Sonova#Advanced Bionics

The group traces its roots back to the Zürich-based AG für Elektroakustik, which was founded in 1947 with the participation of Ernst Rihs who acquired a majority shareholding in 1965, renaming the company Phonak AG in 1977.[https://www.swiss-medtech.ch/en/industry/history] MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY – FROM CRAFTS TO HIGH-TECH, In: Swiss Medtech His two sons, Hans-Ueli and Andy Rihs, also went on to join the firm, along with Beda Diethelm; after Ernst Rihs' death, the two sons took over his shares while Beda Diethelm became a shareholder with equal rights.

Phonak Holding AG was founded in 1985 as a holding company for the Phonak Group. In 1987 corporate headquarters were moved from Zurich to Stäfa. The company was floated on the SWX Swiss Exchange in 1994 and renamed Sonova Holding AG on 1 August 2007, although this change applied only to the holding company and in parts to the subsidiaries; the product names have remained unaffected.

Sonova mainly develops and markets hearing aids, cochlear implants, and wireless communication devices compatible with their hearing devices.

The group consists of more than 30 constituent companies.[http://www.sonova.com/en/system/files/Annual%20Report%202012%202013_Sonova_EN_web_0.pdf] Annual Report Sonova 2012/2013 Its research facilities are located in Switzerland, Canada, and the US, with manufacturing plants in Switzerland, China and Vietnam. Distribution is handled by its in-house wholesale network and independent sales partners. The group also owns retail outlets in selected countries.

In November 2009, Sonova announced the takeover of the Advanced Bionics Corporation, a company based in California which specializes in developing and manufacturing cochlear implants.[http://www.sonova.com/en/acquisition-advanced-bionics-0] Media Release 11 September 2009 The purchase was successfully completed in January 2010.[http://www.sonova.com/en/acquisition-advanced-bionics-completed-0] Sonova Media Release 1 April 2010

In March 2015, Sonova announced the takeover of Hansaton Akustik GmbH, a Hamburg-based, family-run wholesale hearing instrument company.[http://www.sonova.com/en/sonova-announces-strategic-moves-extend-leadership-position] Media Release 3 February 2015 The purchase was successfully completed in April 2015.[http://www.sonova.com/en/sonova-completes-acquisition-hansaton] Sonova Media Release 16 April 2016

In May 2016, Sonova announced an agreement to acquire AudioNova International B.V., one of Europe's largest hearing aid retailers,[http://www.sonova.com/en/sonova-announces-agreement-acquire-audionova] Media Release 5 April 2016 and successfully completed the acquisition of AudioNova in September 2016. The combination of AudioNova and Sonova creates one of the broadest hearing aid retail service networks in Europe.[http://www.sonova.com/en/sonova-completes-acquisition-audionova-0] Media Release 15 September 2016

Sonova operates through its following core business brands:{{Cite web |title=About us: Brands |url=http://www.sonova.com/en/about-us/brands |publisher=Sonova}}

AudioNova International B.V (AudioNova) is one of Europe's largest hearing aid retailers, operating over 1,300 stores in 8 countries. In May 2016, Sonova purchased AudioNova for 830 million Euro,{{Cite web |title=Sonova announces agreement to acquire AudioNova {{!}} Sonova International |url=https://www.sonova.com/en/sonova-announces-agreement-acquire-audionova |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.sonova.com |language=en}} completing the acquisition in September of that year. In the United States, AudioNova operates over 436 clinics, offering both hearing aids and audiology services.{{Cite web |title=Audionova US |url=https://www.audionova.com/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.audionova.com}}

Phonak manufactures a wide range of digital hearing aids and integrated wireless communication systems.{{Cite web |title=About Phonak |url=https://www.phonak.com/com/en/about-us.html |publisher=Phonak}} After the merger of Advanced Bionics into Sonova, Phonak started developing wireless technology for Advanced Bionics cochlear implants; notably the Roger receivers that connect to cochlear implant speech processors.{{Cite news |last=Hebeisen |first=Cheri |title=Roger Pen and Roger Clip-on Mic: Adult Solutions Cheri Hebeisen |language=en |work=AudiologyOnline |url=http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/roger-pen-and-roger-clip-12529 |access-date=1 March 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Google |url=https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=phonak+advanced+bionics&safe=strict&start=40&* |access-date=1 March 2017 |website=www.google.com |language=en}} In 2016, Phonak launched their first rechargeable hearing aid device.{{Cite news |title=Phonak Launches Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery Hearing Aids |language=en-US |work=Hearing Review |url=http://www.hearingreview.com/2016/06/phonak-launches-lithium-ion-rechargeable-battery-hearing-aids/ |access-date=1 March 2017}}

Unitron is a hearing aid manufacturer founded in 1964 in Newfoundland, Canada. Today, it operates in more than 70 countries and is headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.{{Cite web |title=Meet Unitron |url=https://www.unitron.com/content/unitron/us/en/about/meet-unitron.html |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=www.unitron.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=About |url=http://www.unitron.com/ca/en_ca/about.html |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=www.unitron.com |language=en}}

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Advanced Bionics was founded in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Sonova group since 2009. Advanced Bionics develops cochlear implant technology designed to help children and adults with profound hearing loss receive greater access to sound.{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.advancedbionics.com/content/advancedbionics/com/en/home/about-us.html |publisher=Advanced Bionics}}

Upon the acquisition by Sonova, Advanced Bionics started integrating Phonak technology into their speech processors, starting with the Naída series.{{Cite news |date=5 July 2013 |title=Advanced Bionics And Phonak Cross-Fertilize Hearing Aid And Cochlear Implant Technologies |language=en-US |work=Hearing Mojo |url=http://hearingmojo.com/cross-fertilizing-hearing-aids-and-cochlear-implants/ |access-date=30 March 2017}} Along with sound processors, the company utilizes Phonak technology for bluetooth streaming, Easycall,{{Cite news |title=Advanced Bionics Announces Future Compatibility with Phonak EasyCall |language=en |work=AudiologyOnline |url=http://www.audiologyonline.com/releases/advanced-bionics-announces-future-compatibility-14589 |access-date=30 March 2017}} and FM systems.{{Cite web |title=Phonak Roger 17 integrated receiver (type 03) {{!}} Connevans |url=http://www.connevans.co.uk/product/6327300/3PR173/Phonak-Roger-17-integrated-receiver--type-03- |access-date=30 March 2017 |website=www.connevans.co.uk}}

As of 2016, Advanced Bionics' primary competitors were MED-EL and Cochlear Limited in the cochlear implant market, in which those two companies held around 67% of the market; as percent of the market share Advanced Bionics (20%) holds less than Cochlear Limited and more than MED-EL (17%).{{Cite news |date=12 September 2011 |title=Big risk in Cochlear's recall |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/business/big-risk-in-cochlears-precautionary-recall/news-story/a358d5dcc46724f813d50f734944d360 |access-date=30 March 2017}}{{Cite web |title=New global market analysis for cochlear implants 2016-2020 |url=http://www.audiology-worldnews.com/news/1582-new-global-market-analysis-for-cochlear-implants-2016-2020 |access-date=10 February 2017 |website=www.audiology-worldnews.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Cochlear: the hearing industry heavyweight|url=https://www.intelligentinvestor.com.au/recommendations/cochlear-the-hearing-industry-heavyweight/138369|access-date=21 September 2022|website=Intelligent Investor|last=Witcomb|first=Graham|language=en-au|date=26 October 2016}} In 2022 Advanced Bionics lost 5% of the market to Cochlear Limited and Med-EL due to implant recalls.{{Cite journal |title=Celebrating the one millionth cochlear implant |language=en |journal=JASA Express Letters |year=2022 |doi=10.1121/10.0012825 |last1=Zeng |first1=Fan-Gang |volume=2 |issue=7 |page=077201 |pmid=36154048 |s2cid=251164704 |doi-access=free }}

In 2020, the company released the world's first cochlear implant sound processor specifically for children. The Sky CI M uses Phonak's Marvel platform and has Phonak Roger technology built in.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-10 |title=Advanced Bionics Receives FDA Approval for Marvel Cochlear Implant Platform and World's First Sound Processor for Children |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201210005200/en/Advanced-Bionics-Receives-FDA-Approval-for-Marvel-Cochlear-Implant-Platform-and-World%E2%80%99s-First-Sound-Processor-for-Children |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}

In November 2010, Advanced Bionics recalled a batch of its HiRes 90K implants after many recipients, including children experienced painful malfunctions that caused electric shocks, convulsing, and vomiting.{{Cite web |last=Health |first=Center for Devices and Radiological |title=Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts - Advanced Bionics Announces Voluntary Recall of the Hires 90k Cochlear Implant |url=https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm234901.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125230037/http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm234901.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2010 |access-date=27 April 2016 |website=www.fda.gov |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Michael |last2=Konsar |first2=Lisa |title=Defective cochlear implants shocked kids – even though company had been warned |language=en |work=TODAY.com |url=https://www.today.com/health/defective-cochlear-implants-shocked-kids-even-though-company-had-been-2D79371793 |access-date=10 February 2017}} In Sadler v. Advanced Bionics, the company was found to have been negligent and was forced to pay punitive damages as well as for the medical care needed by the victim of the faulty device,{{Cite news |last=Wolfson |first=Andrew |title=Jury awards $7.25M for hearing aid that severely shocked |language=en |work=USA TODAY |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/18/cochlear-implant-case-award/2094397/ |access-date=10 February 2017}} but the company announced it would appeal on the grounds of the punitive damages being too high.{{Cite web |title=Advanced Bionics will appeal the cochlear implant verdict {{!}} Sonova |url=http://www.sonova.com/en/advanced-bionics-will-appeal-cochlear-implant-verdict-0 |access-date=27 April 2016 |website=www.sonova.com}} Years before patients had experienced such drastic device failures, the company had been repeatedly warned of problems with the HiRes90k since 2004. Over 4000 devices were recalled, of which 1000 had failed.

In March 2020, Advanced bionics recalled a batch of its Ultra 3D implants due to poor performance.{{Cite web |work=+MassDevice|title=Advanced Bionics recalls certain cochlear implants due to hearing degradation |date=2 March 2020 |url=https://www.massdevice.com/advanced-bionics-recalls-certain-cochlear-implants-due-to-hearing-degradation/ |access-date=21 September 2022 }}

{{Further|Sennheiser}}

Sennheiser Consumer Business is a consumer electronics manufacturer specializing in audio. Sennheiser had announced that they are looking to sell their consumer business to a willing buyer to focus on the Professional business. It was announced on 7 May 2021 that Sonova would be acquiring the business for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition had been completed in early 2022. The brand has become part of Sonova's Consumer Hearing department. It is estimated that about 600 employees had been involved in the transition.{{Cite web|date=March 9, 2022|title=Sonova Lays Out Its Plans For Recent Acquisition Of Sennheiser Consumer Division|last=Sparrow |first=Mark |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marksparrow/2022/03/09/sonova-lays-out-its-plans-for-recent-acquisition-of-sennheiser-consumer-division/?sh=bd495fc3de55|website=Sennheiser Newsroom|access-date=March 8, 2023}}{{Cite web|date=October 19, 2021|title=Closing of Sennheiser Consumer Division Acquisition by Sonova expected in the first quarter of 2022|url=https://en-de.sennheiser.com/newsroom/closing-of-sennheiser-consumer-division-acquisition-by-sonova-expected-in-the-first-quarter-of-2022#|website=Sennheiser Newsroom}}{{Cite web |last=Oer |first=Mareike |date=7 May 2021 |title=Sonova acquires Sennheiser Consumer Business |url=https://en-de.sennheiser.com/newsroom/sonova-acquires-sennheiser-consumer-business-vzxws7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507135032/https://en-de.sennheiser.com/newsroom/sonova-acquires-sennheiser-consumer-business-vzxws7 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 |website=Sennheiser Newsroom |publisher=Sennheiser GmbH & Co. KG}}

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Category:Medical technology companies of Switzerland

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