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Cochlear Americas Announces FDA Clearance of the Cochlear(TM) Baha(R) BP100 Sound Processor, the Industry's First Programmable Bone Conduction Hearing Solution

Posted on: Friday, 10 July 2009, 08:00 CDT

DENVER, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Cochlear Americas announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Cochlear(TM) Baha(R) BP100 Sound Processor, the industry's first programmable bone conduction hearing solution. The Baha BP100 is an excellent choice for many children and adults with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss or single-sided sensorineural deafness.

The Baha BP100 improves upon previous systems by offering users the industry's first bone- anchored hearing solution with advanced automatic digital signal processing. The automatic signal processing functions automatically adapt to the user's sound environment, helping to provide greater audibility and listening comfort across different listening environments. Adults are now able to transition easily to different listening environments without degradation in hearing performance. Parents enjoy greater peace of mind knowing that their child can participate all day in various daily activities, without interruption, and with greater access to speech and sounds.

"The Baha BP100 is the most advanced implantable bone conduction solution available, representing a major technological leap forward in sound processor utility and design. It's engineered to deliver better hearing performance than ever before," said Chris Smith, President of Cochlear Americas. "Users who cannot benefit from hearing aids now have the best opportunity to connect to sound and effectively communicate."

The Baha BP100 was redesigned based on feedback from recipients, parents, and clinicians, resulting in a device that is sophisticated yet easy to use. It incorporates features especially designed for children including tamper-resistant battery doors, a key lock function, and a titanium and plastic casing for maximum durability. The device is designed to be more water protected than ever before, allowing children and adults to live full, active lives. For clinicians, the Cochlear Fitting Software and three distinct fitting options provide flexibility for better fitting precision than ever before.

"Direct bone conduction provides high fidelity hearing with remarkable efficiency," says John K. Niparko, MD, recent past president of the American Otological Society. "For candidates, their opportunity to experience listening through the Baha processor is unique. It's not unusual for them to experience an emotional reaction; they often 'light up' when we put the processor on them. There's a sense that they have an important connection to the world of sound that was not there previously."

About Bone-Anchored Hearing Solutions

Bone-anchored hearing solutions are a proven medical option for adults and children with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and single-sided sensorineural deafness meeting the candidacy criteria. The Baha(R) system sends external sounds to the inner ear through the bone by passing the outer and middle ear. Bone-anchored hearing solutions are designed to provide audibility and to improve the communication abilities of those who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids.

About Cochlear Americas

Cochlear Americas is the world's leader in advanced hearing technologies. Since launching the first multichannel cochlear implant system more than 25 years ago, Cochlear Limited and its U.S. headquarters have brought the miracle of sound to more than 180,000 hearing-impaired individuals across the globe. Cochlear Americas markets the Baha implantable bone-anchored hearing device for treatment of conductive and mixed hearing loss, as well as single-sided sensorineural deafness. Cochlear Americas' state-of-the-art cochlear implant technology, based on extensive research and development at preeminent academic institutions, provides the ability to hear sound and to better understand speech, enhancing both learning capabilities and quality of life for those with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. For more information about Cochlear Americas' products, call the Cochlear Hotline at 800/458-4999 (Voice) or 800/483-3123 (TTY) or visit www.cochlearamericas.com.

SOURCE Cochlear Americas

Source: PR Newswire

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