Oticon Medical

Oticon Medical is a branch of the company Demant A/S that focuses on implantable hearing solutions. In the U.S., Oticon Medical offers bone-anchored hearing systems. The company also distributes cochlear implants in other parts of the world.

Bone-anchored hearing systems

How sound is transmitted through
a bone-anchored hearing system.
(Photo courtesy Oticon Medical.)

The primary devices produced by Oticon Medical for the U.S. market are known as bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS). These devices are comprised of two parts — a metal implant behind the ear and a sound processor that sits on the surface of the skull. The sound processor portion contains a microphone that picks up sounds in the environment, just like a traditional hearing aid.

That’s where the similarity between the two devices ends. While a traditional hearing aid delivers the amplified sound into the ear canal that travels through the middle ear and to the inner ear, a BAHS converts the sounds into mechanical energy that vibrates the skull to deliver the sound directly to the inner ear. These devices are often a potential treatment for people who have at least one normally functioning inner ear, such as single-sided deafness (SSD) or conductive hearing loss.

The Ponto system

Oticon Medical's flagship product is the PontoTM 4 system. This unique system consists of: 

• Ponto 4 sound processor (external component): The external component is currently the smallest processor available. It houses a microphone to pick up sound from the environment, as well as a sound processor. It is also the first internet-connected bone-anchored device. 
• Internal component: The implanted component is made of titanium because of its known ability to integrate seamlessly with the human bone (called osseointegration). A portion of the implanted titanium component, called the “abutment,” sticks out from the skull to provide a clip for securely attaching the processor after the surgical area has healed.
• Genie fitting software: The fitting software is used by an audiologist to program the Ponto 4 sound processor according to the wearer’s specific hearing needs.

Unique features of the Ponto 4:

Several features set Ponto devices apart from the competition, including:

• The Ponto 4 sound processor is built on the new Velox S™ platform, providing extreme-frequency resolution (64 channels), precision (24-bit DSP) and speed (more than 100 updates per second).
• Ponto 4 utilizes OpenSound™ Navigator, the same sound processing technology used in Oticon OPN hearing aids, to provide an open soundscape that allows users to remain better oriented in their surroundings, separate relevant sounds from noise, focus in noisy environments, and recognize and make sense of incoming sounds.
• Ponto 4 is the first internet-connected bone-anchored device, using the Oticon ON™ App and IFTT (If-This-Then-That) network. It uses 2.4 GHz wireless to connect to iPhones®, other smartphones and a range of wireless connectivity products.
• The Ponto Soft Band gives children and adults the opportunity to experience a bone-conduction hearing solution before committing to a surgical procedure. This is especially helpful for children with hearing loss, who need consistent access to sounds to support learning while waiting for longer-term solutions.

Sound processor upgrades from earlier bone-conduction systems are sometimes possible. The current Ponto 4 was preceded by the Ponto, Ponto Pro, Ponto Plus and Ponto 3. 

Cochlear implant solutions — not available in the U.S.

Oticon Medical also develops and markets cochlear implant solutions for children and adults in other parts of the world. Their current cochlear implant is called the Neuro system. Names of components you may see include Neuro Ziti, Neuro One and Neuro 2.

Learn more about Oticon Medical

Specially trained audiologists and ENT physicians work together to implant, program and help you maintain this type of hearing treatment solution. Contact a Rechargeable hearing aids supplier to learn more about bone-conducted hearing solutions.