DENVER - August 2003 - Cochlear Americas, manufacturer of the Cochlear Nucleus® line of implants and the world leader in cochlear implant technology, unveiled its latest technology at three major industry conventions this summer. Among the recent advances discussed at the Auditory Verbal International (AVI), The Minutemen Cochlear Implant Club and Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) conventions, was the upcoming launch of the ESPrit™ 3G Behind-the-Ear speech processor for the Cochlear Nucleus® 22 implant, and the development of a new implant, the Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Contour™ Advance.
The Cochlear Nucleus 24 Contour Advance features an enhanced Contour Electrode engineered to help preserve and protect the delicate structures of the cochlea during surgery and in the years ahead. When released, the device will be part of Cochlear's state-of-the-art third generation Nucleus® 3 system. The ESPrit 3G delivers on Cochlear's lifetime commitment to its patients by offering Cochlear Nucleus 22 implant recipients access to the proven benefits of the latest behind-the-ear technology such as a built-in telecoil, a Whisper setting and access to wireless FM technology. Also addressed in the presentations were the numerous research projects that Cochlear is currently undertaking in collaboration with centers worldwide to determine the feasibility of future products.
"Cochlear is committed to developing safe and technologically advanced products to ensure the best outcomes for its recipients," said Jim Miller, President, Cochlear Americas. "Currently, we have more collaborative research projects than any other manufacturer. We are developing technologies such as a totally implantable cochlear implant, hybrid implants which combine the benefits of acoustic and electrical hearing, as well as smaller, less invasive implants.
We are pleased to be able to share our recent technological developments with the hearing loss community." Deaf former Miss America, and recent Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Contour™ implant recipient, Heather Whitestone McCallum, was the keynote speaker at AVI, SHHH and the Minuteman meeting. She was warmly greeted by all attendees, and graciously spent time answering their questions. Heather has been an inspiration to many in the deaf and hard of hearing community. In 2002, Heather decided to get a cochlear implant to hear her family's voices, make further strides in achieving her goals and to experience the hearing world more fully. With her new implant, she is helping raise awareness about the opportunities available for improving speech and language among the hearing-impaired community.
About Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants bypass damaged hair cells in the inner ear, providing useful hearing and improved communication to those who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids. The Nucleus® 3 system is the latest development in cochlear implant technology. The Nucleus 3 system can be customized to meet the particular needs of recipients' lifestyles and to maximize hearing performance. It is approved for use in profoundly deaf infants as young as 12 months of age and in adults with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears.
About Cochlear Americas
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 Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Contour™ implant and the FDA Commissioner's Special Citation for the development and commercialization of the Cochlear Nucleus® 24 Multichannel Auditory Brainstem implant. To date, more than 50,000 people worldwide have received Cochlear Nucleus® implants. For more information about Cochlear's products, call the Cochlear Nucleus Hotline at 800/458-4999 (Voice) or 800/483-3123 (TTY) or visit the website at www.cochlear.com.
Cochlear Americas Unveils Latest Technology
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