"Auditory Valley" presents cochlear implant at the world exhibition

At the EXPO 2010 in Shanghai, Oldenburg is also presenting its high level of expertise in hearing research. In the "Youth Innovation Centre", which brings together 100 future innovations under one roof, the "Auditory Valley" research and development cluster is presenting a cochlear implant. This is a surgically insertable inner ear prosthesis that can largely replace the human sensory organ. The technical innovation was made possible by rapid developments in the high-tech sector and the pooling of excellent research achievements.

In the "Auditory Valley" research and development cluster, scientists, doctors and industry representatives work together on the medical and audiological optimisation of hearing systems in a globally unique network. In addition to the University of Oldenburg, HörTech gGmbH and the Hörzentrum Oldenburg, the members of the network include Hannover Medical School, the Hörzentrum Hannover, the University of Hannover, Jade University, the Fraunhofer Institute and numerous internationally active industrial companies.

"Auditory Valley will be presenting developments in which we as Oldenburg hearing researchers are involved at a joint stand. When the Federal States were looking for innovations that could be presented in Shanghai, the choice quickly fell on our hearing research," explained Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier, Scientific Director of HörTech gGmbH, the Department of Medical Physics at the University of Oldenburg and the new Fraunhofer Project Group Hearing, Speech and Audio Technology. The Hanover-Oldenburg axis forms the innovative centre of an important future industry. "In Auditory Valley, we are working on future solutions that will enable everyone to hear optimally in all situations. And we hope that our presence at the EXPO will not only have a positive effect on the market for innovative hearing aids, but will also give us the opportunity to further position ourselves as a leading global location."

The cochlear implant is placed under the skin behind the ear and another external processor is worn behind the ear. The sound is recorded directly at the ear, digitised, encoded as a signal, converted into electrical impulses under the skin and transmitted. An electrode stimulates the auditory nerve fibres in the ear - and sends the signals to the brain. There they are perceived as auditory impressions.