Structure Preservation

The key to our soft and flexible electrode arrays is the custom-made wires that carry the electrical signals to the electrodes. Other manufacturers use straight wires in their electrode arrays, which add unnecessary stiffness and rigidity to the electrode array. MED-EL's wave-shaped wire design enables our electrode arrays to easily flex and bend—making them perfectly suitable for gentle insertion into the cochlea. The combination of our flexible electrode arrays and proper surgical techniques enable preservation of the delicate hearing structures in the cochlea.

At MED-EL, we believe in providing our recipients with the best possible hearing experience. Complete Cochlear Coverage allows our cochlear implants to stimulate the full length of the cochlea, which provides a richer, more natural sound quality.

The cochlea is a small, spiral-shaped structure that converts mechanical vibrations into neural impulses. This is done by thousands of specialised nerve cells that respond to sound vibrations. These neural impulses are then sent through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are perceived as hearing.

The nerve cells are found along the length of the cochlea, and nerve cells in different locations will respond to different sounds. This is referred to as tonotopicity. Normally, low-frequency sounds stimulate nerve fibres in the apex, or top region of the cochlea, while high-frequency sounds stimulate nerve fibres at the base of the cochlea.

FLEX-Tip Technology

Unique FLEX-Tip Technology features single contacts at the leading end, ultra-flexible wave-shaped wires, and a tapered tip for increased mechanical flexibility.