Siena and Piacenza hospitals perform Italy's first invisible cochlear implants

Hospitals in Siena and Piacenza have performed the first totally invisible cochlear implant procedures in Italy. The technology is designed for patients with severe or profound deafness.

Unlike traditional implants, this system integrates all components—including the microphone and battery—entirely under the skin. This eliminates the need for external wearable devices. The system works by detecting sounds through the skin, converting them into electrical signals, and stimulating the cochlea to transmit information to the brain via the auditory nerve.

Professor Marco Mandalà, head of the Otorhinolaryngology team at the Sante Scotte hospital, noted that the innovation offers significant advantages in discretion, practicality, and continuous listening, even during sleep. The rechargeable device is also intended to support various daily activities, including aquatic ones, provided manufacturer conditions are met.