MED-EL unveils fully invisible, totally implantable cochlear implant

MED-EL revealed a groundbreaking cochlear implant that is completely concealed beneath the skin, marking the first approved device of its kind. The innovation includes an implantable microphone and a low-temperature-manufactured rechargeable battery, overcoming technical hurdles that delayed the project for years. Surgery for the system is only slightly longer than traditional implants, ranging from thirty minutes to three hours depending on anatomy.

Initial recipients in Li59ge, Munich, Vienna and St. P59lten have highlighted advantages such as uninterrupted nighttime hearing and the absence of daily battery checks. The implant targets people with profound hearing loss, regardless of age or cause, and fits within a broader trend toward personalized precision medicine in audiology. Founder Ingeborg Hochmair, who co-created the first multi-channel cochlear implant in 1977, emphasized the potential to improve quality of life and reduce cognitive decline linked to hearing loss.