Cochlear shares rise on new implant

http://business.smh.com.au/business/cochlear-rises-on-new-implant-20090603-bv0r.html


Here is an article about Cochlear Corp. and a new implant and processor coming out in a few weeks!


The implant itself will be smaller and the processor (outside of the head) is to have lots of new features and a sleeker design. Looking forward to learning all about it!


I do want to have Mikaela implanted in her left ear in a few years. Before she starts Kindergarten, maybe. It's just never an easy decision to have your child go under the knife for ANY reason, unless it's life saving. As nerve wracking as that is as well, it is much easier to justify! :0)

Never know when the link will be taken down so here is the article below:

Cochlear rises on new implant
Eli GreenblatJune 3, 2009 - 11:57AM
Shares in bionic-ear implant company Cochlear rose nearly 2 per cent this morning on growing speculation the company will soon win US Food and Drug Administration approval for its new implant and processor.

The win from the US regulator would allow a launch at a forthcoming key US conference in mid-June in Seattle. Analysts expect a launch in the European Union towards the end of this year.
UBS analyst Andrew Goodsall said expectation of the US clinics is that the "sleek design and features'' of Cochlear's new product will appeal to the market and is likely to result in market share gains.

Cochlear shares were up 94 cents, or 1.7 per cent, at $55.54 in late morning trade.
Mr Goodsall said he believed that Cochlear would seek FDA approval via the "510K like" path, which required the company to substantiate equivalence with an existing approved product.
"In this case the new implant is expected to essentially be a thinner/smaller version of the N24 implant. "We understand that Cochlear has submitted appropriate data and a decision is pending,'' he said. "Previous channel checks found the industry universally impressed with Cochlear's new feature-packed product suite. "New implant, being materially thinner, it is likely to be implanted without/less skull `excavation', which will appeal to surgeons. New processor, regarded as revolutionary in small design, high-tech features and software flexibility - all of which should strongly appeal to patients and clinicians.''

The processor that sits inside the bionic ear implant is also expected to be much sought after by customers as it has a range of new features such as requiring fewer batteries, a metal housing and fittings that will improve durability and a remote control that can operate two processors (bilaterals) and also serves as a link to external devices such as an iPods.

Cochlear recently reported a 22 per cent rise in profit to $69.94 million for the first half, and issued earnings guidance for 2009 profit to rise between 15 and 20 per cent. Unit sales contribute about 66 per cent of Cochlear's total earnings.