Cochlear Limited
Encyclopedia
Cochlear Limited is an Australian company that designs, manufactures and sells the Nucleus
Cochlear implant
along with the Bone Conduction Hearing Solution Baha
osseointegrated bone conduction
implant, with an estimated 250 000 cochlear implant/Baha recipients receiving a Cochlear Limited product since their establishment in 1981.
In 2005, Cochlear acquired the Swedish company Entific Medical Systems, renamed Bone Anchored Solutions (BAS). Through this acquisition, Cochlear expanded its hearing solutions portfolio to include the Baha®
bone conduction implant for conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single sided sensorineural deafness, as well as the Vistafix™ system for facial prosthetic retention. Baha completely bypasses the outer and middle ear using direct bone conduction which is a natural pathway for sound.
The Hybrid system, introduced to the European market in 2008, uses electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS), combining electrical stimulation and acoustic stimulation. It is a unique solution for people suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss in the low frequencies and severe to profound loss in the high frequencies.
The direct acoustic cochlear stimulator (DACS) is a new type of implantable hearing device, designed to provide an effective solution with severe to profound mixed hearing impairment. DACS provides mechanical (acoustic) stimulations directly to the cochlea.
Cochlear’s research program is extensive, with the company currently participating in over 100 collaborative research programs across 20 countries. These research and development programs span our four main areas of implantable hearing solutions.
Cochlear, also provides a range of services to support medical professionals and recipients at every stage.
Cochlear Limited's 2007 annual report acknowledged that a US Federal investigation continued into its payments to physicians and providers. In February 2007, part of the whistleblower complaint against Cochlear filed by former Chief Financial Officer Brenda March was unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The complaint alleges that Cochlear violated the Federal anti-kickback statute through its Partners Program, which offered credits towards free or discounted products for physicians who implanted Cochlear devices, as well as gifts, trips, and other gratuities paid to physicians and providers. The government intervened in the case and transferred it from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Health and Human Services Inspector General for the imposition of civil penalties. In June 2010, Cochlear America agreed to pay a fine of $880,000 as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice.
Nucleus Limited
Nucleus Limited began as a private company in Sydney, Australia, in 1965. It was founded by former Watson-Victor executive Paul Murray Trainor, after acquisition of X-ray sales & service company Scientific & General....
Cochlear implant
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing...
along with the Bone Conduction Hearing Solution Baha
Cochlear Baha
The Baha is a bone conduction hearing system designed, developed and marketed by Cochlear. When Cochlear bought the Swedish company Entific Medical Systems in 2005, the acronym BAHA was trademarked into Baha, since it is not considered a hearing aid by insurance companies.The Baha is a...
osseointegrated bone conduction
Bone conduction
Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull.Bone conduction is the reason why a person's voice sounds different to him/her when it is recorded and played back. Because the skull conducts lower frequencies better than air, people perceive their own...
implant, with an estimated 250 000 cochlear implant/Baha recipients receiving a Cochlear Limited product since their establishment in 1981.
Products
Cochlear offers four distinct product lines all of which provide solutions for different types of hearing loss. These include: cochlear implants, bone conduction implants, implants for electro-acoustic stimulation and implants for direct acoustic stimulation. Whether these hearing solutions were implanted over 25 years ago or today, the company’s commitment to backward compatibility guarantees that new upgrades and innovations can be offered to Cochlear recipients without further surgery.In 2005, Cochlear acquired the Swedish company Entific Medical Systems, renamed Bone Anchored Solutions (BAS). Through this acquisition, Cochlear expanded its hearing solutions portfolio to include the Baha®
Cochlear Baha
The Baha is a bone conduction hearing system designed, developed and marketed by Cochlear. When Cochlear bought the Swedish company Entific Medical Systems in 2005, the acronym BAHA was trademarked into Baha, since it is not considered a hearing aid by insurance companies.The Baha is a...
bone conduction implant for conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single sided sensorineural deafness, as well as the Vistafix™ system for facial prosthetic retention. Baha completely bypasses the outer and middle ear using direct bone conduction which is a natural pathway for sound.
The Hybrid system, introduced to the European market in 2008, uses electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS), combining electrical stimulation and acoustic stimulation. It is a unique solution for people suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss in the low frequencies and severe to profound loss in the high frequencies.
The direct acoustic cochlear stimulator (DACS) is a new type of implantable hearing device, designed to provide an effective solution with severe to profound mixed hearing impairment. DACS provides mechanical (acoustic) stimulations directly to the cochlea.
Innovation
Innovation is a strategic priority for Cochlear since its foundation. As the technology leader in its field, Cochlear invests around twice the industry average and a significant percentage of its global sales revenue in research and development (13% in Financial Year 2011).Cochlear’s research program is extensive, with the company currently participating in over 100 collaborative research programs across 20 countries. These research and development programs span our four main areas of implantable hearing solutions.
Cochlear, also provides a range of services to support medical professionals and recipients at every stage.
Global Reach
Since establishing in 1981, Cochlear has enterprises in various global locations including the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany and the United Kingdom . Cochlear has expanded and formed a solid presence, manufacturing implants and distributing products internationally.Violation of Anti-Kickback Statute
Cochlear Limited's 2007 annual report acknowledged that a US Federal investigation continued into its payments to physicians and providers. In February 2007, part of the whistleblower complaint against Cochlear filed by former Chief Financial Officer Brenda March was unsealed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The complaint alleges that Cochlear violated the Federal anti-kickback statute through its Partners Program, which offered credits towards free or discounted products for physicians who implanted Cochlear devices, as well as gifts, trips, and other gratuities paid to physicians and providers. The government intervened in the case and transferred it from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Health and Human Services Inspector General for the imposition of civil penalties. In June 2010, Cochlear America agreed to pay a fine of $880,000 as part of a settlement with the US Department of Justice.