Introducing the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ System ​

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) today announced the launch of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ System, the world’s first and only smart cochlear implant system.

Key features:

  • Upgradeable firmware: Allows recipients to access future innovations through both the implant and sound processor.
  • Smallest sound processor: The Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor, with the new Power Compact rechargeable battery, is the smallest and lightest on the market, offering all-day battery life.
  • Internal memory: Stores unique hearing settings (MAPs) on the implant that can be transferred to any Nucleus Nexa Sound Processor improving patient convenience and reducing clinic visits.

The Nucleus Nexa System introduces upgradeable implant firmware, enabling recipients to access future innovations through both their implant and sound processor. This pathway enhances sound processor upgrades, delivering the best possible hearing experience.

The Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor, featuring the Power Compact rechargeable battery, is the smallest and lightest available, with all-day battery life.1,2 Dynamic Power Management adapts power usage to maximise battery life, resulting in the sound processor being 9% smaller and 12% lighter than its predecessor. 1-8,#,*

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Cochlear’s CEO and President, Dig Howitt said, “The Nucleus Nexa Implant is the outcome of a 20 year investment in R&D. It is the first cochlear implant to run its own firmware. Similar to smartphones, the implant firmware can be updated to enable new features and access to future innovations. Recipients will now have access to a better hearing experience with both implant and sound processor updates.

“The Nucleus Nexa System builds upon Cochlear's industry-leading portfolio of electrodes, which are designed to optimise the electrode-neural interface and protect cochlea health and opens the door to even greater hearing potential for patients into the future.”

Chief Technology Officer, Jan Janssen said, “The new Nexa implant features a state-of-the-art chipset with onboard diagnostics, which has the capability to reduce the burden on carers and recipients by enabling the system to self-monitor. As the first implant with internal memory, recipients’ unique settings can be stored on the implant and easily transferred to any Nucleus Nexa Sound Processor. The implant has been designed to further Cochlear’s record of outstanding implant reliability.”9

The system includes the Nucleus Nexa Implant, Nucleus Kanso® 3 Nexa Sound Processor and Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor, supported by Nucleus SmartNav, Nucleus Smart App, Custom Sound® Pro fitting software and wireless accessories. Legacy Nucleus Systems can upgrade to the new Kanso 3 Sound Processor. Both the Kanso 3 Nexa and Kanso 3 Sound Processors will deliver all the innovative features introduced with the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor, including SmartSound IQ 2 with SCAN2† and automated ForwardFocus ‡.

The Nucleus Nexa System seamlessly connects to an ecosystem offering personalised care, streaming options¥ and IP68 water resistance. 10,11,**,#

The Nucleus Nexa System will launch in Europe and Asia Pacific from mid-June 2025, with further markets to follow pending regulatory approvals. For further information, please visit https://www.cochlear.com/au/en/home/products-and-accessories/cochlear-nucleus-system.

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References 

1. Cochlear Limited. D1190805. Processor Size Comparison. 2023. 

2. Cochlear Limited. D2127964. Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Battery Estimations with CI1000 Implant. 2023. 

3. Cochlear Limited. D1864200 SCAN-2 Design Description. 2022, Apr. 

4. Mauger SJ, Warren C, Knight M, Goorevich M, Nel E. Clinical evaluation of the Nucleus 6 cochlear implant system: performance improvements with SmartSound iQ. International Journal Of Audiology. 2014, Aug; 53(8): 564-576. [Sponsored by Cochlear] 

5. Mauger S, Jones M, Nel E, Del Dot J. Clinical outcomes with the Kanso™ off-the-ear cochlear implant sound processor. International Journal of Audiology. 2017, Jan 9; 1-10. [Sponsored by Cochlear] 

6. Wolfe J, Neumann S, Marsh M, Schafer E, Lianos L, Gilden J, O'Neill L, Arkis P, Menapace C, Nel E, Jones M. Benefits of Adaptive Signal Processing in a Commercially Available Cochlear Implant Sound Processor. Otol Neurotol. 2015 Aug; 36(7):1181-90. [Sponsored by Cochlear] 

7. Cochlear Limited. D1913968 Nucleus 8 Whitepaper. 2024, Jan. 

8. Cochlear Limited. D1190805 Processor Size Comparison. 2024, May. 

9. Cochlear Limited. D2182827 V1 2024-03. Cochlear Nucleus Reliability Report (Simplified) Volume 22, December 2023. 

10. Cochlear Limited D1980144 CP1110 IEC60529 IP68 Certificate & Test Report 

11. Cochlear Limited. D2105671. CP1170/CP1175 IEC60529 Ingress Protection Test Report, D1980144 CP1110 IP 68 Certificate & Test Report.

# Battery life varies for every user, according to the age of the battery, the programs used each day, implant type, the thickness of skin covering the implant, and the size and type of battery used. Streaming from compatible devices, True Wireless Devices or FM may decrease sound processor battery life depending on how often and for how long streaming is engaged.  

* The Nucleus Kanso 3 Nexa Sound Processor is the world’s smallest and lightest rechargeable off-the-ear sound processor. 

^ Remote Care is not available in all countries. For information regarding the devices that are compatible with Cochlear’s Remote Care services, visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility 

† It is recommended that SNR-NR, WNR and SCAN be made available to any recipient, ages 6 and older, who is able to 1) complete objective speech perception testing in quiet and noise in order to demonstrate and document performance and 2) report a preference for different program settings. 

‡ ForwardFocus can only be enabled by a hearing implant specialist. It should only be activated for users 12 years and older who are able to reliably provide feedback on sound quality and understand how to use the feature when moving to different or changing environments. It may be possible to have decreased speech understanding when using ForwardFocus in a quiet environment. 

¥ As Bluetooth LE Audio compatible devices become available, a firmware update will be required for your patients to use certain features. Auracast™ broadcast audio capability is subject to third party adoption of the Auracast protocol. 

** The Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor is dust and water resistant to level IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with Aqua+ is dust and water resistant to level of IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529 when you use a Cochlear Power Extend Rechargeable Battery Module or Cochlear Compact Rechargeable Battery Module. The Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with Aqua+ can be continuously submerged under water to a depth of up to 3 meters for up to 2 hours. The Aqua+ accessory should be used when participating in prolonged water activities. Refer to the relevant user guide for more information. 

# The Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with compatible rechargeable battery module and the Kanso 2/3 Sound Processor are dust and water resistant to level of IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529. The Nucleus 8, Kanso 2 and Kanso 3 Sound Processors with Aqua+ are dust and water resistant to level of IP68 of the International Standard IEC60529 and can be continuously submerged under water to a depth of up to 3 meters (9 feet and 9 inches) for up to 2 hours. The Aqua+ accessory should be used when participating in prolonged water activities. Refer to the relevant User Guide for more information. 

Cochlear, 科利耳, コクレア, 코클리어, Hear now. And always, Nucleus, Nexa, Kanso, the elliptical logo, and marks bearing an ® or ™ symbol, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Cochlear group of companies (unless otherwise noted). 

  • HearingTracker Staff