PR86157

INNSBRUCK, Austria, Oct. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

Leading hearing implant manufacturer MED-EL sets another revolutionary

milestone in its long-standing history of technological innovations. On 24

September, the first person in Europe received a novel totally implantable

cochlear implant (TICI). It was implanted by Prof. Dr. Philippe Lefebvre, head

of the ENT Department of the CHU of Liège and Professor at the University of

Liège in Belgium within a feasibility study. The TICI is expected to give users

great hearing with even more comfort. However, it will take several years

before it receives market approval.

A young man with close to profound hearing loss was the first person in Europe

to receive a fully implantable cochlear implant. Cochlear implant (CI) systems,

which bypass the non-functioning part of the ear and stimulate the hearing

nerve electrically, have long been a standard treatment for individuals with

severe to profound hearing loss. They currently consist of an internal implant

which is surgically placed underneath the skin, and an audio processor which is

worn externally, behind or off the ear. The audio processor contains the

microphone required to pick up sound as well as the power supply.

"Our cochlear implants have helped hundreds of thousands of people around the

world to hear and have improved their quality of life. Many users have

expressed the wish for a CI that works without an external component on or off

the ear, is invisible and operates even when users are asleep," says Dr.

Ingeborg Hochmair, founder and CEO of MED-EL.

Totally implantable cochlear implants will be the most innovative and

sophisticated technology in the field of hearing solutions. The TICI contains

all the internal and external components of a cochlear implant system in one

device placed underneath the skin, including the audio processor, microphone

and power supply.

"It is our mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication and

quality of life. For decades, our research and development has been based on

close interdisciplinary collaboration with clinics and university departments.

These collaborations allow us to continuously advance technology and solutions

for people with a hearing loss. Developing a totally implantable device has

been in the focus of MED-EL´s research for many years. I am very proud of our

dedicated team of experts who have worked with creativity and diligence to

develop this unique device within well over a decade," Dr. Hochmair explains.

With the first TICI implantation, MED-EL has confirmed once again their

position as the leader in the hearing implant field. The global company

headquartered in Innsbruck is renowned for their strong focus on Research &

Development as well as for constantly pushing technological boundaries forward

for the benefit of their users.

Prof. Dr. Philippe Lefebvre, head of the ENT Department at the University

Hospital of Liege and professor at the University of Liege in Belgium,

performed Europe's first in man TICI surgery. He is a leading expert in

auditory implantology with broad expertise in implantable microphone

technology. "We tested the implant after surgery and are thrilled that

everything is working as expected. Modern cochlear implant technology has been

evolving at an impressive pace, delivering outstanding hearing results. The

TICI is a milestone within the field of cochlear implantation. It has been a

wish from the early days of cochlear implantation to be able to integrate all

components within an internal device," the ENT professor points out.

Several more surgeries with the totally implantable cochlear implant will

follow in Liège and Munich in the next couple of months as part of the clinical

feasibility study.

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is

driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication. The

Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers

Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the

development of the world's first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear

implant, which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is

known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful

growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date,

MED-EL has grown to more than 2,200 employees from around 75 nations and 30

locations worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable

solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 124 countries

enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL's hearing

solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined Electric

Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as

well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. http://www.medel.com

Responsible for the content

MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate

Gesellschaft m.b.H.

Furstenweg 77a

6020 Innsbruck

Osterreich

Register-Nr. FN 48608h

UST.-ID-NUMMER: ATU 31722507

CEO

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

www.medel.com

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SOURCE: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH