Many patients have reported that Advanced Bionics HiRes Ultra and Ultra 3D cochlear implants failed. These failures caused major hearing problem and forced many people into painful revision surgeries. Some patient needed multiple procedures to remove the old implant and insert a new one.
Report from doctors and specialists showed that device breakdown happened more often than the company claimed. Independent studies confirmed that failure rate were much higher than expected. Patient described frustration, emotional stress and financial struggles caused by repeated medical visits and surgeries.
Attorneys are now investigating these case across the country. Legal team believe that defects in the implant harmed thousands of patient. People affected by these failures may qualify to take legal action against Advanced Bionics. Victim could seek compensation for medical bill lost wage and emotional suffering caused by the defective device.
What Triggered the Advanced Bionics Lawsuit?
Advanced Bionics recalled it HiRes Ultra and Ultra 3D implant in 2020. The company admitted that body fluid entered the electrode. This defect caused hearing loss and device breakdown. Patients had no choice but to remove and replace the implants.
Advanced Bionics claimed less than 0.5% of users needed removal. Independent research told another story. Dr. Thomas Lenarz studied 349 patients with these implants. More than half reported serious issues. About 35% needed the device removed. The study found that most failures happened within three years of surgery.
Symptoms of Cochlear Implant Failure
Patients noticed clear signs of malfunction. Symptoms included:
-
Gradual loss of hearing quality
-
Difficulty detecting high-pitched sounds
-
Unstable response to noises in young children
Adults often adapted to poor performance without realizing the device failed. Many made repeated visits to audiologists before learning about the defect. Children faced a bigger risk. Their developing brains made detection harder. Early revision surgery became critical to prevent speech and language delays.
Legal Grounds for Filing a Lawsuit
Attorneys believe that Advanced Bionics sold defective cochlear implants that put patients at risk. The company did not warn doctors or patients about these dangers in time. Anyone who suffered a failed implant can take legal action and seek compensation.
Lawyers begin by reviewing detailed medical records. They ask when you first noticed hearing problems, what tests confirmed the device malfunction, and how many surgeries you needed. They also look at the emotional toll and how the failure affected your ability to work and live normally.
Once they have this information, the attorney drafts a legal complaint against Advanced Bionics. This complaint explains how the device was defective and how it harmed you. It also states the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost income, pain, and emotional distress.
The case then moves through the legal system. Lawyers gather evidence, consult medical experts, and exchange information with the company’s defense team. Many case reach a settlement that pay victims without a full trial. If a settlement is not possible the lawsuit move forward to court where a judge or jury decides the outcome.
Potential Compensation for Victim
A successful lawsuit may cover:
-
Costs of surgeries and audiologist visits
-
Lost income
-
Pain, suffering, and psychological harm
Is This a Class Action Lawsuit?
Attorneys are not treating these cochlear implant cases as a class action. Each patient suffered unique harm. Medical cost emotional impact and physical damage vary from person to person. A single group lawsuit would not reflect those personal differences.
Class action suits usually apply to situations with minor or equal damages. In this case, many victims needed surgery, missed work, and faced long-term hearing issues. These are serious injuries that deserve individual attention.
Lawyers are filing each lawsuit separately. This approach allows them to build strong, personal cases based on real medical records and outcomes. It also gives patients a better chance to receive fair compensation.
Courts can also understand each victim’s story more clearly in individual lawsuits. Judges and juries can see how the device failure changed a person’s life. That detail would get lost in a broad class action.
Taking this route gives patients more control. Each person has a direct voice in their case. The result is often more accurate, more fair, and more meaningful.
Advanced Bionics’ Legal History
Advanced Bionics has faced other lawsuits.
-
Whistleblower Case: In 2022 the USA. Department of Justice fined the company over $12 million. The case claimed Advanced Bionics misled federal programs about radio frequency emissions in its devices.
-
HiRes 90K Lawsuit: A recalled model caused severe electric shocks in patients. A Kentucky jury awarded $7 million to an eight-year-old girl harmed by this device.
Cost of Hiring a Lawyer
Attorneys handle Advanced Bionics lawsuit on a contingency basis. Victims do not pay any upfront fees to start a claim. This setup allows patients to seek justice without worrying about large retainers or hourly charges.
Lawyers only collect a fee after they win a settlement or jury award. If the case does not succeed, the client owes nothing for attorney services. This structure gives lawyers a strong incentive to fight hard for every victim’s compensation.
Many law firms also cover costs tied to building the case. These costs may include expert medical reviews, court filing fees, and evidence collection. Firms recover these expenses only if they secure a payout for the client.
Free consultations are another benefit. Victim can speak directly with an attorney explain implant problem and understand legal right without paying anything. During this first meeting the lawyer review medical record answer question and explain potential next step.
This payment model help families who already face financial stress from surgeries hospital visit and lost income. Patient can focus on healing while their attorneys handle the fight for justice.
What to Do If You Suspect Implant Failure
Act fast if you notice sign that your Advanced Bionics implant may have failed. Common sign include weaker sound quality difficulty hearing certain pitches and constant device adjustment without improvement.
Visit an audiologist right away. The specialist can test the implant and determine if it has malfunctioned. Quick testing is important because untreated device failure can lead to worse hearing damage and speech delay in children.
After confirming the issue speak to an attorney who handles cochlear implant case. A lawyer can check which model was used in your surgery and explain if you qualify for legal action.
Taking action early help you recover medical costs for revision surgery and follow up care. It also ensure Advanced Bionics is held responsible for releasing defective device that harmed patient.
