Interview with Advanced Bionics Senior Executives

Posted on by
Tracey Kruger

Tracey Kruger

Cedric Navarro

Cedric Navarro

_________________________________________________________________________

CochlearimplantHELP recently interviewed two senior executives at Advanced Bionics.  Tracey Kruger, Vice President of Global Marketing, and Cedric Navarro, Vice President of Regulatory/Clinical Affairs and Quality have given us extraordinary insight into the workings of a cochlear implant manufacturer.

Because of the singular amount of information that they have provided us, this interview will be published in several sections:

  1. Business Relationships, Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids
  2. Accelerated Product Development
  3. The Regulatory Approval Process Explained
  4. The Logistics of Introducing a New Product
  5. Upgrades and Future Technology Directions
  6. The Human Factor

Cochlear Implants Aren’t Just for People

Posted on by

REX-the-humanoid-robot

Humanoid robot Rex, currently visiting the London Science Museum, sports a pair of cochlear implants among many other technological marvels.  Since there is nothing biological about him (it), he isn’t truly bionic.  Read for yourself, and decide whether he falls into the bionic or robotic category.

Malala Cochlear Implant Surgery Successful

Posted on by

MalalaMalala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old teen shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban, has undergone surgery to reconstruct her skull and to receive a cochlear implant.  Read about it here, and listen to her speak in English about her experience and surgery.

New Electrode Array from AB Receives European Approval

Posted on by

Advanced Bionics’ new HiFocus Mid-Scala electrode array has received European approval from the TÜV regulatory agency.

Read the press release!

Former Miss America Heather Whitestone Gets a Cochlear Implant

Posted on by

celeb_Whitestone

Edit:  Although the referenced article was published in February 2013, Ms. Whitestone  (now Ms. Whitestone McCallum) received her first cochlear implant in 2002.  The numbers and costs listed in the article are  correspondingly out of date.

In 1995 Heather Whitestone became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss America. Now she’s the first Miss America alum to get a cochlear implant. Read more with Dr. Donnica!

More Info from AB on the New Processor

Posted on by

1882977020The Advanced Bionics web site now has pictures and information about the new processor.  The DuoPhone feature from Phonak, illustrated above, allow bilateral and bimodal users to hold the phone up to one side, and have the sound streamed wirelessly to the other.

392361082

Another picture from the site shows a disposable battery option.  The flyer lists four options.

Stay tuned to CochlearimplantHELP for news about the new processor as it becomes available!

Auditory Transduction Animation by Brandon Pletsch

Posted on by

Check out this spectacular animation of how the normal ear works!  There are no captions.  The automated captions are pretty funny when they try to guess the medical terms.

App Review: Rehabilitation Game

Posted on by
Tina Childress, Audiologist

Tina Childress

Rehabilitation Game, Neurelec

For iPad, iPhone

Rehabilitation Game by Neurelec is a great FREE app and was developed to work on auditory skills in either French or English, in either Adult mode or Child mode (they use the same stimuli but the interface is a little different) and at different levels that get progressively more difficult.

You will be working on the following skills:
1.   Detection  – tap on the screen when you hear the stimulus
2.   Discrimination – tap on the screen when you hear the stimulus that is different…this one was HARD and towards the end, even if you are in English mode, I noticed some stimuli with funny looking accents. 🙂  Methinks there is a bug.
3.   Identification – tap on the item that you hear…this is across a variety of environments like a bathroom, kitchen, backyard, on a street

One feature that I always appreciate is that it will keep track of your progress over time.

Happy Hearing!
Tina Childress, M.A., CCC-A
Educational Audiologist, late-deafened adult, bilateral cochlear implant recipient, techno-geek

Screenshots

iPhone Screenshot 1
iPhone Screenshot 2
iPhone Screenshot 3
iPhone Screenshot 4

Advanced Bionics New BTE Processor – Coming Summer 2013

Posted on by

484652_10151360832718010_354740260_nAdvanced Bionics leaks a bit more about programs for the new BTE processor. It looks like you can get an implant now, and get the latest processor when it becomes available this summer in the US.

Look for the ‘Answering the Call‘ page on Advanced Bionics’ web site, and fill out the form for more information!

Cochlear Celebration Nammu Hat Discount!

Posted on by

Image

If you are planning to attend Cochlear Celebration in February, make sure to pack a Nammu Swim Hat!  Nammu is offering a 20% discount with the code CochlearCelebration. Order soon to make sure it arrives from Canada before you leave!