Hearing Implants and Biomaterials: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023

Published: Aug, 2017 | Pages: 162 | Publisher: WinterGreen Research
Industry: Medical Devices | Report Format: Electronic (PDF)

Hearing Implants and Biomaterial markets are poised to achieve significant growth with increasing use of next generation metals, polymers, and ceramics set to enhance the value of hearing surgery and improve surgical outcomes. By improving hearing of people with profound hearing deficits. Improvements is hearing for severely deaf infants, children and adults particularly old people are dramatic.

Small implant, great results is the norm. The best results were found among children who received the cochlear implant at 0-3 years of age. They achieved 90 to 95 percent hearing and language improvement. 80-90 percent of these children develop a hearing and speech equal to those of children with normal hearing.

Biomaterials inside CI are biological materials that are implanted into the ear area to repair hearing. All CI manufacturers use platinum contacts in electrode production. Iridium oxide coatings have been investigated, which show beneficial effects of impedance.

Biomaterials for hearing implants depend on components, structural polymers, and electrodes. Biomaterials have transformed medical treatment of hearing loss. The ear functioning, hearing loss is able to be addressed with functioning repaired via a device implant that leverages biomaterials.

The cochlear implant has become widely recognized as an established treatment for profound hearing loss. This bodes well for market growth, as there is minimal, less than one percent market penetration now. New materials and greater surgeon experience are expected to reduce the cost of the implant, both the device and the procedure.

Economies of scale always decrease costs and increase market size. The trend likely to continue is for Cochlear implants as medical devices to continue to be used more often. Implants bypass damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve. They are surgically implanted to improve hearing in people with severe or profound hearing losses. They can create a range of sound, but do not replace normal hearing.

Cochlear implants are not indicated for all hard of hearing or deaf people. They are not recommended in people who function well with hearing aids.

The implant works by picking up incoming sounds. Incoming sounds are converted to electrical currents and directed to a number of contact points on the internal wire. This operation creates an electrical field which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, thus bypassing the defective inner ear. Cochlear implants convert sound waves to electrical impulses and transmit them to the inner ear, providing people with the ability to hear sounds and potentially better understand speech without reading lips.

According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the team that prepared the study, “Cochlear implants extend the medical device markets by enabling a bypass of damaged structures in the inner ear. They directly stimulate the auditory nerve. They are surgically implanted to improve hearing in people with severe or profound hearing losses. They can create a range of sound, but do not replace normal hearing.”

The worldwide market for Hearing Implants and associated biomaterials is $1.8 billion in 2017, anticipated to reach $5.8 billion by 2023. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of hearing implants in different categories, illustrating the diversity of uses for devices in auditory surgery by age group. A complete procedure analysis is done, looking at numbers of procedures and doing penetration analysis.

Companies Profiled

Market Leaders

• Cochlear
• Med-EL
• Sonova Group / Advanced Bionics

Market Participants

• Nurotron
• Biotechnology
• William Demant / Oticon Medical / Neurelec

Key Topics

• Biomaterials for Hearing Implants
• Alpha Titanium Alloys
• Near Alpha Titanium Alloys
• Alpha-Beta Titanium Alloys
• Annealing - Beta Titanium Alloys
• Convert sound waves
• Stimulates the auditory nerve
• Electrical field
• Sounds are converted to electrical currents
• Profound hearing losses
• Improve hearing in people
• Stimulate the auditory nerve
• Inner ear
• Bypass damaged structures
• Profound hearing loss

 Table of Contents

Hearing Implants Biomaterials Market Driving Forces 12
Surgical Cochlear Implantation Is By And Large Safe 13
Hearing Implant Market Shares 15
Hearing Implant Biomaterials Market Forecasts 18

1. Biomaterials for Hearing Implants: Market Description and Market Dynamics 21
1.1 Use Of Cochlear Implants 21
1.2 Ear Description 25
1.2.1 Cochlear Implant (CI) System 26
1.2.2 Biomaterial As A Substance 27
1.3 Bilateral CI Fitting 30
1.4 Cochlear Implants Biomaterials 30
1.4.1 Silicone 31
1.4.2 Platinum 33
1.4.3 Titanium 33
1.4.4 Ceramics 35
1.5 Biomaterials in Hearing Implant 36

2. Hearing Implants and Biomaterials Market Shares and Forecasts 41
2.1 Hearing Implants and Biomaterials Market Driving Forces 41
2.1.1 Surgical Cochlear Implantation Is By And Large Safe 42
2.2 Hearing Implant Market Shares 44
2.2.1 Cochlear 48
2.2.2 Advanced Bionics AG 49
2.2.3 Med-EL EAS 50
2.3 Biomaterials Market Forecasts 50
2.3.1 Biomaterial Hearing Implant Segments, Children, Adults Age 19 to 50, Adults 51 to 64, Adults Over 65, Market Forecasts 56
2.3.2 Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Installed Base Forecasts 59
2.4 Global Biomaterials Market 60
2.4.1 Optimizing the Biocompatibility Properties Of The Hearing Implant 64
2.4.2 Biofilms 66
2.4.3 Teflon for Cochlear Implants 67
2.4.4 Electrically Conducting Polymers 67
2.4.5 Polyimides 68
2.4.6 Silicon Electrodes 68
2.4.7 Physical Functionalization Of Surfaces 69
2.4.8 Drug Delivery In The Inner Ear (Neurotrophic Effects) 70
2.4.9 BioMaterial Nanoparticles 70
2.4.10 Nanoparticles And Cochlear Implants 71
2.4.11 Biomaterials Market Overview 71
2.5 Cochlear (CI) Implant Technical Specifications 77
2.5.1 Advanced Bionics Technical Specifications 77
2.5.2 Cochlear Technical Specifications 78
2.6 Biomaterials Pricing 79
2.7 Biomaterials Regional Segment Analysis 79
2.7.1 United States 81
2.7.2 Europe 83
2.7.3 Rapid Development of Middle Class in South America 84

3. Biomaterial Hearing Implants Product Description 91
3.1 Cochlear 91
3.1.1 Cochlear Kanso Sound Processor 95
3.1.2 Cochlear Nucleus 6 Sound Processor 96
3.1.3 Cochlear Hearing Implant Specifications 97
3.1.4 Cochlear Implant Technical Specifications 101
3.2 Med-El GmbH’s Flex EAS 102
3.2.1 Med-EL EAS Hearing Implant System for Partial Mild To Moderate Deafness 102
3.2.2 Hearing Implant Advantages Of Bilateral Implantation 103
3.2.3 MedEL Implant Concerto 106
3.2.4 MedEL Implant Concerto Structure Preservation 107
3.2.1 MedEL Implant Concerto Complete Cochlear Coverage CCC 108
3.2.2 Med-EL Electrode Arrays 109
3.2.3 Med-EL FLEX Tip Technology 112
3.2.4 Med-EL Classic Series 114
3.2.5 Med-EL FLEX Series 114
3.2.6 FDA Approves the MED-EL Synchrony EAS Hearing Implant System 115
3.2.7 Med-EL Addresses Hearing Loss in the US 117
3.2.8 MED-EL Technical Specifications 118
3.3 Sonova / Advanced Bionics AG 119
3.3.1 Advanced Bionics Implant Specifications 120

4. Biomaterials Research and Technology 121
4.1 Medical Device Standards and Implant Standards - ASTM International 121
4.2 Metalic Implants 122
4.2.1 Unalloyed Titanium 123
4.2.2 Titanium Alloy 123
4.3 Hearing Implant Prosthesis Biomaterials 125

5. Ear Implant Biomaterials Company Profiles 127
5.1 Cochlear 127
5.1.1 Cochlear Revenue 129
5.2 Med-EL Maestro 143
5.2.1 Med-EL Hearing Implant Concerto 145
5.2.2 Med-EL Revenue 146
5.2.3 Med-EL Implantable Solutions 146
5.3 Nurotron Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China) 147
5.3.1 Nurotron Biomaterials Positioning 149
5.3.2 Nurotron Biotechnology Thin, Ergonomic, Titanium Implant Package 149
5.3.3 Nurotron Biotechnology Expands Facilities, Staff Ten-Fold 151
5.3.4 Nurotron Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (http://en.nurotron.com) 151
5.4 Sonova / Advanced Bionics AG 152
5.4.1 Sonova Group Revenue / Advanced Bionics 153
5.4.2 Sonova / Advanced Bionics 155
5.5 William Demant / Oticon Medical / Neurelec 156
WinterGreen Research, 158 
WinterGreen Research Methodology 159

List of Figures

Figure 1. Hearing Implant Market Leaders Worldwide 15
Figure 2. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market, Shares, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016 16
Figure 3. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Shares, Dollars, Worldwide, 201617
Figure 4. Hearing Implants Market Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2017-2023 19
Figure 5. Cochlear Implant 22
Figure 6. Implantable Portion Of The Cochlear Implant: 23
Figure 7. Components of the Ear 26
Figure 8. Biomaterials Clinical Disciplines Underpin The Design 28
Figure 9. Biomaterials Sciences 28
Figure 10. Biomaterials Uses in Clinical Diagnosis And Therapy 29
Figure 11. Biomaterials in Hearing Implant 36
Figure 12. Biomaterials for Receiver 37
Figure 13. Electrode Array Biomaterials 38
Figure 14. Electrode Contacts Biomaterials Requirement 39
Figure 15. Cocolear Implant CI Biocompatibilty Issues 40
Figure 16. Hearing Implant Market Leaders Worldwide 44
Figure 17. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Shares, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016 45
Figure 18. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Shares, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016 46
Figure 19. Hearing Loss Implant Reliability of Leading Three Vendors 47
Figure 20. Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant 49
Figure 21. Hearing Implants Market Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2017-2023 51
Figure 22. Biomaterials Hearing Implant Market Forecasts, Units, Worldwide, 2017-2023 52
Figure 23. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Forecasts, Dollars and Units, Worldwide, 2017-2023 53
Figure 24. Hearing Loss Market Metrics 54
Figure 25. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Segments, Children, Adults Age 19 to 50, Adults 51 to 64, Adults Over 65, Market Forecasts Dollars, Worldwide, 2017-2023 56
Figure 26. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Segments, Children, Adults Age 19 to 50, Adults 51 to 64, Adults Over 65, Market Forecasts, Percent, Worldwide, 2017-2023 57
Figure 27. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Installed Base Forecasts, Units, Worldwide, 2017-2023 59
Figure 28. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Market Penetration Forecasts, Units, Worldwide, 2017-2023 60
Figure 29. Application Segments Of Biomaterials 61
Figure 30. Surface Structuring Physical Functionalization Aspects 65
Figure 31. Major Players In The Global Biomaterials Market 72
Figure 32. Hyaluronic Acid-based Biomaterials Manufacturers 73
Figure 33. Biomaterials Market, by Type of Material 74
Figure 34. Biomaterials Market, by Application 76
Figure 35. Cochlear Technical Specifications 78
Figure 36. Biomaterial Hearing Implant Regional Market Segments, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016 80
Figure 37. Hearing Implant and Biomaterials Regional Market Segments, Dollars, 2016 81
Figure 38. United States Hearing Implant Market Growth Drivers 82
Figure 39. United States Hearing Implant Nanotechnology Growth Drivers 83
Figure 40. Rapid Development of Middle Class in South America 85
Figure 41. SIze of the Middle Class in Latin America 86
Figure 42. Severe to Profound Hearing Loss in Latin America 87
Figure 43. CI Penetration in Latin America 88
Figure 44. Cochlear Staff in Latin America 89
Figure 45. Cochlear Expanding Reimbursement in Latin America 90
Figure 46. Cochlear Nucleus System 92
Figure 47. Cochlear Implant Functions 93
Figure 48. Cochlear Implant Hearing Improvement in Noisy Environments 94
Figure 49. Cochlear Kanso™ Sound Processor 95
Figure 50. Cochlear Nucleus® 6 Sound Processor 96
Figure 51. Cochlear Hearing Implant Functions 97
Figure 52. Cochlear Advantages Of Perimodiolar Electrodes 97
Figure 53. Cochlear Slim Modular Electrode 98
Figure 54. Cochlear Slim Modiolar Electrode Hearing Outcomes For Patients 99
Figure 55. Cochlear Electrode Placement 100
Figure 56. Cochlear Implant Technical Specifications 101
Figure 57. Med-EL Hearing Implant 103
Figure 58. MedEL MAESTRO Cochlear Implant System 105
Figure 59. MedEL MAESTRO consists of both an internal
cochlear implant and an externally worn audio processor. 105
Figure 60. MedEL Implant Concerto 106
Figure 61. Med-EL Biomaterial Electrodes Features 108
Figure 62. Med-EL ASM Key Features 110
Figure 63. Med-EL FLEX Tip Technology Features 113
Figure 64. Med-EL Hearing Implant Electrode Array Featuring FLEX-Tip
Technology 114
Figure 65. Med-EL Synchrony EAS Hearing Implant 115
Figure 66. MED-EL Technical Specifications Implant 118
Figure 67. Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant 119
Figure 68. Advanced Bionics Technical Specifications 120
Figure 69. Cochlear Electrode Type Comparison 122
Figure 70. Cochlear Slim Straight Electrode 124
Figure 71. Cochlear Regional Presence in Americas and Europe 127
Figure 72. Cochlear Nucleus Implant Installed Base 128
Figure 73. Cochlear Regional Presence in Asia Pacific 129
Figure 74. Cochlear Leadership Position in Implantable Hearing Devices 130
Figure 75. Hearing Loss Market Opportunity Metrics 131
Figure 76. Cochlear Biomaterials Core Technology Positioning 132
Figure 77. Cochlear Positioning for Developing Growth Markets 133
Figure 78. Cochlear Growth of Services Revenue 135
Figure 79. Cochlear FY 2017 Financial Outlook 136
Figure 80. Cochlear Implant Market Awareness Opportunity 137
Figure 81. Cochlear Implant Services Revenue Components 138
Figure 82. Cochlear Slim Modiolar Electrode Array Image 139
Figure 83. Cochlear Nucleus Profile with Slim Modiolar Electrode Array – C1532 140
Figure 84. Cochlear Electrode Type Comparison 141
Figure 85. Cochlear Hearing Loss Implant Criteria for Electrode Choice 142
Figure 86. Med-EL Hearing Implant CONCERTO 145
Figure 87. Nurotron Biotechnology Venus Cochlear Implant System 148
Figure 88. Nurotron Biomaterials Positioning 149