An active implant means the working part, a vibrating transducer, is surgically placed under the skin, attached to the skull. A sound processor is worn on the outside of the head, behind the ear, held in place by a magnet.

The internal implant consists of a coil and a magnet, an electronic package and a small vibrator. These are implanted under the skin. Externally, a sound processor is placed on the skin using a magnet to hold it in place. The processor has microphones to pick up the sound, and a replaceable battery.

The following active devices are currently available:

MED-EL Bonebridge

The Bonebridge is suitable for patients with a mild hearing loss and can be used for patients from 5 years of age. The external processor is called a Samba 2 (formerly Samba).

The Samba 2 cannot stream directly to iPhone or android, but MED-EL offer an accessory which is worn around the neck called a Samba 2 Go which then functions to stream media/calls from the mobile phone to the processor.

Find out more here:

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Oticon Medical have recently released the Sentio Ti Implant. The external sound processor is called a Sentio 1 Mini.

The Sentio 1 Mini can stream directly to iPhones, and requires a small ConnectClip accessory to stream to android.

Cochlear have an active implant known as the Osia Implant. The external sound processor is called Osia 2.

Image courtesy of Cochlear showing the Osia Implant and Osia 2

The Osia can stream directly to iPhones, and android. Cochlear also offer a small accessory (Mini Mic or TV Streamer) to be used with the Osia processor.