DRDO Testing Indigenous Cochlear Implant

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has announced that it is testing an indigenous cochlear implant which will be available at a significantly lower cost compared to expensive imports.

The device has been developed by DRDO's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) and is expected to undergo clinical trials in the next four months.

A cochlear implant is an electronic device that is surgically implanted in patients who are deaf or severely hard of hearing.

The DRDO said that more than one million people in India are in need of cochlear implants but are unable to afford it as the imported device is very expensive, costing around Rs 7 lakh while the current device being developed by the DRDO is expected to cost just around Rs 1 lakh.

Source: Medindia