MED-EL launches totally invisible cochlear implant
MED-EL has launched the TICI UNICO, described as the world's first commercially available totally invisible cochlear implant, with all components implanted beneath the skin.
Innsbruck, Austria – September 29, 2026 – MED-EL, a company specializing in hearing implant technology, has announced the launch of the TICI UNICO cochlear implant. The company states it is the first commercially available device where all components are implanted beneath the skin.
The TICI UNICO is designed for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss. It aims to provide continuous hearing 24 hours a day without external audio processors. The device has received CE Mark approval and will be introduced in European markets.
MED-EL reports that the hearing performance of the TICI UNICO is comparable to established cochlear implant solutions. The completely internal design allows users to hear while sleeping, exercising, or showering, and eliminates concerns about external equipment loss or damage.
Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair, CEO of MED-EL, described the launch as a significant development for hearing implant history. The product's design incorporates a new microphone technology developed to capture sound through the skin, a long-standing challenge in creating a fully invisible implant.