First Indigenous Cochlear Implant (Bionic Ear) - Development Milestones
Design formulation at NSTL with Dr. V. Bhujanga Rao as Chief Designer
November 2005
SBMT 1st review of Dr. V K Aatre, Former Secretory & Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, DRDO
February 2006
Meeting Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with Dr. J. M. Hans in Rashtrapati Bhawan
July 2006
Witnessing CI Implantation in RML Hospital, Delhi by Dr. J. M. Hans
August 2006
Review of progress by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at NSTL along with doctors
February 2006
Evoking BAEP’s (Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potentials) in Guinea Pig at DIPAS by Dr. J. M. Hans with 2 electrode CI, developed at NSTL
January 2007 & August 2007
Cadaver Trials at AFMC, Pune, Under the supervision of Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, ENT Specialist
September 2013, April 2014 & August 2015
Design, integration, environmental testing of multi-channel micro electrode, ASIC, signal processing, transcutaneous link, software, multi-channel micro feed through, implant packaging etc. The ASIC was developed in a semiconductor fabrication facility (Fab) in Israel.
August 2014
Biocompatibility studies at Bioneeds, Bangalore
March 2014
CDSCO Approvals for Human Clinical Trials
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh was the Chairman of clinical trials team
March 2014
Review for giving clearance for human trials by Committee chaired by Dr. P. S. Goel, Former Secretory, MOES and members
August 2018
Implanted on male person, 39 years at CMC, Vellore by Dr. Mary John on 21 January, 2020
The CI worked well for 4yrs 5months as proof of concept
This is an example of an electronic device that has successfully replaced a human sensory organ, the ear for the first time in India.
Organizations involved:
NSTL, DIPAS, DEBEL, RCI, DMRL, Andhra University, Apollo, AFMC, SPL and several private industries.
Indian bionic ear
Cochlear implant could drive down costs
The bionic ear is an artificial hearing device, designed to produce hearing sensations by electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear
