The cochlear implant substitutes the function of the damaged hair cells of the inner ear by delivering sound and speech information via small electrical charges directly to the auditory nerve. Med-El Medical Electronics, a global leader in innovative technology related to cochlear implants, has the headquarters for its Middle East operations in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
"It was the right idea to move our headquarters office for the Middle East into the zone as from this office we can fulfill our commitment to patients. This place provides premium business facilities that allows us to support our patients round the clock," says the Med-El Middle East team.
It was nearly 25 years ago that Med-El researchers developed one of the world's first cochlear implants.
Med-El, a company based in Austria, is growing faster than any other cochlear implant company, claims regional director Rainer Oberhell.
The company annually invests about 30 per cent of its revenues in research and development.
The philosophy of the organisation is to bring technological advances to the patient as soon as possible, so the patient may benefit from state-of-the-art developments, he says.
"Med-El is committed to a flexible system that can incorporate future developments with ease. Thus, the Combi 40+ implant is designed with the capability for future upgrades in conjunction with current technology standards, to meet the patient's needs now and in the future.
"Med-El products are the result of collaborative efforts by its engineers, surgeons, audiologists, therapists and, of course, implant users."
Med-El has 12 subsidiaries and offices and 250 employees worldwide. Its products are marketed in 50 countries and the average increase in turnover in the past five years has been 50 per cent per year.
More than 1,000 new implantations are done per year.
Med-El's current products include:
* The fastest pulsatile stimulation rate available, providing a better representation of sound signals;
* Deep electrode insertion into the cochlear, allowing stimulation of the low frequency region;
* Smallest implant volume, ideal for very young children;
* The latest developments in speech processing strategies, resulting in unprecedented results in understanding speech without lip-reading.
* modular design for maximum wearing comfort;
* Designed for all Combi 40/40+ users;
* New technology (Hilbert transformation) for a more accurate representation of the speech signal than ever before.
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is an electronic device which makes it possible for deaf people to experience sound.
The cochlear implant substitutes the function of the damaged hair cells of the inner ear by delivering sound and speech information via small electrical charges directly to the auditory nerve. A cochlear implant system consists of a surgically implanted part (implant with electrodes) and externally worn components (speech processor, coil).
The implant, which is embedded in the skull, contains no batteries or other parts that need replacement. The energy required by the implant is sent from the external components through the intact skin to the implant. The electrodes attached to the implant are inserted into the cochlea. The speech processor, which is worn behind the ear, and the magnetic coil are connected to each other by a cable.
How a cochlear implant works:
1. Sounds are picked up by a microphone integrated in the speech processor and turned into an electrical signal. This signal goes to the speech processor where it is "coded" into a pattern of electrical pulses.
2. These pulses are sent to a small coil, which is worn on the head, and then transferred through the intact skin to the implant.
3. The implant sends a pattern of electrical pulses to the electrodes in the cochlea.
4. The auditory nerve picks up these tiny electrical pulses and sends them to the brain, where these signals are recognised as sound.
The whole process takes place within a few milliseconds, corresponding to the time delay in the normally functioning ear. Over 18,000 pulses can be delivered per second.
Benefits of cochlear implants:
Cochlear implants are typically used for children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears who are unable to gain sufficient speech information through conventional hearing aids. The benefits gained through a cochlear implant often depend on the duration of deafness. The biggest success can be achieved in children who are implanted before the age of three and in adults who have had previous hearing experience.
Most patients implanted with a Med-El cochlear implant are able to recognise familiar sounds; listen to music; understand speech without lip-reading; improve their own speech and use the phone, says Oberhell.
