MED-EL Launches Second Generation Bone Conduction Implant: BONEBRIDGE BCI 602

The new and improved bone conduction implant, BONEBRIDGE BCI 602 provides professionals with a more straightforward and faster surgical procedure. Users can continue to take advantage of the high wearing comfort and clear sound quality. The new BONEBRIDGE BCI 602 is available from mid-October and is compatible with current and future SAMBA audio processors.

“I am very proud that we are the pioneers of active transcutaneous bone conduction implants, with the first generation BCI 601 implant having been released in 2012. The new BONEBRIDGE BCI 602 marks a new milestone. The successful partnership between surgeons, hearing professionals and MED-EL is highly valued with their feedback being integrated into the development of our new devices. With this technological advancement, we have optimized the size so that more patients can benefit from this innovative product. The new BONEBRIDGE is now suitable for implantation in many different anatomies. With a nearly 50% reduction in the required drilling depth, the hearing results remain great. After all, natural hearing is our goal. We will continue to focus on cutting-edge technology with transcutaneous bone conduction implants, because for us, only an implant that leaves intact skin can be called “state of the art”, says MED-EL, CEO, Ingeborg Hochmair.

Advantages during surgery:

• The BCI 602’s BC-FMT (Bone Conduction Floating Mass Transducer) has been completely redesigned, requiring nearly 50% less drilling depth whilst still delivering the same great hearing performance
• The new implant uses self-drilling screws which reduce the number of surgical steps needed
• The implant and related parts are delivered together in one sterile kit, so professionals can optimize their workflow in the operating room

Advantages for patients:

• Less anatomical restrictions: as the BC-FMT transducer is thinner, the implant requires less bone substance for its fixation
• Best solution for children from the age of five with conductive and mixed hearing loss and patients with atresia
• The BCI 602 offers individualized solutions due to the “Lifts” which can be used in the operation, if more difficult anatomies are presented

Pioneers in the field of bone conduction

In 2012, MED-EL released the world’s first active transcutaneous bone conduction implant: BONEBRIDGE, marking the beginning of a new era in bone conduction implants. The BONEBRIDGE offered a ground-breaking solution, in comparison to other manufacturers, which meant screws no longer needed to be applied through the skin. This means users never have a permanent skin wound. The BONEBRIDGE directly stimulates the bone, providing great sound quality without feedback noise.

The BCI 602 has been developed through a long and valued partnership with ENT surgeons. Through this relationship, it was possible for MED-EL to improve the active transcutaneous bone conduction implant and develop the second generation.

Design Prize

In 2019 MED-EL received the prestigious Red Dot Award for the design of the BCI 602 implant. The jury recognized the ergonomic design of the implant and how this could benefit future patients.

To find out more visit www.medel.com

About MED-EL

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable and non-implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has grown to more than 2,000 employees and 33 subsidiaries worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 123 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com