PRODUCTS |
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Development Status of New Platinum BTE And Platinum Sound Processor |
| During 1999,significant
hardware development efforts were focused on integrating and
testing the electronic circuitry for the next generation CLARION
sound processors-the Platinum BTE and the platinum Sound Processor
(PSP). The new processors represent a cosmetic improvement over
the current S-SERIES, while also providing a large increase
in processing capability. both processors are capable of implementing
all existing CLARION processing strategies and can support other
advanced strategies currently under development. The Platinum
BTE and Platinum Sound Processor are also electronically compatible
with all existing versions of CLARION implants. |
| The processing circuit
design used in the Platinum BTE and Platinum Sound Processor
is nearly identical, and both new processors take full advantage
of the SCLIN 2000 Software Platform. The BTE and PSP feature
an 80 db input dynamic Gain Control (AGC) circuit that allows
compression of a wider input loudness range with less distortion. |
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| The Platinum
Sound Processor features enhanced processing capability to support
research and evaluation or new audio input sound shaping and
speech processing strategies. It is also expected to be the
primary processor used by small children, thus it incorporates
a built-in microphone tester and audible alarm. |
| The development
of an ear-level processor capable of implementing simultaneous
processing strategies required significant innovation in battery
and chip design. proprietary, custom battery technology was
developed for the platinum BTE and tested in 1999. |
| Also in
1999,Advanced Bionics collaborated with Texas Instruments (TI)
to integrate its new super-low power, high-speed digital signal
processor into the new platinum series hardware. An ultra-compact
version, which is the densest chip scale packaging ever used
in a commercial electronic device, was produced specifically
for the CLARION Platinum BTE. The Platinum BTE's custom battery
and chip technology enable the processor to perform 60 million
computational instructions per second. |
| Pending
the final stage of quality testing and FDA approval, the commercial
release of the Platinum Sound Processor is expected in April
2000.Once fully tested on at least 250 CLARION users, the electronic
circuitry will be integrated in the Platinum BTE hosing. The
Platinum BTE processor will be tested and evaluated into Summer
2000.Upon regulatory approval, Large volume production will
begin, and the Platinum BTE will be commercially released. |
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Manufacturer |
| Advanced
Bionics Corporation, USA |
| Http://www.medi-abc.com.cn |
