Neuro 2 2014-2017

Designers: Christian Lockenwitz, Lockenwitz, Copenhagen, Denmark
Manufacturer: Oticon Medical, Smoerum, Denmark

The neuro 2 is part of a cochlear implant (CI) solution. A CI solution is developed for people with severe to profound perceptive hearing loss. It works by transforming sounds into electrical stimulation for the auditory nerve. This means it can bypass the cochlea and become a substitute for a non-functioning cochlea. The Neuro 2 is intended for children and adults of all ages, with a limited benefit from appropriate fitted hearing aids, having a Neuro Zti cochlear implant operated into the head.

Without the CI device, the user is challenged in participating in basic human interaction due to the lack of hearing. Thus, the user wears the CI solution all day, every day, making it crucial that the user feels comfortable wearing the aid, that they like the looks and design, as well as getting the optimal sound processing and functionality.

Oticon Medical wanted to create a device with the user in focus. To take into account the needs of user in all aspects – not only the ones based on functionality. Oticon Medical wanted to create a CI solution, which would fit the users in terms of aesthetics, comfort and usability.

The Neuro 2 aims at fitting the need of the individual user and express quality rather than disability. It is designed to make the user proud to wear a cochlear implant. This is what makes the Neuro 2 revolutionizing, and takes the design beyond the standard of the current market.

The Neuro 2 will revolutionize and innovate the marked, as it will be the smallest and most elegant CI sound processor to this date. The thin, sleek design of the sound processor will ensure excellent ergonomic fit behind the ear, making it pleasant to wear all day every day. The size reduction makes the device discreet, and the smooth design makes the device pleasant to look at. The aesthetics reflects the quality and reliability of the device, and the intriguing look with a soft, organic shape invites the user to use and wear it.

To obtain the reduction in size all electronic components have been limited the very small space of the upper part of the device – the processor. This has been possible by aligning the connection of the battery and the antenna on the same axis – a design feature unique to the Neuro 2. The battery have been specially developed to fit the ergonomic shape of the Neuro 2, in order for it to be as powerful and small as possible while not wasting any space. Furthermore, the tamper lock for the battery have been placed around the antenna connection, integrating the tamper as a design feature without ruining the clean design of the device.

The antenna has been design in the same intriguing style as the sound processor. The antenna will be the flattest on the market which gives the antenna a close fit to the head, and gives the user better possibilities of hiding it under the hair if desired.

The cable connecting the antenna and the sound processor is normally quite visible as it protrudes through the hair when the CI is worn. For the Neuro 2, the visibility is minimal, as the cable of the Neuro 2 will be the thinnest on the market. The aesthetics of the cable have of course not compromised the quality of the cable, as it has been Kevlar reinforced, and the cable will be one of the strongest on the market.