Siemens Introduces New Imini™, Company’s Tiniest Hearing Aid Yet

March 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Piscataway, N.J. -- Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.,  (www.usa.siemens.com/hearing) has announced the new iMini™, a hearing instrument so tiny it can be inserted far enough into the ear that it is virtually unseen. The iMini is the smallest custom-made, hearing instrument offered by Siemens in 45 years of making custom products. Available in 12 stylish colors, the iMini also features Siemens BestSound™ Technology for greater hearing comfort, even in difficult noise environments.

The iMini is designed to fit deeper into the wearer’s ear than other hearing instruments, but does not sacrifice comfort for invisibility because it sits in the bendable, cartilaginous portion of the ear canal. A fine, transparent filament allows for easy removal of the device.
“Most people with a hearing impairment prefer instruments that are discreet and cosmetically appealing,” said Scott Davis, Siemens Hearing Instruments acting CEO. “The new iMini can be placed far enough into the ear canal to be as inconspicuous as possible.”

The iMini is meticulously assembled, shaped and finished by hand, utilizing miniature components that are optimally positioned with the help of Siemens computer-aided design software. The iMini allows the hearing healthcare professional great flexibility to program and fine-tune the device to the individual preferences and settings of the wearer.

Manufacturing process; BestSound™ Technology set iMini apart

The instruments are crafted individually at select iMini manufacturing facilities in Germany for the European market, and in the United States for U.S. customers. This labor-intensive manufacturing process is necessary because of the extreme miniaturization of the iMini. No two are alike, and the process ensures uncompromising precision, fit and style.

The iMini also features Siemens BestSound™ Technology” for natural sound and improved understanding, and has FeedbackStopper™ and SoundSmoothing®. It includes a speech and noise management system to automatically reduce background noise while isolating and enhancing speech.

About Siemens Healthcare
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2010 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.4 billion Euros and profit of around 750 million Euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.

The products mentioned here are not yet available for purchase in some countries. Due to regulatory reasons, future availability in any country cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens organization for further details.

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Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. (SHI), a division of Siemens Healthcare, is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, and Erlangen, Germany. With roots going back to 1878, Siemens has been helping people with hearing loss for over 130 years.