MED-EL USA Gets FDA Approval for SONNET 3 Audio Processor
MED-EL USA has announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its latest innovation, the SONNET 3 audio processor, designed for use with MED-EL cochlear implants. As the company’s lightest and smallest behind-the-ear audio processor, SONNET 3 introduces integrated wireless direct streaming capabilities, marking a significant advancement in hearing technology.
MED-EL has long prioritized superior hearing performance with its hearing implants, and the SONNET 3 continues this legacy with its innovative features. One key technology, ASM 3.0, automatically adjusts the processor’s settings to optimize hearing in various environments. By reducing background noise and using dual microphones, SONNET 3 enables users to focus on conversations, even in noisy surroundings.
Additionally, SONNET 3 supports binaural streaming, allowing bilateral cochlear implant users to pair two SONNET 3 processors or combine one SONNET 3 processor with another compatible audio processor. This feature offers the best sound quality and seamless streaming experience. Users can directly stream music and phone calls from compatible devices, including both Android and Apple smartphones. Moreover, SONNET 3 can stream audio directly from compatible smart TVs and digital media players, providing a wire-free experience for maximum convenience.
Beyond its superior performance, the SONNET 3 is designed with user comfort and practicality in mind. It features a Touch Key, enabling easy program changes with a simple tap, and a flexible earhook for added comfort throughout the day. The device is also waterproof with an IP68 rating, making it suitable for a variety of water activities without compromising performance.
John Sparacio, President and CEO of MED-EL USA, expressed enthusiasm about the new release, saying, “We are thrilled to introduce SONNET 3 to our current cochlear implant users and candidates in the United States. Our smallest and lightest behind-the-ear audio processor with built-in direct streaming is ready to fit seamlessly into everyday life. In addition to comfort and convenience, SONNET 3 offers the superior hearing performance that MED-EL is known for.”
Weighing just 2.0 grams, SONNET 3 is not only lighter than its predecessor, the SONNET 2 with AudioStream, but it is also 18% shorter. The device’s compact design strikes the perfect balance between comfort and convenience, ensuring that users can enjoy a hassle-free listening experience without sacrificing hearing quality.
The SONNET 3 audio processor is expected to become available in early 2025. However, MED-EL USA offers a unique advantage to patients through its TechSwap Program. Beginning on September 1, 2024, patients who already have a MED-EL cochlear implant will be able to exchange their current audio processor for the new SONNET 3, enabling them to experience the latest technology without waiting for its full commercial release.
About MED-EL:
MED-EL Medical Electronics, founded by Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions. With a focus on overcoming hearing loss and improving communication and quality of life, MED-EL has revolutionized the hearing implant industry. The company’s pioneering work led to the creation of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI) in 1977, which laid the foundation for modern cochlear implants.
Today, MED-EL operates in 90 countries and employs over 2,900 people worldwide. The company offers a wide range of implantable and non-implantable solutions for all types of hearing loss, enabling individuals in 137 countries to regain their ability to hear through MED-EL devices. MED-EL’s offerings include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined electric acoustic stimulation hearing implant system, and surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices, ensuring that individuals with hearing loss have access to the most advanced and effective treatments available.
