Bionic Ear Electrode

The CLARION HiFocus Electrode is the component of the CLARION cochlear implant that is surgically implanted into the inner ear. The new electrode allows focused directional coupling between a cochlear implant and a patient's auditory nerve. Its primary design objective is to provide improved sound fidelity and speech recognition through high-performing simultaneous processing and stimulation strategies - advanced digital coding schemes which deliver maximum sound information at up to 16 sites at the same time. Conventional cochlear implant electrodes have been limited to stimulation at one site at a time. To achieve this, the electrode is engineered to deliver electrical current with the greatest precision and focus, and to reduce electrically induced "noise," or channel interaction.

In addition to treating postlingually deafened adults, the electrode may now be used to treat hearing impairment in many of America's 56,000 deaf children. It recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children as young as 18 months (children 12 to 17 months of age can be implanted under clinical investigation).

Advanced Bionics Corporation, 12740 San Fernando Road, Sylmar, CA 91342. Tel: 818-362-7588; Fax: 818-362-5069.