Experts to discuss highly sophisticated hearing aids
5 December 2000 - 5 December 2000
On 5 December 2000 in Sulzbach, Germany, the second MEDICS (European Centre of competence for biomedical microdevices) workshop on micropackaging and interconnection technologies for innovative biomedical devices which will focus on hearing implants.
MEDICS was established in October 1997 in the framework of the Commission's EUROPRACTICE initiative, which aims to improve the competitiveness of European industry through the adoption of advanced electronics technologies. MEDICS is hosted by the Fraunhofer Institute for biomedical engineering (IBMT) in Germany and the Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM) in Spain.
Leading hearing aid manufacturers, doctors and technology providers will meet in Sulzbach to discuss how hearing aids can be made smaller, more effective and cheaper. The workshop intends to introduce trends in biomedical device development and to present advanced micropackaging and interconnection technologies. In addition to oral presentations, participants will have the opportunity to present their institution, products and services in an exhibition.
Cochlear and middle ear implants are highly sophisticated biomedical devices, which help the deaf and hard of hearing to communicate with their environment. The highly sensitive microelectronic neural prostheses work by reproducing, in part, the function of the 25,000 hair cells along the cochlea of the inner ear. On account of the complex requirements on the implantable devices: biocompatibility, sterilisation, surgery, safety, miniaturisation, the hearing aids are very expensive, typically costing around 20,000 euro each.
For more information, please contact: Mrs K Knobe, MEDICS Secretary
Tel: +49-6897-907140 (8am - 12pm)
Fax: +49-6897-907149
E-mail: medics@medics-network.com
MEDICS was established in October 1997 in the framework of the Commission's EUROPRACTICE initiative, which aims to improve the competitiveness of European industry through the adoption of advanced electronics technologies. MEDICS is hosted by the Fraunhofer Institute for biomedical engineering (IBMT) in Germany and the Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM) in Spain.
Leading hearing aid manufacturers, doctors and technology providers will meet in Sulzbach to discuss how hearing aids can be made smaller, more effective and cheaper. The workshop intends to introduce trends in biomedical device development and to present advanced micropackaging and interconnection technologies. In addition to oral presentations, participants will have the opportunity to present their institution, products and services in an exhibition.
Cochlear and middle ear implants are highly sophisticated biomedical devices, which help the deaf and hard of hearing to communicate with their environment. The highly sensitive microelectronic neural prostheses work by reproducing, in part, the function of the 25,000 hair cells along the cochlea of the inner ear. On account of the complex requirements on the implantable devices: biocompatibility, sterilisation, surgery, safety, miniaturisation, the hearing aids are very expensive, typically costing around 20,000 euro each.
For more information, please contact: Mrs K Knobe, MEDICS Secretary
Tel: +49-6897-907140 (8am - 12pm)
Fax: +49-6897-907149
E-mail: medics@medics-network.com