Med-El has launched the TICI Unico, which it describes as the world’s first fully implanted cochlear implant. Unlike traditional systems that require an external sound processor worn behind the ear, the TICI Unico places every component—including the microphone, sound‑processing hardware, rechargeable lithium‑ion battery and transmitter coil—beneath the scalp. The company says this eliminates any visible hardware and fulfills a long‑standing goal of invisible hearing.
The implant weighs about 20 grams. A subcutaneous microphone roughly the size of a U.S. nickel sits about six millimetres under the skin and connects to a postage‑stamp‑size stimulator unit that houses the sound‑processor and rechargeable battery. A coil linked to the stimulator transmits data and power through the scalp, while a separate lead delivers signals to the electrode array in the cochlea, which is identical to the array used in Med‑El’s conventional implants. Recharging is done magnetically through the scalp with a car‑key‑sized GoPod that attaches to the coil; a full charge of one to 1.5 hours provides up to 40 hours of use.
This image illustrates the fully internal design of the Med-El TICI Unico cochlear implant, as described in the article, showing how all components are implanted under the scalp.
In a clinical trial involving 30 patients, the TICI Unico delivered hearing performance comparable to Med‑El’s standard implants, and users reported being able to hear while asleep, swimming and recharging. Participants highlighted the freedom of continuous, invisible hearing as the most meaningful benefit, noting they could forget their deafness in daily life and engage in activities without worrying about external hardware slipping or being lost. The device has received European regulatory approval, though it is not yet available in the United States, and the first four commercial implantations were performed on the morning of the product’s launch.