Unlike conventional implants, the device sits beneath the skin, allowing users to hear continuously, including while sleeping or swimming. The innovation could improve everyday life by eliminating external equipment and making hearing technology more discreet.

The TICI UNICO implant was developed over 15 years and contains an internal microphone that converts sound into electrical signals, stimulating the auditory nerve. Around 40 patients worldwide have received the technology, including five during clinical trials at Vienna University Hospital.

On 29 September, two patients in Vienna and St. Pölten became the first in Austria to receive the implant outside clinical trials. The rechargeable device provides hearing performance comparable to conventional cochlear implants, although larger studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes.

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