Summary:
Med-El’s feasibility study on the Totally Implantable Cochlear Implant (TICI) demonstrates promising results, showing hearing performance comparable to traditional cochlear implants while offering enhanced convenience and discretion by eliminating external components.
Key Takeaways:
- Comparable Performance: The TICI provides hearing outcomes similar to conventional cochlear implants.
- Enhanced Discretion: By integrating all components internally, the device eliminates the need for external parts, addressing social stigma concerns.
- Improved Quality of Life: Patients reported increased comfort, satisfaction, and overall well-being with the TICI system.
With the publication of a feasibility study on the Totally Implantable Cochlear Implant (TICI), hearing implant manufacturer Med-El has announced new scientific insights and clinical advancements, underscoring its commitment to innovation in hearing solutions.
The study, published in Communications Medicine and led by Prof. Dr. Philippe Lefèbvre, PhD, and Prof. Dr. Joachim Müller alongside international researchers, evaluated the safety and performance of the TICI in six participants with bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss. Results demonstrated that the TICI delivers hearing performance comparable to conventional cochlear implants while introducing enhanced convenience and discretion by eliminating the permanent need for external components.
“The TICI is a milestone within the field of cochlear implantation,” says Lefèbvre, head of the ENT Department at the University Hospital of Liège in Belgium. “It has been a wish from the early days of cochlear implantation to be able to integrate all components within an internal device.”
Müller, head of the Cochlear Implants and Hearing Prosthetics Section, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Munich, adds, “One recurring wish we hear from patients in our daily clinical practice is that the implants should be as discreet as possible—or ideally invisible. Social stigma remains a challenge for many people with hearing impairments and can be a heavy burden in many situations.”
A New Era in Hearing Healthcare
The TICI integrates all components—audio processor, microphone, and battery—into one device that is fitted under the skin. This innovation represents a paradigm shift, offering cochlear implant users continuous hearing during daily activities, including sleep and bathing, without reliance on external parts.
Key results from the study include:
· Safety: The TICI demonstrated a strong safety profile.
· Hearing Performance: Speech perception tests confirmed hearing outcomes comparable to traditional cochlear implants.
· Quality of Life: Patient-reported outcomes showed improved comfort, satisfaction, and overall quality of life.
Pioneering Innovation in Action
In 2020, Lefèbvre and Müller performed the first-ever European surgeries to implant a TICI, marking a pivotal milestone in cochlear implant history. This breakthrough was made possible by Med-El’s decades of engineering and interdisciplinary collaboration, culminating in the TICI’s cutting-edge design. The TICI system incorporates advancements in implantable microphone technology, extended battery life, and biocompatible materials, ensuring both durability and long-term usability.
“Our cochlear implants have already transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands globally,” says Ingeborg Hochmair, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Med-El. “However, we continuously listen to our users—and one of the clearest wishes they have shared with us is for a device that is invisible and operates effortlessly. The TICI fulfills that vision, thanks to over a decade of tireless dedication from our expert team, collaborators, and partners.”
Looking Ahead
While the feasibility study provides preliminary evidence, the TICI’s success paves the way for future research and development.
“Totally implantable cochlear implants are the future of hearing technology,” says Dr Hochmair. “This innovation is a profound leap forward in usability, aesthetics, and user satisfaction, reaffirming our mission to eliminate hearing loss as a barrier to communication and quality of life.”
TICI remains under research and is not available for commercial use at this time.
The open-access study can be accessed online.
For updates on the TICI and other Med-El innovations, visit the Med-El website.
Featured image: Schematic of the implanted TICI showing positioning of the implant and microphone within the temporal bone. The different components of the TICI are shown in relation to the anatomic structures of the skull and inner ear. Image: Med-El
