To monitor the reliability of our audio processors and other external components, we calculate the “Average Monthly Service Rate (AMSR)”. This number reflects the average percentage of devices that are returned to MED-EL for service each month and that are found to be defective.

The data reflect MED-EL’s continuing commitment to enhancing reliability with each new product generation.

The metric used to monitor the reliability of implants over time is called the Cumulative Survival Rate. The Cumulative Survival Rate, as described in detail in the international standard ISO 5841-2:2000², indicates the probability that an implant fulfills its intended function for a given time period. For each time period, we report three different values:

• the Extended CSR, the “real” cumulative survival rate, which incorporates all explanted devices independent of the root cause of failure (device related failures, accident related failures, medical and surgical failures), and
• two Device CSRs
  • one considering all device related and accident related root causes for malfunction of the implant, as requested by the Global Consensus Statement on Cochlear Implant Failures and Explantations, and
  • the other considering device related failures that were not related to an accident, for direct evaluation of the technology only.