- Upgradeable Firmware: The Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ System features upgradeable firmware on the implant – an industry first, allowing recipients to access future innovation through firmware updates.
- Smallest Sound Processor: The new Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor, with the new Power Compact rechargeable battery, is the smallest sound processor with all day battery life# on the market. It is 9% smaller and 12% lighter than the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with the Power Extend battery.1,2
- Internal Memory: The implant includes internal memory to securely store patients’ unique hearing settings (MAPs), which can be transferred to any Nucleus Nexa Sound Processor, making it easier to stay connected to sound if a patient ever loses or damages their sound processor.
- New Portfolio: The new system includes the Nucleus Nexa Implant, the Nucleus Kanso® 3 Nexa Sound Processor and the Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor. In addition, those with Cochlear’s legacy Nucleus Systems will be able to upgrade to the new Kanso 3 Sound Processor.
[LONE TREE, CO, July 8, 2025]: Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, today announced the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Nexa™ System – the world’s first and only3* smart cochlear implant system.
Until now, recipients of cochlear implants have been limited to accessing new technology through the external part of their cochlear implant system – the sound processor – and have typically needed a new sound processor to fully experience the benefits of new technology. The new smart Nexa System has upgradeable implant firmware, which for the first time will enable Cochlear recipients to access future innovation through both their implant and sound processor. This new firmware update pathway will enhance recipients’ sound processor upgrades to deliver their best possible hearing experience, giving recipients more ways to access new innovations over time.
In addition, the new Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor with the Power Compact rechargeable battery is the smallest and lightest sound processor with all day battery life on the market.1,2# Through a new algorithm running on the implant called Dynamic Power Management, the Nucleus Nexa System intuitively responds to recipients changing needs across the day, all while adapting to maximize battery life. It is 9% smaller and 12% lighter than the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor with the Power Extend battery allowing patients to benefit from all-day hearing wearing the smallest and lightest sound processor in the world. 1,2,4-9,#
“The Nucleus Nexa Implant is the first ever cochlear implant running its own firmware. Similar to smartphones, the implant firmware can be updated to enable new features and access future innovations. Recipients will now have access to their best possible 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 optimize the electrode-neural interface and protect cochlear health for a lifetime of hearing performance and opens the door to even greater hearing potential for patients into the future. While it uses the same implant form factor as the most reliable cochlear implant in the industry, 10-12, †† the new Nexa Implant features a totally new and redesigned chipset packed with innovative and smart features. This includes onboard diagnostics, which takes the pressure off carers and recipients by allowing the system to check itself and monitor to ensure it is performing to the best of the recipient’s hearing needs. This new system sets a new industry standard,” Jan Janssen, Chief Technology Officer at Cochlear, said.
It is also the first implant with internal memory, which enables unique hearing settings (MAPs) to be securely stored in the implant itself which can be easily transferred to any Nucleus Nexa Sound Processor in the future, in case of a lost or damaged sound processor, making it easier to stay connected to sound.
The new system includes the Nucleus Nexa Implant, the Nucleus Kanso 3 Nexa Sound Processor, and the Nucleus 8 Nexa Sound Processor. The Nucleus Nexa Implant and sound processors are supported by an ecosystem of tools to enable best patient care and outcomes including Nucleus SmartNav, Nucleus Smart App, Custom Sound® Pro fitting software and wireless accessories. In addition, those with Cochlear’s legacy Nucleus Systems will be able to 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 Implant is innovative new technology that I am really excited about. The smart implant innovation further solidifies my confidence in being able to provide the best outcomes for my patients today and in the future,” Dr. David Kelsall from Rocky Mountain Ear Center said.
Like with Cochlear’s previous sound processor technology, the Nexa System is seamlessly connected to an ecosystem that delivers personalized care, a world of streaming options and features rugged IP68 waterproofing for listening in every language environment.13-14,¥,***,##
“With my cochlear implant, life has changed dramatically for me. Most importantly, I have been able to hear my family and that is my highest priority. I feel like I have been given a second chance and now I value the sounds that I hear with a child-like excitement and joy that I will never again take advantage of,” Lori Miller, recipient of the new Cochlear Nucleus Nexa System, said.
Over 5% of the world’s population, 430 million people, live with disabling hearing loss.15 Up to 80% of children who received implants younger than 12 months demonstrated receptive vocabulary within the normal range by school entry.16 Hearing is not just about being able to hear words and sounds. It goes to the heart of a person’s health, development, wellbeing, and overall quality of life.17-19
The Nucleus Nexa System will be available in the late Summer. For further information, please visit www.cochlear.com/NucleusNexa.
-ENDS-
About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)
People have always been Cochlear’s inspiration, ever since Professor Graeme Clark set out to create the first multi-channel cochlear implant after seeing his father struggle with hearing loss. Since 1981, Cochlear has helped more than 700,000 people in more than 180 countries to hear. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear connects people with life’s opportunities, and welcomes them to the world’s largest hearing implant community. Cochlear has a global workforce of more than 5,000 people, with a passion for progress, who strive to meet the needs of people living with hearing loss. The company continually innovates to anticipate future needs, investing more than AUD$3 billion to date in research and development to push the boundaries of technology and help more people hear.
For further information please contact:
Christy LaPlante – PR Manager Cochlear Americas
E: pr-cochlearamericas@cochlear.com
References
- Cochlear Limited. D1190805. Processor Size Comparison. 2023.
- Cochlear Limited. D2127964. Nucleus 8 Sound Processor Battery Estimations with CI1000 Implant. 2023.
- Cochlear Limited. FUN5261. FDA Approval Letter for CI1000 Series Implant System. 2024.
- Cochlear Limited. D1864200 SCAN-2 Design Description. 2022, Apr.
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- Cochlear Limited. D1913968 Nucleus 8 Whitepaper. 2024, Jan.
- Cochlear Limited. D1190805 Processor Size Comparison. 2024, May.
- Cochlear Limited. D2182827 V1 2024-03. Cochlear Nucleus Reliability Report (Simplified) Volume 22, December 2023.
- Advanced Bionics Reliability Report December 2023. 028-Q048-02 Rev D. Advanced Bionics AG and affiliates.; 2023.
- MED-EL Cochlear Implant Systems Reliability Report April 2023. M00815 r3.0. MED-EL Medical Electronics.; 2023.
- Cochlear Limited D1980144 CP1110 IEC60529 IP68 Certificate & Test Report
- Cochlear Limited. D2105671. CP1170/CP1175 IEC60529 Ingress Protection Test Report, D1980144 CP1110 IP 68 Certificate & Test Report
- World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/deafness/en/
- Dettman SJ, Dowell RC, Choo D, Arnott W, Abrahams Y, Davis A, Dornan D, Leigh J, Constantinescu G, Cowan R, Briggs RJ. Long-term communication outcomes for children receiving cochlear implants younger than 12 months: a multicenter study. Otol Neurotol. Feb 2016;37(2):e82-e95.
- World report on hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- Hughes SE, Boisvert I, McMahon CM, Steyn A, Neal K. Perceived listening ability and hearing loss: Systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. PloS one [Internet]. 2022 Oct 25;17(10): e0276265.
- Dalton DS, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein BEK, Klein R, Wiley TL, Nondahl DM. The impact of hearing loss on quality of life in older adults. The Gerontologist [Internet]. 2003;43(5):661 8p.
Disclaimers
*The only cochlear implant having onboard memory with upgradeable firmware. As future advancements or technology become available for the CI1000 series implant, a firmware update may be required in order to take advantage of newer features.
**The Nucleus Kanso 3 Nexa Sound Processor is the world’s smallest and lightest rechargeable off-the-ear sound processor.
***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.
^ 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.
†† Based on comparable implant generations released by Cochlear, MED-EL and Advanced Bionics using each manufacturer’s first published CSP data at 7 and 15 years.
# Battery life varies for every user, according to the age of the battery, the programs used each day, your implant type, the thickness of skin covering your 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. Typical expected battery life is calculated using default map settings used with a CI1000 series implant. All day hearing is defined as 16 hours. ^This feature is only compatible with CI1000 Implants.
## 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.
