DURHAM, NC – June 20, 2023 – MED-EL, a leading innovator in the field of cochlear implant research and development, is proud to announce an agreement with the Western University (London, Canada) and Mitacs to gain exclusive access to an extraordinary synchrotron dataset of temporal bones. This groundbreaking collection sets a new benchmark in the realm of cochlear implantation, offering the highest resolution and most comprehensive view of cochlear anatomy to date.
The synchrotron images provide an unprecedented level of detail, revealing individual variations in the length and shape of the inner ear. This invaluable information provides remarkable opportunities for personalized and precise cochlear implantation procedures.
“Our access to this unparalleled synchrotron dataset marks a significant milestone in medical research,” said Ingeborg Hochmair, CEO of MED-EL. “By harnessing this cutting-edge dataset, we are now equipped with the tools and insights to revolutionize the entire process of cochlear implantation, from pre-operative planning to surgery and fitting.”
The collaboration between MED-EL and Principal Investigators Sumit Agrawal and Hanif Ladak at Western University has been instrumental in driving this research and development. Their AI-based technology and software code, coupled with terabytes of image data, provide a solid foundation for the further development of advanced surgical planning software solutions.
Through this access and partnership, MED-EL aims to enhance existing cochlear implantation solutions, enabling them to be even more flexible and tailored to individual patient needs. The AI-supported technology empowers medical professionals with incredibly detailed insights, revolutionizing their decision-making process during the preoperative stage as well as in postoperative fitting. For cochlear implant recipients, this represents an unprecedented opportunity to achieve a new level of natural hearing.
“This agreement marks the start of a new era in the field of cochlear implants,” added Hochmair. “We can now take into account candidates’ individual inner ear specifics and anatomical characteristics to an extent that was previously unimaginable. This breakthrough opens up avenues for advancements in surgical planning, robotic surgery, and fitting protocols.”
MED-EL's commitment to precision and personalization underscores their dedication to enhancing every aspect of the cochlear implantation journey. From preoperative planning to surgery and fitting, MED-EL aims to provide patients with the highest level of care and the opportunity to experience natural hearing like never before.
For more information about MED-EL and their advances in cochlear implantation, please visit www.medel.com.
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 and quality of life. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose groundbreaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), 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 2,500 employees from around 80 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 140 countries to enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear implant systems, a combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com
