An invisible hearing implant reaches patients in Europe

An Austrian-developed cochlear implant has reached its first commercial patients, offering people with severe-to-profound hearing loss access to sound without an external processor. MED-EL launched TICI UNICO on September 29 after European regulatory approval, with the first operations outside clinical trials taking place in Austria.

It is the world’s first commercially available cochlear implant with all its components beneath the skin. Conventional implants rely on an externally worn microphone, processor and battery to help turn sound into electrical signals that stimulate the hearing nerve. The new system puts those parts inside, allowing users to hear while swimming or sleeping.

An external magnetic charger is still needed, but hearing continues during charging. The device is being introduced in European markets and is not yet available in the United States.

Early evidence is encouraging but limited. A published six-person feasibility study suggests hearing performance comparable to conventional implants, while further results cited by MED-EL are awaiting peer review.

For trial participant Diana Grosser, the biggest change was everyday freedom: swimming and riding her motorcycle without worrying about a processor slipping or getting lost. She also valued the option to hear at night.