The Invisible Cochlear Implant: Your Questions Answered

How TICI UNICO Works

How Can I Charge TICI?

TICI UNICO is charged with the GoPod, a small, button-shaped device that sits on your head over the implant. It typically takes around one hour a day to charge TICI if you charge it once a day.* You can still hear the whole time that TICI charges.

The GoPod itself is easily charged using a wireless charging pad.

How Often Do I Need to Charge TICI?

TICI’s battery lasts up to 40 hours.** We recommend charging it once a day so you can make it part of your everyday routine. For example, you could charge it while you eat breakfast or get ready for work.

Is It Possible to Turn TICI Off?

Yes! TICI can be turned off whenever you need a listening break or if you prefer to sleep in silence. You turn it off by using the GoPod. Alternatively, you can use the mute function on the FineTuner remote control.

How Many Years Will TICI’s Battery Last?

TICI UNICO’s battery has been built to last. Extensive testing shows that it will typically still offer a full day of hearing from a single charge even after 15 years of use.*** In fact, some users might still only need to charge once a day after 20 years of use.

TICI UNICO can also be used with our latest classic cochlear implant audio processors, including RONDO 3 and SONNET 3. These have their own batteries, so can be used with TICI once its internal battery lifecycle becomes inconvenient.

Are TICI’s Batteries Safe?

TICI UNICO’s batteries are safe, hermetically sealed, and designed for long-term use. All parts of TICI UNICO, including the batteries, have been extensively tested and are subject to the highest levels of safety standards used by regulatory authorities to ensure their safety and proper functioning.

Does TICI Offer Bluetooth® Streaming?

TICI UNICO doesn’t offer direct Bluetooth streaming, although it does have integrated Telecoil, making it easy to connect with hearing loops in public spaces, or with a neckloop.

You can also use Bluetooth-enabled headphones for streaming. We recommend bone conduction headphones, but you can also use standard OTE headphones—you just need to position them over TICI’s microphone.

TICI UNICO: Who Can Get It

Can I Upgrade to TICI From My Current Cochlear Implant?

In some cases, it may be possible for you to switch to TICI from an existing cochlear implant system. However, a change to a different implant system requires careful evaluation and discussion with your hearing implant team, who can advise whether this is an appropriate option for your individual situation.

If you have bilateral hearing loss, you can use a classic cochlear implant on one side and a TICI UNICO on the other side. Harald, one of our first TICI users, has a classic CI and TICI. You can watch his experiences in the video below.

Can My Child Get TICI?

TICI UNICO has the same candidacy guidelines as our SYNCHRONY cochlear implant system. This includes severe-to-profound hearing loss, a functional auditory nerve, little or no benefit from acoustic amplification, and adequate motivations and expectations.

While TICI UNICO has no age requirements, your clinical team are the best people to find the right solution for your child.

When Is TICI Available?

The first commercial surgeries of TICI UNICO took place in Austria and Germany on September 29, 2026. TICI UNICO is approved in countries accepting the CE mark now. Please contact your local MED-EL representative for more information about availability.

TICI UNICO does not yet have FDA approval.

Want to know more about TICI UNICO? Visit our dedicated TICI UNICO webpage for product details, user experiences, next steps, and more.