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Totally Implantable Hearing Aid

Pioneering Innovative Implant for Hearing Impaired People Has Been Implanted for the First Time

A new chance for millions of hearing impaired people
The TICA implant is completely invisible

Munich, 12 January 2000

On December 17, 1999 and subsequently on January 11, 2000 the world-wide first completely invisible TICA hearing system was implanted by Prof. Dr. med. Zenner in Tübingen, Germany for the first time on a routine basis.

Being the result of years of intense scientific research TICA was developed and clinically tested in close cooperation with the ENT University Clinic in Tübingen. The clinical trial was successfully completed in June 1999. On November 15, 1999 IMPLEX AG obtained the CE-Mark and approval for the European market for their TICA implant. Since December 14, 1999 the company is certified according to the stringent quality standards of ISO 9001/EN 46001 and AIMD (European Directive of Active Implantable Medical Devices).

The TICA implant consists of three implantable parts: the TICA Sensor (microphone) under the skin near the eardrum, the TICA Actuator (electromechanical transducer), connected with the ossicles, and the TICA Main Module (electronical amplifier with a rechargeable battery) in a recess behind the ear. Additionally there are external com-ponents: the TICA Remote Control and the cordless TICA Charger.

TICA is actually implanted by ENT surgeons in Hamburg, Tübingen and Würzburg which will soon be followed by various European centres. The TICA is fitted by certified audiologists also offering the service for the TICA Users. The costs for TICA amount to 22,000 Euro (plus local VAT) including fitting and counselling for three years.

The benefits of the TICA implant by IMPLEX compared to conventional hearing devices are: a much wider range of tone pitch, undistorted sound as well as the re-duction of disturbing noises for improved speech intelligibility. The ear canal remains open so that one’s own voice sounds natural, even with a hearing system. As a result hearing impaired people are given the chance to enjoy unrestricted freedom in their professional and social lives or during leisure activities, especially sports.

According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), 350 million people suffer from hearing disorders. In particular, the major industrialized countries with their noisy environments have a much higher incidence of hearing loss. Nearly 20 % of the population in these countries suffer from hearing impairment, including a growing number of young people.

For more information, contact us directly:
Implex AG Hearing Technology Katharina Kaul,
Tel. +49 89 96 07 98 47

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