Cochlear Implants
by Cochlear Guest Author

Clinical Quick Tips to pave the way to successful CI fittings with the Cochlear™ Wireless Programming Pod

April 17, 2018
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Clinical quick tips

Guest author: Janet Clarke, Au.D.

Janet Clarke

Power to the Pod!

The feedback from the 2017 Hear Your Way workshops was clear: when asked for your key takeaways, the words wireless and programming appeared often, as shown above in the above Word Cloud. We hope you have enjoyed incorporating the Wireless Programming Pods (WPPs) into your programming sessions. If you haven’t yet started using the WPPs, below are some tips to help you get them set up. If you have used the WPPs, you may still find some of these tips useful.

Nucleus 7 WPP

  1. Designate one Cochlear™ Nucleus® Programming Kit to each computer. Do not move WPPs from computer to computer. If absolutelyWPP screen necessary to use a WPP on a different computer, you must first “forget the device” on the first computer to which the WPP was paired.
  2. In the programming kit, you will find rechargeable batteries for the WPP for the Nucleus® 7 sound processor and for the WPP for the Nucleus® 5, 6 or Kanso® sound processor. Charge these two batteries using the USB charger from the programming kit and your clinic’s charger, respectively.
  3. If your computer has built-in Bluetooth®, we recommend disabling it, and using the Cochlear-provided Bluetooth USB 4.0 Adapter (Manufacturer: ORICO®). Plug the ORICO adapter into an available USB port. The ports toward the back of the computer have more power and are a better choice for the adapter. If you are using a USB hub, it must be an AC powered hub.
    • If you use a NOAHLink™, it will pair to the ORICO adapter – you will no longer need the EZURIO or LAIRD™ adapter that came with the NOAHLink. We recommend, therefore, removing the EZURIO or LAIRD and putting it away.
  1. Close all open software applications, especially Custom Sound®.
  2. If you have wired programming pods plugged in to your computer, unplug them, for now.
  3. Find your computer’s Bluetooth icon, right-click on it and choose Add a Device.
  4. Choose one of the pods and its corresponding rechargeable battery. It’s time to put power to the pod! Do NOT attach a sound processor at this time.
    • The blue LED on the WPP will flash slowly for up to three minutes while the device is being detected.
    • Place the WPP and battery on the table (do not hold them in your hand – doing so may interfere with connectivity during the pairing process).
    • Time is on your side! Wait until you see the Cochlear Wireless Pod detected on your screen, then add it.
    • When the blue LED flashes quickly for 10 seconds, pairing is complete.
  1. Follow the steps in item 7 for the other WPP.
  2. If you use a NOAHLink, Pair it using the NOAHLink Pairing Wizard
  3. Open Custom Sound and wait for the WPP icon(s) to appear.

WPP Icon

  1. If you have a sound processor, connect it.
    • Note that when a sound processor firmware update is required, you may notice that the WPP and processor icons momentarily disappear. Do not disconnect and reconnect anything – time is on your side! In a few seconds, the icons will reappear and the connection will complete.
  1. Note that Custom Sound can detect only two pods of any type at any given time. For example, it can detect two WPPs, one WPP and one wired pod, or two wired pods.
  2. When you are finished programming using the WPP, disconnect the sound processor, then remove and recharge the rechargeable battery. Cochlear does not recommend use of the recipient’s rechargeable battery, as it may be insufficiently charged, or become depleted during the programming session.
  3. Please visit myCochlear™ Clinic, Resources section, Software Support for the Wireless Programming Pod User Guides, as well as a plethora of useful Software Support Documents.

About our guest author:

Dr. Clarke is a Professional Education Manager for Cochlear Americas.  She joined Cochlear in 1998 and has been in various Clinical or Learning roles throughout her career at Cochlear.

She has been an audiologist since 1992, working with cochlear implants since 1993 and Baha since Cochlear’s acquisition of Entific in 2005. Prior to joining Cochlear, Janet worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Janet has her AuD from the University of Florida, and did her undergraduate & graduate degrees at Purdue University.

 

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Cochlear Guest Author

In an effort to keep our content fresh and reflective of a diverse industry, Cochlear Americas features a mix of employees and professional partners to contribute to Cochlear ProNews as Guest Authors.

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By Kyle Longwell, Product Manager – Software and Clinical Care

Cochlear is excited to announce the availability of Custom Sound® Suite 5.2 which will allow for expanded features in the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 sound processor.

Custom Sound 5.2 requires a database change and may require assistance from your IT department. So, in order to assist you and IT, we are offering software support sessions which are available through your Cochlear representative.

If you are ready to get started, the download link for Custom Sound 5.2 software can be found in the installation instructions located in the “Software Support” resource section of myCochlear Clinic.

It will be important to upgrade your fitting software in order to update the firmware on Nucleus 7 sound processors enabling access to Android direct streaming*.

What’s New in Custom Sound 5.2?


• Direct Android streaming
First for iPhone®. First for Android. Cochlear implant recipients with the Nucleus 7 sound processor and a compatible Android device* will be able stream audio directly to their Nucleus 7 processor without the need for the Cochlear Phone Clip.

A firmware update to the Nucleus 7 sound processor is required. The firmware update is delivered by connecting the sound processor to Custom Sound 5.2. Additionally, Nucleus 7 users will also need to update their Nucleus Smart App and make sure their compatible Android device has the Android 10.0 (Q) operating system.


• Nucleus Profile™ Plus implant compatibility
The new Nucleus Profile Plus implant offers patients access to 3.0 and 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scans without the need for a head wrap or internal magnet removal.¹ Note that if you had previously entered the Nucleus Profile Plus implant Key into Custom Sound 5.1, you will not be required to enter the Key again, it will be accessible after upgrading to Custom Sound 5.2.

therwise, in order to program patients you will need to input the Authorization Key enabling access to this new implant in Custom Sound 5.2. To obtain the Key please reach out to your local Cochlear Americas representative or access instructions in the “Software Support” resource section of myCochlear Clinic.

Upon connecting the sound processor, a message will appear to remind you to use the correct magnet for the Nucleus Profile Plus implant.


• Other New Features
–Auto Pulse Width feature provides options for clinicians to automatically widen the pulse width on all channels and bring them back into compliance. This feature applies to all Nucleus 24, Freedom® and Profile series implants except for the Auditory Brainstem Implants (ABI124M and ABI541).

-The new software Auto-Update feature introduces a simplified way to roll out certain Custom Sound updates via the internet (i.e. when service release updates are needed to address minor bug fixes).

Download the new Custom Sound 5.2 software to enable your patients access to expanded connectivity offerings!


References:

  1. 1. MRI Guidelines D774756.

*The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with Apple and Android devices, for compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Apple, the Apple logo, FaceTime, Made for iPad logo, Made for iPhone logo, Made for iPod logo, iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc.
The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For complete smartphone compatibility information, please visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

SmartNav app

A history of meaningful innovation

February 7, 2022

By Zach Pollack, Product Manager, Cochlear Implants

Why does innovation matter to Cochlear? Why is it important to continue advancing our technology?

Innovation matters to Cochlear because we are focused on delivering key technology improvements to our recipients. These innovations bring performance that matters, a true connection to life and a lifelong commitment to all of our recipients. The most advanced and reliable devices on the market are a result of 40 years of innovations.

When asked about Cochlear’s innovations over the course of his career, Dr. Britt Thedinger from the Ear Specialists of Omaha says,

“I have seen Cochlear’s innovations over the past 30 years truly changing people’s lives for the better.  The dependability, sound quality and customer service have had a dramatic difference in each patient’s life.”

While our history of innovation is deeply rooted in the implant, processor and electrode-side of the business, we have also been innovating our software and services along the way. These innovations are interconnected, and recipients experience these innovations at different times throughout their journey with a Cochlear device. This is why it’s so important that the first ever CI22M Implant recipients have access to the most advanced technology in the industry with the Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor.

So, with the most reliable implants on the market and advanced features within our sound processors, what are we setting our sights on next? Through investing in new technologies to help transform the way people connect with hearing care, we hope to make care more patient-centered, accessible and sustainable. We call this Connected Care. Our Connected Care technologies enable patient data to securely connect from the surgical suite to the clinic and into the patient’s everyday life. Some recent innovations within Connected Care including technologies supporting the delivery of Surgical Care and Remote Care, have already started to transform how patients and professionals connect with each other.

Remote Care– Remote Check and Remote Assist

We’ve brought to market first-of-its-kind solutions, like Remote Check, into the Connected Care landscape for CI recipients. Remote Check allows professionals and patients to assess performance without the need for an in-person appointment, helping ensure recipients continue to hear and stay connected. This is facilitated through the Nucleus Smart App and can be completed from the comfort of the recipient’s home. Their audiologist can then view the results and follow-up as necessary. Whether a young child accidentally fell on the playground and the parent would like to confirm the device is functioning properly, or a patient who has had their device for 20+ years and would like to minimize exposure to healthcare environments for an annual appointment, Remote Check allows both of these recipients to receive care when and where they want or need it.

In addition to Remote Check, we are proud to announce FDA approval and clearance in the last month for Cochlear™ Remote Assist in the Nucleus® and Baha® Systems. Remote Assist is more like a conventional telehealth visit, where the audiologist and patient can engage through a live video call, and the clinician can make live adjustments or changes to the patient’s processor. This tool is facilitated through the use of the recipient’s cell phone and the Nucleus and Baha Smart Apps, bypassing the need for any wired connections.

Surgical Care– Nucleus SmartNav

Another core aspect of Connected Care is integrating the O.R. into a connected treatment pathway. SmartNav offers key insights during surgery through intraoperative testing that can increase confidence in electrode placement and device performance prior to leaving the O.R. and is a great tool for those centers that don’t have access to intraoperative imaging. Data from SmartNav can then be exported into Custom Sound® Pro to give the Audiologist baseline data to better prepare for an initial activation. The data to support in theater decision making helps surgeons ensure patients have the best possible opportunity to maximize their outcomes.

At Cochlear, we are committed to pushing the envelope with new technology and have been committed to that goal for over 40 years. We’re proud that our recipients have access to the latest technology and features that allow them to connect to the world around them and are excited about what is to come.

To learn more about Connected Care, read our latest Service Report!

SmartNav offers a variety of measurements. These insights are one source of information and do not guarantee clinical outcomes.

Remote Check is intended for ages 6 and older. The Remote Check feature is only visible and accessible if the feature is enabled by a clinician. Clinicians should consider the suitability of the feature before enabling Remote Check. Remote Check does not replace clinical care and does not involve remote programming of the sound processor. Remote Check is not compatible with Baha 6 Max Sound Processors.

Remote Assist for Baha is intended for a follow-up adjustment or setup of a replacement or upgrade sound processor for suitable qualified patients based on clinical judgment. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

Remote Check and Remote Assist for CI are intended for ages 6 and older. The Remote Check and Remote Assist feature are only visible and accessible if the features are enabled by a clinician. Clinicians should consider the suitability of the features before enabling. Remote Check is not compatible with Baha 6 Max Sound Processors. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

The new Baha Smart App is compatible with the Baha 6 Max Sound Processor. Baha 5 Sound Processors are compatible with the Baha 5 Smart App. The Baha Smart App and Baha 5 Smart App are available on App Store and Google Play. For compatibility information, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility.

The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility

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