| CI Comparison | |||||
| Advanced Bionics HiResolution Bionic Ear System (http://www.bionicear.com/) | Cochlear Corp Nucleus 3G w/N22, N24, &N24C(for comparison)*** REPLACED BY FREEDOM | MED-EL COMBI 40+ ***REPLACED BY PULSAR | Cochlear Corp Nucleus Freedom Cochlear Implant System (http://www.cochlearamericas.com/) | MED-EL PULSAR CI100 * (http://www.medel.com/ENG/US/) | |
| Feature | |||||
| # electrodes | 16 (+ 2 grounding) | Nucleus 22: 20 (+ 2 grounding); Nucleus 24 & 24C: 22 +( 2 grounding) | 24 | 22 (+2 grounding) | 24 |
| # output circuits (current sources) * | 16 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| Sound sampling rate (audio shutter speed in sound frames/second)* | 17.4 kHz | 400/sec (Hz) | 16.0 kHz | ||
| Sound Processing rate max (from processor to internal implant) | 90,000 pps | 18,182 | See MED-EL website for updates | ||
| Stimulation rate max (from internal implant to auditory nerve)(in PulsesPerSecond PPS) | 83,000 | 14,400 | 18,182 | 32000 | See MED-EL website for updates - 51,000 claimed |
| # Spectral Bands used for each sound frame | 16 | Nucleus 24: 8 - 12 ; Nucleus 22: 8 - 12 | 12 | 8 - 12 | 12 (Combi40+ mode) |
| # Spectral Band "palette" (# pitches available) | 120 - available for adults, FDA approval pending for children | Nucleus 24: 22 ; Nucleus 22: 20 | 12 | 22 | 12 (Combi40+ mode) |
| "Special electrode" configuration | Self-curling (Helix); lateral wall (1j) | yes; "self-curling array" and Double Array for ossified cochleas | yes - split array, compressed and medium | yes - Contour Advance Electrode (self curling) and Double Array for ossified cochleas | yes - split array, compressed and medium |
| Input Dynamic Range (IDR) (sound window) | Auria/PSP (HiRes) - 82. Harmony/PSP (body-worn) - 96 with Harmony HiRes120 | 75 dB with Automatically Adaptive Sound Window | 80 (45db at any time, Whisper shifts sound window lower) | 75 dB with Automatically Adaptive Sound Window | |
| # programs (MAPs) | 3 BTE and BWP | 2 | Up to 9 | 4 | Up to 9 |
| Speech Coding Strategies * | 6 HiRes-S, HiRes-P, CIS, SAS, MPS, HiRes 120 S, HiRes120 P | Nucleus 24: SPEAK, ACE, CIS ; Nucleus 22: SPEAK | CIS+, (CIS and n-of-m in BWP) | 5 ACE, Hi-ACE, SPEAK, CIS, Hi-CIS | See MED-EL website for updates |
| telemetry | yes - full forward and backward up to 1mbps | yes | yes (electrode impedances, ground path impedance, & voltages) | yes - full forward and backward | yes (electrode impedances, ground path impedance, & voltages) |
| Telecoil | Yes (Auria BTE- snap-on (external), Harmony BTE built-in) | Yes | Yes | Yes - Freedom (built-in) | Yes |
| T-mic | Yes (mic is located at the opening of the ear canal) | no | no | no | no |
| Battery type | custom rechargeable for Auria/Harmony and PSP. PSP - AA battery pack. | zinc-air | 675 HP zinc-air, rechargeable AA, disposable AA | disposable zinc-air or custom rechargeable for BTE; BWP 2 AAA | 675 HP zinc-air, rechargeable AA, disposable AA |
| Battery life | Auria: 9 hours (PowerCelSlim); 17 PowerCellPlus; Harmony - PowerCelSlim(14 hrs) PowerCelPlus (24hours). PSP (11-14 hrs). Battery life 1 - 3 years | 3-5 days, then discarded. Sprint can use rechargeable AA batteries. | 3-5 days(675 HP), then discarded. | Disposables: up to 5 days, (average 54 hours). Rechargeables: up to 3 days Comes with 2 rechargeables and speed charger) BWP - 7 - 10 days | 3 - 5 days (675 HP) |
| MRI | Yes (0.3 & 1.5Tesla) magnet must be removed | Yes (0.2Tesla) | yes -1.5 Tesla, removable magnet | yes (0.2Tesla) | |
| Status Indicator (headpiece off) | yes - beep and light (PSP). Auria -Firefly earhook steady illumination, Harmony LED blinks red | yes - light and built-in LED displays help messages. Indicator light can be set to flash constantly ("good function") or only when problem condition (ie, battery dies). BWP emits 4 short beeps if coil falls off. | |||
| Low battery indicator | yes - beep and light (PSP); Auria Firefly not illuminated; Harmony LED blinks amber | beep to user | Yes- light | yes - light an internal beep to user. Indicator light can be set to flash constantly ("good function") or only when problem condition (ie, battery dies) | yes-light |
| Water-resistant (Note: None of the devices are warranted if the device is immersed in water) | Designed to withstand sweat, rain, humidity, splashes and warranted against water damage excluding immersion | Use of Activity Cover offers protection from moisture, perspiration, and impact. | Tested to the International Standard of Water Protection: IEC 60529 certified IP44 - "splashing water" | Use of Activity Cover offers protection from moisture, perspiration, and impact. | |
| "quiet/noisy conditions" | Auto gain control; sensitivity setting; full clinician adjustable IDR, T-mic for improved directionality | Whisper setting, "ADRO"/wSprint * | Sensitivity setting; Dual-loop Automatic Gain Control; Automatically Adaptive Sound Window | Whisper, "ADRO" ; Noisy environments: Beam, Auto-sensitivity options | Sensitivity setting; Dual-loop Automatic Gain Control; Automatically Adaptive Sound Window |
| "No-swap" processor (for bilaterals, schools or households w/multiple users) | Yes - IntelliLink (serial number) | "Left" / "Right" indicators in LED | See MED-EL website for updates | ||
| Reliability (Company Reported - numbers are Cumulative Survival Rates (CSR)) (Currently available devices only) | 99.9% CSR at 18 months for currently implanted devices | 99.9% since release in 2005 | 99.52% since release in 2004 | ||
| FM Connection | Auria/Harmony - wireless (iConnect), w/PhonakMLxS receiver. Uses Size 10 battery (lasts 20-30 hrs), doesn't drain processor battery. PSP access w/auxiliary jack | 3G for N22 & N24: wireless with MLXs from Phonak | Tempo+ - wired | Built-in FM with Microlink Freedom | |
| In business since | 1993 | 1984 | 1989 | 1984 | 1989 |
| No Foolin' Cool Stuff | Auria - Firefly ear hook - light shows system locked and battery charged. With BWP, nothing hooked to ear. Kids get a stuffed monkey with a CI after surgery. Earbud-compatible with T-Mic. | You can buy a refurbished BWP processor and go swimming with it. | The BabyBTE is really tiny, and clips right to the clothes. Built-in status light with 4 different light conditions for trouble shooting. Sound Guard for ESD protection. | SmartSound Technology - 4 technologies to optimize hearing in a viriety of listening environnments (quiet vs noisy). BTE can use disposable/rechargeable batteries interchangeably. Sound processor upgrades available to all previous generations. Kids get a stuffed koala w/CI. | The BabyBTE is really tiny, and clips right to the clothes. Built-in status light with 4 different light conditions for trouble shooting. Sound Guard for ESD protection. Kids get a stuffed cuddly bunny w/CI. |
| Company Mascot | Bionic Buddy - stuffed monkey | Kaci - Koala Toy - stuffed Koala | Meddy - a cuddly bunny | ||
| * You have to go to the company web sites to get an explanation of this stuff! | * Further regulatory clearance is required for future feature implementation with the PULSAR implant. Until that time, it will function in "C40+ mode." | ||||
| Last updated: March 26, 2007 | |||||
| Note: This information has been reviewed by representatives of Advanced Bionics, Cochlear Corp and MED-EL. | |||||