she was phenomenal. Because all music is horribly distorted for me, I couldn’t hear how well she played, but the response from the audience was awesome. My heart swelled. It also reminded me I’ve been meaning to point out a good article in the Bionic Beat newsletter. Read more
