Cochlear Limited, which specializes in implantable hearing solutions, has introduced the Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June, it’s the world’s first Made for iPhone cochlear implant sound processor and the smallest and lightest behind-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor available on the market, according to Chris Smith, Cochlear CEO and president. With the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, people with a Cochlear Nucleus Implant can now stream sound directly from a compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch directly to their sound processor.
They’llalso be able to control, monitor and customize their hearing on their iPhone or iPod touch through the Nucleus Smart App, a free download at the Apple App Store. The Nucleus 7 Sound Processor offers a range of features with the app. A Hearing Tracker feature records coil-offs time (each time the sound processor coil does not detect the implant coil, such as if it has fallen off a child’s head) and time in speech (which measures the amount of time spent in speech environments in hours, including FM and streaming).
The Find My Processor feature of the Nucleus Smart App helps locate a lost sound processor by using Location Services to determine the last place the sound processor was connected to the paired iPhone or iPod touch, whether it has been lost on the playground, in the house or in the car.
Cochlear is also offering the first Made for iPhone Smart Bimodal Solution (the combination of a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other), enabling both hearing solutions to provide synchronized streaming to both ears from a compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.4 The Nucleus 7 Bimodal Solution is delivered by using a Nucleus 7 Sound Processor, a compatible ReSound hearing aid and a paired iPhone or iPod touch to control functionality for both hearing devices.
Commercial availability for the sound processor is expected in September in the U.S. and Canada for those who are looking to receive a cochlear implant. The Nucleus 7 Bimodal Solution is also expected in September, but only in the U.S. However, in the U.S. and Canada, the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor will be available as an upgrade in October for current recipients with the following internal cochlear implants: Nucleus CI24RE, CI500 and Profile Series Implants.
