Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, introduces its next generation Cochlear™ Osia® System with the ability to have an MRI at 3.0 T, designed to improve hearing outcomes for people with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss and single-sided sensorineural deafness (SSD).
The new Osia System offers the proven benefits of the current version: excellent hearing outcomes, ease of use, discreetness, and reliability. With the introduction of the OSI300 Implant, it is the first and only active bone conduction system that allows patients to undergo MRI scans at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T without the need for surgery. The new patient benefit combines the Piezo Power™ transducer with the latest implant magnet tech, thanks to its lack of magnetic material.
The OSI300 Implant is specifically designed to support access to MRI with no performance degradation after MRI exposure, as there is nothing to be demagnetized as in an electromagnetic transducer. The OSI300 uses a diametric magnet that rotates to align with the MRI machine’s magnetic field, making it suitable for patients undergoing MRI at 3.0 T.
“Not only does the new design allow for MRI scans at 3.0 T without surgery or the need for a headwrap or splint kit; but we have also designed the magnet cassette to be simple to remove if needed. The easy removal of the implant magnet reduces image artifacts, an important consideration for maximum visibility of areas around the implant. Both features mean less MRI preparation time and less time without sound, which is beneficial to both recipients and professionals,” Ryan Lopez, Head of Portfolio Strategy & Professional Marketing at Cochlear, said.
Today, most people can expect to undergo an MRI scan at some point in their lifetime, and having a hearing implant shouldn’t be an obstacle to this important healthcare treatment option.
“The use of 3.0 T scanners is increasing and becoming more common. 3.0 T scanners help in the proper diagnosis of many neurologic, orthopedic, and oncology conditions. It is important that patients don’t face any obstacles to this type of care, and I am glad Cochlear has kept this in mind in their new Osia System,” Dr. Brian Kaplan, SVP, Global Clinical Strategy & Innovation at Cochlear, Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology, and Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, said.
“An improvement in the ability of patients to undergo high-resolution MRI scans with our technology was the number one request we heard from customers. With the new system, patients with an active bone conduction system can conveniently undergo MRI at 1.5 T and at 3.0 T with no impact on their hearing – MRI should be accessible to everyone” says Dig Howitt, Chief Executive Officer & President of Cochlear.
The next generation of the Osia System will be available in clinics across the United States this fall and is currently being reviewed by Health Canada. Availability in other countries is subject to regulatory approval.
