Minneapolis, September 24, 2009 - Starkey Laboratories, Inc., one of the world's leading hearing technology companies, is excited to introduce the new S SeriesTM BTE with SweepTM Technology - providing a completely new way to adjust hearing aids. Sweep Technology replaces all of the traditional hearing aid buttons and dials with an innovative touch surface that allows users to adjust volume up or down and change memories with the simple sweep or touch of a finger. Even patients with limited dexterity can easily change their hearing aid settings.
"This technology makes hearing aids both smarter and simpler," said Jerry Ruzicka, President of Starkey. "We have spent three years researching and developing a way to package this advanced touch surface technology into a hearing aid - and it paid off. Patients in our clinical trails have overwhelmingly preferred Sweep Technology to traditional controls."
Traditional hearing aid buttons, switches and dials are often difficult for patients to find and manipulate. With Sweep Technology, there is no mechanical movement required for activation, no push buttons that oxidize and fail with time, and no openings around the volume control wheel that allow moisture and dirt to enter the hearing aid. The sweep surface is a single seamless control, giving patients full access to volume, memory and standby controls - smarter technology that makes patients' lives simpler.
Here's how it works:
- Sweeping a finger up increases the volume and sweeping down decreases the volume.
- Memory adjustments are made with a simple touch of the surface.
The new S Series BTE is a flexible option that can be fit with standard earmolds or open with thin tubing. The instrument includes Advanced HydraShieldTM, Starkey's proprietary moisture and corrosion protection system, as well as T2, giving patients the ability to adjust hearing aid volume or memories with a touch-tone phone. The instrument was designed for optimal patient acceptance, utilizing the same design language as the award-winning S Series receiver-in-canal (RIC).
The new BTE with Sweep Technology rounds out Starkey's S Series with Drive ArchitectureTM line of hearing instruments, which already includes completely-in-canal, in-the-canal and in-the-ear styles, along with a full RIC family, in four technology levels. Drive Architecture triples the processing power of previous platforms, enabling industry-leading feedback cancellation, superior integrated noise management, live real ear measurement, and much more. It is engineered from the ground up to deliver maximum performance, comfort and personalization.
About Starkey®
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey employs over 3,500 people, operates 22 facilities and conducts business in over 100 markets worldwide.
For more information, visit www.starkey.com
