I'm a unilateral cochlear implant user who's very interested in a Completely Implantable Cochlear Implant.
I found a recent article discussing about the Totally Implantable C.I.
Cochlear's sound outlook dampened by debate over rival
by: Richard Gluyas
From:The Australian
August 15, 2011 12:00AM
By continually investing heavily in research and development (expenditure in this area was up 15 per cent to $109m, or almost 14 per cent of sales), Cochlear minimises the risk of disadvantage from a technological breakthrough by a rival.
The risk, however, will never be completely neutralised.
The prevailing wisdom is that the company's competitive advantage is protected for at least five to 10 years, with threat such as stem cell regeneration likely to take years to negotiate the regulatory system.
More immediate disruption could come from success in the industry's quest for a fully implantable device, including battery, processor and microphone, which would have obvious cosmetic appeal.
UBS's Goodsall discounts the view that Cochlear lags its rivals in the search for this "gold-standard" implant.
"We believe it is now only a matter of time before (the company) has a totally implantable cochlear implant hearing system. It may well be targeting launch within three years," he says.
Cochlear, he says, is moving towards trials, with key hurdles, such as a battery that is recharged through the skin and a problematic implanted microphone, already overcome.
The article said that the Totally Implantable cochlear implant may well be targeting launch within three years, in 2011. It is NOW 2012... so, the Totally Implantable C.I. may well be targeting launch within two years. I have an important question. When the article says that the totally implantable cochlear implant may well be targeting launch within two years... does it REALLY mean commercial availability within two year??? or just mere clinical trials????