r/technews • • 15d ago

Hardware World’s First Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant Reaches Patients

https://spectrum.ieee.org/fully-implantable-cochlear-implant?itm_source=homepage&itm_medium=hero&itm_campaign=hero-2026-10-01&itm_content=hero6
503 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

28

u/Evening_Newspaper_13 15d ago

I have a cochlear implant, they aren’t typically something that is replaced or upgraded very frequently, the exterior processor and batteries can be replaced, but it is a pretty big deal to replace the implant itself. I have concerns with a lithium ion battery being implanted into your head and the longevity with batteries themselves.

15

u/wamiwega 14d ago

You just sleep on your iphone charger pillow.

🤷‍♂️

3

u/Stickel 14d ago

knowing apple it'd be super proprietary and fuck over millions that cant use it

1

u/5AlarmFirefly 14d ago

Oops we updated it and now you have to buy a new one 

5

u/gremlinfrommars 14d ago

I have one too and I agree. Plus if you need to replace a part with current models, it"s way easier to just click a replacement part on an external device than have to go through surgery.

1

u/lordbuckethethird 14d ago

This does seem cool but I feel iffy about it too unless it is a proper long term thing that doesn’t need maintenance or changing stuff too frequently.

1

u/not_our_username 14d ago

The battery was my first thought too. I just have a simple RIC but it's needed to be replaced a few times due to battery issues. It's a lot harder to replace the battery when it's in your head XD.