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iotaMotion Achieves Major Milestone with Over 1,000 Procedures Using iotaSOFT

In a landmark achievement, iotaMotion, Inc. has announced that it has successfully completed more than 1,000 clinical procedures utilizing its groundbreaking iotaSOFT® Robotic-Assisted Cochlear Implant Insertion System. This milestone marks a significant progression in the field of cochlear implantation, emphasizing the importance of robotic assistance in enhancing surgical accuracy and patient outcomes.

Addressing Cochlear Implant Scarcity

Despite being one of the most transformative medical interventions, current statistics reveal that fewer than 5% of eligible patients globally receive cochlear implants. The ramifications of untreated hearing loss are vast – research has associated hearing impairment with an increased risk of dementia, which accounts for approximately 8% of dementia cases worldwide, surpassing risk factors like hypertension and obesity. Given these alarming statistics, iotaMotion's technology seeks to bridge the gap in cochlear implant adoption and usage.

The iotaSOFT System

The iotaSOFT® system is the first and only FDA-authorized robotic-assisted insertion system for cochlear implants, designed specifically for patients aged 12 and older. It offers enhanced precision, consistency, and control during the delicate electrode insertion phase, a critical step in the cochlear implantation process. With its slow, steady approach, the system minimizes trauma to the cochlea, preserving its intricate structures.

Mike Lobinsky, CEO of iotaMotion, commented, “For decades, the electrode insertion stage of cochlear implantation has relied solely on the limitations of human capability. iotaSOFT allows us to transcend these limits, standardizing the insertion process and consequently alleviating patient fears related to potential surgery.” This new paradigm not only empowers surgeons but also opens doors for millions who could greatly benefit from cochlear implants but have been deterred due to various fears.

Global Hearing Loss Concerns

The World Health Organization estimates that over 430 million people worldwide live with disabling hearing loss, with more than 60 million of them suffering severe or profound hearing challenges. The low uptake of cochlear implants poses significant concerns; barriers such as fear of losing residual hearing, inadequate awareness about candidacy, and unrealistic expectations about outcomes have left many patients untreated.

As investigated by The Lancet in 2020, untreated hearing loss also poses significant risks for cognitive decline, underlining the urgent need for innovative solutions like the iotaSOFT system that can alleviate these issues.

Enhanced Outcomes with iotaSOFT

The iotaSOFT insertion system directly addresses the barriers surrounding cochlear implants by providing robotic consistency and control that exceeds human capability. Studies, including one performed in 2025 published in The Laryngoscope, revealed that 85% of patients who underwent robot-assisted insertion maintained their hearing preservation after one year, compared to only 71% in those who had manual insertion.

Dr. Marlan Hansen, the Chief Medical Officer at iotaMotion adds, “Achieving 1,000 clinical procedures is a significant milestone not just for our company but for cochlear implant surgery as a whole. It underscores the growing recognition of robotic-assisted approaches to preserve the delicate cochlear structures.”

Surgeons Praise the iotaSOFT System

The integration of the iotaSOFT system into both academic institutions and private practices has garnered consistently positive feedback from the surgical community. Dr. Michael Seidman, an otologist at AdventHealth Celebration in Florida, elaborated, “This technology allows for electrode array insertions with enhanced precision case after case. iotaSOFT has become an integral part of my practice.”

Furthermore, as their program approaches its 100th iotaSOFT insertion, Dr. Eric Kraus of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist remarked on the remarkable benefits of a controlled advancement that this system provides, an accuracy unattainable through manual techniques alone.

Looking Ahead

As iotaMotion pivots towards the future, the company remains dedicated to collaborating with hearing health professionals around the globe to convert robotic-assisted cochlear implantation into a widely accessible option for individuals suffering from hearing impairment. Through such dignified strides in medical technology, they aim not just for more effective surgical methods, but to ultimately reduce the countless barriers that prevent deserving patients from accessing life-changing treatments.

About iotaMotion

iotaMotion, Inc. is a cutting-edge medical technology company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. It focuses on revolutionizing cochlear implant surgery through robotic assistance, exemplified by its flagship product, the iotaSOFT® insertion system, dedicated to preserving the delicate intracochlear structures through slow and steady electrode guide insertion. The system is commercially available in the United States and currently being evaluated in clinical research settings in other international markets.

For additional details, please visit www.iotamotion.com or contact them via email at [email protected]. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.