Minute Hearing Aid Resides in Second Bend of Ear Canal
Minneapolis, April 15, 2010 - Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world's leading hearing technology companies, is excited to introduce the S Series™ iQ OtoLens™, the world's first invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aid. OtoLens is a custom-molded hearing aid built using Starkey's Comfort Fit process and lives in the second bend of the ear, meaning that it is truly 100 percent invisible with minimal occlusion. OtoLens features the same technology and digital signal processing as Starkey's leading product family, S Series iQ, and provides 35dB of gain which allows professionals to fit patients with moderate to severe hearing loss.
"We are excited to provide a solution to those who say they will never be caught wearing a hearing aid," said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. "OtoLens is a breakthrough in advanced digital modeling and micro-chip packaging. These innovations have allowed us to minimize overall size and bring the market an entirely new generation of hearing instruments incorporating the high performance features of our advanced Drive Architecture."
OtoLens takes advantage of Starkey's Voice iQ, a new noise reduction and speech preservation system that is so fast and smart it reduces noise between syllables of speech. Voice iQ, developed over three years at the Starkey Hearing Research Center in Berkeley, Calif., uses a two-part algorithm that calculates appropriate gain on a per channel basis. The result is unprecedented sound quality, ease of listening and intelligibility of speech in noise.
The device also includes other S Series iQ features including PureWave Feedback Eliminator which allows for venting, in addition to industry-leading feedback cancellation. OtoLens features T2 Remote enabling patients to adjust their IIC's volume or memory. OtoLens allows the patients to change its size 10 battery on their own, without needing additional tools or visits to their hearing care professional.
About Starkey®
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs over 3,500 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in over 100 markets worldwide. For more information, visit www.starkeypro.com or the Starkey Web Channel on Audiology Online.
