Staefa (Switzerland), 03.04.2013 – At this year’s AudiologyNOW! congress held in Anaheim, California 3-6 April 2013, Sonova will unveil a range of new products under all of its product brands, reflecting the group’s high pace of innovation. With the launch of Phonak Audéo Q and Phonak Naída Q, Phonak will expand its range of products based on the Quest platform. Unitron will showcase its newest Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing instrument Moxi Kiss and Advanced Bionics announces the approval of its new HiFocus Mid-Scala1 electrode in Europe and Canada and the worldwide regulatory approval of its new HiRes Optima2 sound processing innovation.
We are very excited about the broad range of new products showcased by all three product brands at this year's congress", says Lukas Braunschweiler, CEO of Sonova. "We believe that they clearly reflect Sonova's goal to constantly challenge the limits of technology and its mission to be recognized as the innovation leader in the global hearing care market. We are convinced that the new products will support our goal to further grow our market share while at the same time expanding the group's profitability", adds Braunschweiler.
Phonak
Phonak introduces the new Phonak Audéo Q and Phonak Naída Q portfolio, based on the Quest platform launched six months ago. With the introduction of the new RIC and power portfolio, Phonak further expands the Quest platform with two new product lines and now offers targeted solutions for all degrees of hearing loss. Both product families feature the unique Binaural VoiceStream Technology and will be available in the market with immediate effect. Phonak Audéo Q enhances the spontaneous acceptance and enables more signal, less noise and better understanding in more listening situations – even with open fit. The new Tinnitus Balance Portfolio – available with Phonak Audéo Q – offers hearing care professionals essential tools to support a variety of tinnitus management philosophies. The Phonak Naída Q product family delivers premium performance for people with severe to profound hearing loss.
Furthermore, Phonak introduces Roger, a new digital standard that bridges the understanding gap, in noise and over distance, by wirelessly transmitting the speaker’s voice directly to the listener. Available for the education market from June 2013, Roger surpasses all of today’s FM and equivalent digital systems. It offers a scientifically proven3 breakthrough in signal-to-noise ratio and finally eliminates the hassle of frequency management.
Unitron
On March 18, 2013 Unitron announced Moxi Kiss, its newest RIC hearing instrument with a design aimed at improving patient acceptance.
Moxi Kiss represents an evolution in design for Unitron’s Moxi product family, putting the comfort of the patient at the forefront. Designed to look great in the hand and provide maximum visual appeal for the first time wearer, Moxi Kiss delivers the perfect balance of fit, finish, and colour. Moxi Kiss continues to deliver on the high fidelity natural sound Unitron’s Moxi product family has come to stand for.
Moxi Kiss is available through the new Flex:trial program, a unique product and service concept only available from Unitron that offers hearing care professionals a risk-free opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of hearing instruments. Patients wear a personalized Moxi Kiss Flex:trial device home after the first appointment for a trial period, allowing them to experience the benefits in real, everyday situations. Experiencing the benefits of wearing Moxi Kiss without risk or obligation helps to reduce any uncertainty while immediately improving the quality of life for those patients.
Advanced Bionics
AB announced that it received TÜV and Health Canada approval for the HiFocus Mid-Scala1 electrode over the course of the past two months. The new HiFocus Mid-Scala array is the latest innovation in electrode design. It has been designed for optimal mid-scala placement in the cochlea to protect its delicate structures. Featuring the industry’s smallest pre-curved array, the HiFocus Mid-Scala is the only pre-curved electrode developed for the latest soft surgery approaches and to fit safely in each individual cochlea.
AB also announced worldwide approval of the new HiRes Optima2 sound processing innovation. This advanced hearing technology delivers optimized battery life with the same great performance as AB’s patented HiRes Fidelity 1202 processing. AB cochlear implant recipients using this new technology enjoy an average improvement of 55% in battery life, giving them considerably more time to hear their world before needing to change a battery.
1Pending regulatory approval in the United States.
2Not approved for pediatric use in the United States.
3Comparison of speech recognition with adaptive digital and FM wireless technology by listeners who use hearing aids. Professor Linda Thibodeau PhD.
About Sonova
Sonova Holding AG, headquartered in Staefa, Switzerland, is the leading manufacturer of innovative hearing care solutions. The group operates through its core business brands Phonak, Unitron, Advanced Bionics and Connect Hearing. Sonova offers its customers one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry – from hearing instruments to cochlear implants to wireless communication solutions. Founded in 1947, the group is currently present in over 90 countries across the globe and has a workforce of over 8,500 dedicated employees. Sonova generated sales of CHF 1,62 billion in the financial year 2011/12 and a net profit of CHF 246 million. By supporting the Hear the World Foundation, Sonova pursues its vision of a world where everyone enjoys the delight of hearing and therefore lives a life without limitations.
