Can you expand on what you mean by "backward compatibility" and why was that important to you ?
One of the things I am readying is that the actual stimulator ( the implanted part ) has not changed with the CA in a very long time. And that the current processor ( Nucleus 5 ) just about maxes out the capabilities of the implanted portion. That there is not much "room to grow" without having to replace the implant itself.
This was discussed few weeks ago, this email will explain both. At the time when I was choosing between AB and Cochlear, AB wasn't backward compatibility but I believe they are working on this now. It's important to me so that I can have the upgrade to newer techology as often as possible.
--- On Tue, 19/10/10, Kate King <KKing@cochlear.com> wrote:
From: Kate King <KKing@cochlear.com>
Subject: Implant capacity
To:
Date: Tuesday, 19 October, 2010, 9:58
Hello
How are you ? Well I hope.
I just thought I'd let you know that I've recently been contacted regarding
concerns over Nucleus implant capability / capacity, which I understand has
been discussed on the CIUG forum.
If this is the case,I would just like to reassure you that you should not
be concerned over implant capability and capacity and whilst this is
something that is almost impossible to quantify, Cochlear is a company that
continues to lead the way globally with a proven history of innovation,
reliability, safety and performance for our recipients. Our closest
competitors have tried to replicate many of Cochlear's innovations in their
own CI systems, such as Neural Response Telemetry / Titanium implant
packaging / curved electrode array designs / front end processing to name
but a few. Recipients can be confident that with Cochlear's history of
innovation it will continue to provide advances to the Nucleus 5 systems as
new break throughs become available.
We have designed and built a system in Nucleus 5 which is ready for today
and for the future with state of the art bidirectional wireless technology
and dual microphone technology- again unique to this system delivering
unsurpassed performance. This commitment to performance is supported by the
work of Dr Jace Wolfe, Director of Audiology, Hearts for Hearing
Foundation, Oklahoma who showed an average 28% improvement for unilateral
and bilateral Nucleus 5 users over Advanced Bionics recipients.
With our custom designed implant chip our N5 system is capable of
delivering a multitude of different sound coding strategies and stimulation
modes ensuring optimal performance according to each recipients individual
needs. Cochlear is currently working on several different sound coding
areas but we will not bring new technology to our clinics and recipients
without proven performance or user benefits.
We define future proofing as making implants and speech processors today
which are fully capable of supporting new innovations whilst leaving no
user behind. For example our very earliest implantees with implants 23
years old can take advantage of our newer technology, as we always make our
speech processors backwards compatible for early implant users- a claim not
all manufacturers can make.
Take care.
All the best, Kate
Kate King
Hear now. And always
Cochlear - Implants for Children & Adults - Bionic Ear Hearing Implant | Cochlear UK