02.04.15
Valencia, Calif.-based Advanced Bionics, a developer of cochlear implant (CI) technology, reported that its HiRes 90K and HiRes 90K Advantage cochlear implants have received CE Mark approval from the European Notified Body, TÜV, to undergo 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans without removing the internal magnet. Previously, the devices had regulatory approval to undergo MRI scans only if the magnet was removed.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an increasingly common tool for diagnosing conditions such as cancer and heart disease. The additional compatibility for MRI scans while the CI magnet remains in place helps simplify the diagnostic process by avoiding additional pre- and post-MRI procedures to remove and then to replace the magnet.
“Advanced Bionics prioritizes the safety and well-being of patients with our cochlear implants. We are very pleased to offer patients this additional compatibility with MRI diagnostic equipment,” said Hansjuerg Emch, group vice president, Medical, of the Sonova Group, which is the parent company of Advanced Bionics.
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
Cochlear implants are implanted just beneath the skin, and use magnets to link the internal and external components of the system. The internal component of the AB cochlear implant system includes electronics and an electrode array that deliver AB’s proprietary current steering technology for hearing that more closely resembles normal hearing. The newest AB electrode array, the HiFocus Mid-Scala electrode, was designed for optimal placement in the cochlea with low insertion force to protect its delicate structures. The HiFocus Mid-Scala electrode accommodates the latest soft-surgery approaches, including round window insertion, to suit surgeon preferences and individual recipient needs. The patented design allows for ideal placement so recipients have the opportunity to hear the most pitches possible for enjoying music and improved speech understanding, according to the company.
Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Switzerland-based Sonova Group, which makes hearing technology, since 2009.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an increasingly common tool for diagnosing conditions such as cancer and heart disease. The additional compatibility for MRI scans while the CI magnet remains in place helps simplify the diagnostic process by avoiding additional pre- and post-MRI procedures to remove and then to replace the magnet.
“Advanced Bionics prioritizes the safety and well-being of patients with our cochlear implants. We are very pleased to offer patients this additional compatibility with MRI diagnostic equipment,” said Hansjuerg Emch, group vice president, Medical, of the Sonova Group, which is the parent company of Advanced Bionics.
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin.
Cochlear implants are implanted just beneath the skin, and use magnets to link the internal and external components of the system. The internal component of the AB cochlear implant system includes electronics and an electrode array that deliver AB’s proprietary current steering technology for hearing that more closely resembles normal hearing. The newest AB electrode array, the HiFocus Mid-Scala electrode, was designed for optimal placement in the cochlea with low insertion force to protect its delicate structures. The HiFocus Mid-Scala electrode accommodates the latest soft-surgery approaches, including round window insertion, to suit surgeon preferences and individual recipient needs. The patented design allows for ideal placement so recipients have the opportunity to hear the most pitches possible for enjoying music and improved speech understanding, according to the company.
Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Switzerland-based Sonova Group, which makes hearing technology, since 2009.