The US FDA has approved the world’s first smart cochlear implant system. The Cochlear Nexa System has smart upgradeable implant firmware. For the first time, users will be able to upgrade both their implant and sound processor.

Users will no longer have to buy new sound processor hardware, but will be able to upgrade their existing systems through OTA firmware upgrades.

According to Cochlear, the new Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor is the smallest and lightest sound processor with all day battery life on the market. Through a new algorithm running on the implant called Dynamic Power Management, the Nucleus Nexa System responds to recipients changing needs while adapting to maximise battery life.

It is 9% smaller and 12% lighter than the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with the Power Extend battery allowing patients to benefit from all-day hearing wearing the smallest and lightest sound processor in the world, according to Cochlear.

“The Nucleus Nexa Implant is the first ever cochlear implant running its own firmware,” said Jan Janssen, Cochlear CTO. “Similar to smartphones, the implant firmware can be updated to enable new features and access future innovations. Recipients will now have access to their best possible hearing experience with both implant and sound processor updates. The Nucleus Nexa System builds upon Cochlear’s industry-leading portfolio of electrodes, which are designed to optimise the electrode-neural interface and protect cochlear health for a lifetime of hearing performance and opens the door to even greater hearing potential for patients into the future. While it uses the same implant form factor as the most reliable cochlear implant in the industry, the new Nexa Implant features a totally new and redesigned chipset packed with innovative and smart features. This includes onboard diagnostics, which takes the pressure off carers and recipients by allowing the system to check itself and monitor to ensure it is performing to the best of the recipient’s hearing needs. This new system sets a new industry standard.”