Bone Conduction
by Jamie Schwartz

TECH Talk: Dr. Wazen explains ease of surgery for the Baha System

January 10, 2019
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TECH Talks

Neurotology specialist and surgeon Dr. Jack Wazen has been working with the Cochlear™ Baha® System for over 30 years. In his TECH Talk, Dr. Wazen discusses Baha System indications, ease of the surgical procedure and demonstration of the system before implantation.

Dr. Wazen is very experienced with the Baha System in both research and clinical settings. Dr. Wazen explains, due to the availability of different power sound processors, the Baha System has many applications for different levels of hearing loss. The Baha System could be indicated for those with single-sided deafness (SSD), mixed hearing loss (MHL) and conductive hearing loss (CHL).

Dr. Wazen goes on to talk about the Baha surgical procedure that he describes as “satisfying”. He says, “It’s a very efficient, easy and effective way to bring hearing to people who have lost it”. He goes on to explain that the procedure itself has become simplified over the years. Over the years, the procedure has become simplified leading to reduced surgery times. Only a small incision is needed, and the patient is able to go home the same day they are implanted.

Dr. Wazen says the most impressive part of the Baha System is that the patient can experience a demonstration and even try the device prior to implantation. Using a non-surgical SoundArc or Softband device, a patient can test out the Baha System and see how they would hear with it. Dr. Wazen says, it will actually sound better once implanted, but the demonstration will give them a good idea of what it would be like to have the implant. This is a feature unique to bone conduction systems and one that is unusual for other medical implants.

 


For more TECH Talk videos from industry experts, please stay up-to-date with the ProNews blog and visit our TECH Talks page.

 
 
 
In the United States and Canada, the placement of bone-anchored implant is contraindicated in children below the age of 5 years.
Cochlear received FDA clearance for initial use of the Baha system for hearing loss in 1996.
Author

Jamie Schwartz

Jamie is the Associate Marketing Manager in the Product and Professional Marketing Department at Cochlear Americas. Jamie is responsible for ProNews blog content as well as professional social posts and calendars. If you are interested in being a guest author for the ProNews blog please contact Jamie by email at jschwartz@cochlear.com.

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cochlear osia system

7 things you need to know about the Cochlear Osia System

March 12, 2020

The Osia® System is a first-of-its-kind hearing implant system for people with single-sided deafness (SSD), conductive or mixed hearing loss.

Here are 7 things you need to know about this revolutionary hearing loss solution:

It’s the world’s first and only Active Osseointegrated Steady-State Implant (OSI)

The Osia System is an active osseointegrated steady-state implant (OSI) hearing solution that uses digital piezoelectric stimulation to send sound through the bone to the inner ear. It utilizes unique Piezo Power™ transducer technology and a digital link that transfers power and data between the sound processor and implant.

It utilizes digital piezoelectric stimulation that excels in the high frequencies

Digital piezoelectric stimulation bypasses damaged areas of the natural hearing system and sends sound directly to the cochlea to optimize the transfer of power and deliver on sound quality by using a digital link between the implant and sound processor.

This connection provides smart two-way communication that transfers 100% of the signal regardless of the coil-to-coil distance* and without risk for interference.2

At the heart of the implant lies the Piezo Power transducer that uses piezoelectric material to generate vibrations that are transferred through a single point of transmission into the bone. The piezoelectric effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical charge from mechanical stress, or in reverse, to generate vibrations from an electrical charge. The advantages of the Piezo Power transducer include its sensitivity at high frequencies that are most important to speech understanding and its suitability for implantation where there is a high demand on power, size and reliability.1

It is designed to work in and with the body

The Osia System utilizes innovative technologies specifically chosen and designed to work in and with the body, an approach called the Human Design™ concept.  With no movement between parts, the technology is well-suited to deliver long-term performance and durability.3,4 The goal of the Osia System is to help people live their lives without getting in the way, while providing the performance needed to hear in noisy situations where they may struggle most.5

It has a slim, smart and robust sound processor

The slim, only 10.4 mm, off-the-ear sound processor is light and comfortable to wear. As an all-in-one magnet retained unit, your patients can simply place it, adjust their hair and be ready to go. There are no small pieces to deal with for patients with limited dexterity, and the ear/ear canal are left open and free to reduce the risk for recurring infections and irritation.6 Further, advanced signal processing allows users to hear what they want to hear.

It is Made for iPhone (MFi) compatible

With Made for iPhone technology, the Osia System becomes a simple extension of mobile devices, streaming sound directly to the sound processor from any compatible Apple® device. For Android™ and other smartphones, patients can stream using the Cochlear Wireless Phone Clip.

The Osia Smart App lets your patients control and adjust their sound processor easily and discreetly. From a smartphone or Apple Watch, they’ll be able to tune the sound the way they want to hear it and monitor their status and settings, creating an easy streaming experience.

It utilizes the BI300 implant for osseointegration

The BI300 implant has a stable osseointegrated foundation for effective sound transmission, which has demonstrated in peer-reviewed clinical literature a 99% implant survival rate at 5 years.7,8

It has an Aqua+ accessory that makes it waterproof down to 3 meters

The easy-to-use Osia Aqua+ accessory covers the sound processor to let your patients enjoy water activities with friends and family. With an Aqua+ accessory, the Osia Sound Processor is waterproof down to almost 10 feet.6 No need to stand back, just jump in.

For more information about the Osia 2 System, subscribe to the ProNews Blog or visit our website.

References:

  1. Goh J. OSI200 Implant Accelerated Life Test Report. D1439967. Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB, Sweden 2019.
  2. Sunnerud H. D1575584, Design Verification Report Osia System. Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB, Sweden 2019.
  3. No movement: Preumont A, Morkani B. Electromagnetic and Piezoelectric Transducers. Springer, Vienna; 2014:213-248
  4. Long term performance: Goh J. OSI200 Implant Accelerated Life Test Report. D1439967. Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB, Sweden 2019
  5. Data on file Windchill Document D1478473
  6. Edward Bennett, OSIA 2 Aqua+ IP68 Tests Design Verification Report. D1638233. Cochlear Ltd, Australia 2019.
  7. Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB, Mölnlycke, Sweden. Long term stability, survival and tolerability of a (novel) Baha® implant system. In: ClinicalTrials.gov [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US). [Cited 2016 Jan 6]. Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02092610. NLM Identifier: NCT02092610.
  8. Flynn, M, Cochlear Baha Attract System, Summary of clinical results and benefits, 2014 (E83112).

© Cochlear Limited 2020. All rights reserved. Hear now. And always and other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of Cochlear Limited or Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

This content is meant for professional use. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information. Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.

In the United States, the Osia 2 System is contraindicated in children below the age of 12.

Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, Made for iPad logo, Made for iPhone logo, Made for iPod logo, iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc.

The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

For complete smartphone compatibility information, please visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

The Osia 2 Sound Processor is IP57 rated with battery compartment excluded. The Osia 2 Sound Processor with Aqua+ is water resistant to level IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529 when used with LR44 alkaline or nickel metal hydride disposable batteries. Refer to the relevant User Guide for more information. The Osia 2 Aqua+ may not be available in all markets and is subject to regulatory approval and product availability.

* Up to the maximum coil-to-coil distance allowed by the system (10 mm).

Close the Gap: Hear how the Cochlear™ Baha® System helped Michelle close her air-bone gap

December 11, 2018

Baha

The Cochlear™ Baha® System has the power to close the gap between the air and bone line for mixed and conductive hearing loss candidates with a 30 dB or greater loss.1 

Hear from Baha recipient, Michelle, about how she closed her air-bone gap with the Baha System.

“My hearing loss journey has been a long process of embarrassment, frustration and denial. During childhood, I had tubes in my ears, many painful ear infections and drank multiple prescriptions of pink bubblegum flavored amoxicillin (medicine used to treat ear infections).

Michelle

Fast forward to my 20s when the chronic ear infections continued onward! Just whispering the word ‘water’ in my ear would prompt an infection. My ENT at the time was at a loss, and I was tired of all the antibiotics, so she referred me to a doctor who diagnosed me with a cholesteatoma (the scar tissue from the excessive ear infections trapped the moisture and bacteria behind my eardrum and caused more growth of tissue). My first surgery removed the tissue, and my doctor inserted a T-tube; the procedure bought me two years of no infections and having hearing in my left ear.

Unfortunately, my hearing began to deteriorate again, I was in denial over my hearing situation. I felt depressed when I could not hear properly, but continued to let it go. One day, my daughter was whispering something into my ‘bad ear,’ and I could not hear her. I had reached my limit, so I returned to my doctor, and he recommended I try the Cochlear™ Baha® System.

Initially I was afraid of the surgery, but the second my audiologist placed the demo Baha 5 Sound Processor on me, WOW! I could not wait to get it! We opted for the abutment because the doctor had much success with the product. Surgery was about 45 minutes long and went incredibly well, I had minor pain, but never enough to use the prescribed pain medicines. The day the healing cap came off was amazing; the abutment and area around it looked so good. I had a small strip of hair shaved, but I had a huge support group around me to make me feel confident in my decision. We even joked that if people stared at me, I could touch the abutment and act like I was a secret agent.

Michelle's Audiogram

I am a mail carrier and the Baha 5 Implant System has given me a new joy in all the sounds I hear outside throughout the day on my route. The sound of crinkling leaves and pine needles under my feet is so amazing; I never realized how noisy the world is.

I now feel more confident in conversations and cannot wait to continue on my hearing journey. I actually enjoy using my device as a demo for my friends to hear the sound I hear. Having the surgery and getting the Baha 5 Implant System has changed my life, and I truly wish I had done it sooner.”

Download our Close the Gap two-pager for more information on closing your patients’ air-bone gap.

 

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1. Watson, G., et al. (2008). Bone anchored hearing aids: A preliminary assessment of the impact on outpatients and cost when rehabilitating hearing in chronic suppurative otitis media. Clinical Otolaryngology, 33(4), 338-342.
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This material is intended for health professionals. If you are a consumer, please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

 

Cochlear ProNews is monitored Monday through Friday, excluding some holidays. Questions and inquiries submitted over the weekends or holidays may see a delay in response. For immediate assistance please contact us directly. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other members of our Websites. Cochlear reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor disputes or communications between you and other members of our Websites. For a full list of Cochlear’s terms of use, click here.