Revolutionary Technology Made Standard on All Canal and Half-shell Instruments
PISCATAWAY, N.J., October 15, 2002 - Due to the tremendous success of its LasR™ (Laser Accurate Scan Replication) shell manufacturing process, Siemens Hearing Solutions announced that effective October 1, 2002 LasR-made shells will also be standard for all of its canal and half-shell hearing instruments ordered from all Siemens facilities, with no additional charge. Previously, LasR-made shells were only available on Siemens' CIC and mini-canal hearing instruments.
Laser Accurate Scan Replication, first introduced at the 2001 American Academy of Audiology Convention, was developed to successfully respond to patient desire for more comfortably fitting custom hearing instruments. Utilizing state-of the art software, combined with precision laser scanning and manufacturing technology, LasR increases the accuracy of impression-duplication and therefore results in better fitting hearing instruments.
"Since its introduction, our LasR technology has been extremely well received by our hearing care partners and patients alike," said William J. Lankenau, president and chief executive officer of Siemens Hearing Solutions. "Patient satisfaction surveys indicated that hearing instruments made from the computer-generated LasR shells are more comfortable when worn for long periods, and more secure in their ears. This move to offer LasR-made shells on all of our canal and half-shell hearing instruments enables us to further our commitment to providing our customers with the most advanced, highest quality hearing instruments."
Technology Enables More Comfortable Hearing Instruments
LasR technology captures the physical impression of the ear provided by the Hearing Care Professional using laser scans to produce a "point-cloud" image of the impression in 3D space. This raw data is then used to create a surface over the virtual impression, and vent and receiver holes can be easily positioned, or repositioned, as needed. The unique software uses a highly complex algorithm performing millions of calculations to complete the process.
Guided by the 3D rendered data, a laser then precisely "builds" the shell from a bed of powdered polymer material by selectively sintering (fusing) the polymer material into a shell with unprecedented accuracy. The LasR shell material meets stringent biocompatibility requirements and has also proven to be more durable than traditional acrylic shells. The shells are lightly bead-blasted and finished to a textured surface that is not only more life-like but provides a better, more secure fit in the ear.
LasR modification kits, manuals and instructional videos are available by contacting a Siemens Hearing Sales Representative at (800) 766 - 4500 or by emailing your sales representative via www.siemens-hearing.com/pro.
About Siemens Hearing Solutions:
Headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, Siemens Hearing Solutions designs, engineers and manufactures advanced digital, digital, digitally programmable, and advanced conventional hearing instruments in all custom (ITC, ITE, and CIC) and Behind-the-Ear (BTE) models.
The Company also offers audiological software along with a wide variety of equipment for Hearing Care Professionals, hearing instrument batteries and a wide array of assistive listening devices (ALDs), such as amplified phones, which help improve the quality of life of the hearing impaired. Visit www.siemens-hearing.com for more information.
The Company operates as a subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions, of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) one of the largest suppliers of healthcare equipment in the world. Siemens AG headquartered in Munich, Germany, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. It employs some 450,000 people in 193 countries, and reported worldwide sales of more than $74 billion in fiscal 2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01). The United States is Siemens' largest market, with nearly 80,000 employees and sales of $18.9 billion for fiscal 2001.
Click here to visit the Siemens Hearing Instruments website.
