Originally Published EMDM January/February 2002
INDUSTRY NEWS
Low-Power Hearing-Aid Microchip Is Music to Users' Ears |
| This behind-the-ear hearing aid uses a microchip to process sounds at low power levels. |
A low-power, mixed-signal microchip has enabled the development of the world's first behind-the-ear speech processor for people with severe hearing impairments. Designed by Zarlink Semiconductor (San Diego, CA, USA) and Cochlear Ltd. (Sydney), the Babel 24 chip is small enough to allow all external components for the Esprit 3G hearing aid to be condensed into a compact box that is less conspicuous than previous devices. "With other hearing aids, the speech processor is so large that it has to be worn in a pocket or on a belt with a cable running up to the ear," says Zarlink director of medical product marketing François Pelletier.
In addition to its small size, the high-performance analogue-digital chip also processes sounds at low power levels to extend battery life. "The Babel 24 chip draws less than 2 mA current at 3.7 V. That's about one-tenth the power requirement of other products on the market," says Pelletier. Designed with complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology, the chip remains powerful enough to process signals from the aid's internal telecoil and plug-in FM receiver in addition to performing standard functions.
According to manufacturers, this low-power technology shows promise for a range of products other than hearing aids. "Currently, we're working to develop these chips for pacemakers and other portable medical devices," says Pelletier.
Zachary Turke
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
