Oticon Medical

Oticon Medical focuses on implantable hearing solutions for people with hearing loss. In the U.S., Oticon Medical offers bone-anchored hearing systems under their Pronto and Sentio brands.

Bone-anchored hearing systems

Bone-anchored hearing systems (BAHS) are comprised of two parts—a metal implant behind the ear and a sound processor that sits on the surface of the skull. The sound processor portion contains a microphone that picks up sounds in the environment, just like a traditional hearing aid.

That’s where the similarity between the two devices ends. While a traditional hearing aid delivers amplified sound into the ear canal that travels through the middle ear and to the inner ear, a BAHS converts the sounds into mechanical energy that vibrates the skull to deliver the sound directly to the inner ear. These devices are often a potential treatment for people who have at least one normally functioning inner ear, such as single-sided deafness (SSD) or conductive hearing loss.

The Ponto system

Oticon Medical's flagship product is the Ponto^TM 5 Mini system. This unique system consists of: 

• Ponto 5 Mini sound processor (external component): The external component is currently the smallest processor available. It houses a microphone to pick up sound from the environment, as well as a sound processor. It has a modernized approach to feedback and gives wearers access to hear sounds from all directions.
• Internal component: The implanted component is made of titanium because of its known ability to integrate seamlessly with human bone (called osseointegration). A portion of the implanted titanium component, called the “abutment,” sticks out from the skull to provide a clip for securely attaching the processor after the surgical area has healed.
• Genie fitting software: The fitting software is used by an audiologist to program the Ponto 5 Mini sound processor according to the wearer’s specific hearing needs.

The Sentio system

In 2024, Oticon Medical added the Sentio^TM system to their product line. This product is a transcutaneous system, which means there is no abutment that sticks out from under the skin to connect the components. The external component of this system, the Sentio 1 Mini sound processor, is held in place by magnets to the internal component, the Sentio Ti implant. This allows the processor to lie flat and flush against the skull. Audiologists use Genie fitting software to program the device.

The Sentio system is the smallest and lightest design on the market, making it a good choice for people who have less bone density or those who are more likely to experience issue with healing around the abutment. The small size and flexible design also makes the placement of the device easier for surgeons.

Advantages of Oticon Medical devices

The Ponto and Sentio devices use the same processing technology as Oticon hearing aids, providing a wide open frequency range and access to sounds all around you in space. This helps you stay better oriented in your surroundings, separate the relevant sounds from a noisy background, and make sense of incoming sounds. They are also programmed to prevent feedback (the squealing a microphone makes when it is too near a speaker).

Additionally, the Ponto 5 SuperPower is available for people with severe hearing loss.

Sound processor upgrades from earlier bone-conduction systems are sometimes possible. The current Ponto 5 was preceded by the Ponto, Ponto Pro, Ponto Plus and Ponto 3 and Ponto 4. 

Learn more about Oticon Medical

Specially trained audiologists and ENT physicians work together to implant, program and help you maintain this type of hearing treatment solution. Contact a clinic affiliated with Oticon Medical to learn more about these hearing solutions.