P005530 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Cultural Object created 2016-04-29 human Jack Roberts updated 2025-11-06 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005530b.htm culturalArtefact Multi-channel Cochlear Implant (Bionic Ear) AACR2 Bionic Ear Cochlear Implant Implantable Hearing Prosthesis August 1978 The Multi-channel Cochlear Implant was the first device to allow severe-to-profoundly deaf people to understand speech. Graeme Clark working with engineers created the first prototype fully implantable Multi-channel Cochlear Implant. In addition, as senior surgeon he led the surgical implantation of this prototype receiver-stimulator at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital on 1 August 1978. The Multi-channel Cochlear Implant is popularly known as the Bionic Ear.

The concept of the bionic ear dates back to the acceptance of Graeme Clark's PhD thesis in 1969. Clark began this research with the aim of developing a cochlear implant - a device which could be surgically implanted into the cochlea (inner ear). This device would then be used to electrically stimulate the auditory nerves, thereby allowing a deaf person to hear. Clark continued this research from 1970 as the Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne. Eventually a prosthesis was developed which could be inserted into the cochlear (inner ear) of a severe-profoundly deaf person.

Between 1974 and 1976, three 'telethons' were aired by Channel 10 to raise funds for research and development into the device. The term 'bionic ear' was coined by Clark in 1974 when the television producers for the 'telethons' asked for a more 'catchy' name for the cochlear implant.

By 1976, the research team led by Clark had produced a benchtop version of the bionic ear. The first cochlear implant to allow a patient to understand speech took place on 1 August 1978. The implant was received by Rod Saunders at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne.

The bionic ear was to become a major Australian contribution to the treatment of deafness.

1969 1969 Research - Graeme Clark completes preliminary studies on the bionic ear in his PhD thesis 1974 1976 Business event - Three telethons aired by Channel 10 to raise funding for the bionic ear. 1976 1976 Research - Benchtop version of the circuit design for cochlear implant completed at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne 1978 1978 Research - The first cochlear implant to allow a patient to understand speech was received by Rod Saunders at the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital 2001011164: Emphasis of Short-Duration Transient Speech Features (2000 - 2020)

The granting of the patent for Emphasis of Short-Duration Transient Speech Features was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 Clark, Graeme Milbourne (1935 - )

Graeme Clark led the research team which developed the first prototype fully implantable multi-channel cochlear implant.

 Blamey, Peter J.

Peter Blamey was part of the research team which led to the development of the Bionic Ear

 Bionics Institute (2011 - ) Bionic Ear Institute (1983 - 2011) Australian Hearing, Commonwealth of Australia (1992 - ) Audiology, Department of Otolaryngology (1973 - ) 1979046563: Electrode for Human Cochlea (1979 - 1995)

The granting of the patent for the "Electrode for Human Cochlea" was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 2001265692: Sound Processor for a Cochlear Implant (2001 - 2015)

The granting of the patent for Sound Processor for a Cochlear Implant was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 Cochlear Pty Ltd (1983 - 1984) 2000068111: Improved Sound Processor for Cochlear Implants (2000 - 2012)

The granting of the patent for Improved Sound Processor for Cochlear Implants was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1995036460: Multiple Pulse Stimulation (1995 - 2012)

The granting of the patent for Multiple Pulse Stimulation was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1994070647: Cochlear Implant Devices (1994 - 2012)

The granting of the patent for Cochlear Implant Devices was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1986061140: Prosthetic Electrode Array (1986 - 1997)

The granting of the patent for the Prosthetic Electrode Array was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1983018194: Hearing Prosthesis (1983 - 1997)

The granting of the patent for the Hearing Prosthesis was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1981078481: Speech Processor (1981 - 1997)

The granting of the patent for the Speech Processor [Improvements in Speech Processors] was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 1980059812: Speech Processor (1980 - 1998)

The granting of the patent for the Speech Processor [1980059812] was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 2003229378: Generation of Electrical Stimuli for Application to a Cochlea (2003 - 2015)

The granting of the patent for Generation of Electrical Stimuli for Application to a Cochlea was an important milestone in the development of the bionic ear

 Martin, Lois Webb, Robert Vandali, Andrew E.

Andrew Vandali was part of the research team which led to the development of the Bionic Ear

 The HEARing CRC (2007 - )

The HEARing CRC conducted research on cochlear implant technology

 Telectronics Pty Ltd (1963 - 1996)

Telectronics took on an enterprise to develop cochlear implant in 1980.

 Seligman, Peter M.

Peter Seligman was part of the research team which led to the development of the Bionic Ear

 Saunders, Rod

Rod Saunders was the first recipient of the bionic ear

 Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (1961 - )

The Clinic at the RVEEH was the main centre for cochlear implant patients.

 Cochlear Implant Clinic, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (1985 - )

Research for the development of the bionic ear was conducted at the Cochlear Implant Clinic

 National Acoustic Laboratories, Commonwealth of Australia (1974 - 1992) Cochlear Limited (1985 - ) Human Communication Research Centre, The University of Melbourne (1988 - 1993)

The Human Communication Research Centre conducted research for the development of the Bionic Ear

 Dewhurst, David John (1919 - 1996)

David Dewhurst worked in the research program for the development of the Bionic Ear

 Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Melbourne (1970 - 2013?)

The bionic ear was developed at the Department of Otolaryngology, the University of Melbourne

 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne (1982 - ) Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne

The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at The University of Melbourne conducted research on the development and improvement of cochlear implants

 CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation (1999 - 2007) Graeme Clark Foundation (2008 - ) Nucleus Limited (1965 - 1988) Multi-channel Cochlear Implant (Bionic Ear) (19780801-)

Trove

 'Multi-channel Cochlear Implant (Bionic Ear)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Multi-channel Cochlear Implant (Bionic Ear) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Conference Paper: The Objects of Science and Technology - Working with "Things" Hallett, Martin The Objects of Science and Technology - Working with "Things" Canberra Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992 Tim Sherratt, Lisa Jooste and Rosanne Clayton 87-93 Book: Australia's Greatest Inventions and Innovations Knight, Linsay and Cheng, Christopher Australia's Greatest Inventions and Innovations North Sydney, N.S.W. Random House Australia 2012 Book: The Story of the Bionic Ear Epstein, June The Story of the Bionic Ear Hyland House 1989 Thesis: Middle ear and neural mechanisms in hearing and in the management of deafness [manuscript] Clark, Graeme M. Middle ear and neural mechanisms in hearing and in the management of deafness [manuscript] Sydney 1969 Journal Article: From the Editor Chung, King From the Editor 2006 Trends in Amplification 10 4 173-174 Resource: The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital 2011 Resource: International Application Published Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). 59812/80: Speech Processor [Specification AU-A] International Application Published Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). 59812/80: Speech Processor [Specification AU-A] World Intellectual Property Organization: International Bureau 1980 Resource: Research - Health and food - Professor Graeme Clark and his invention, the Bionic Ear, 1984 Australian Government, National Archives of Australia Research - Health and food - Professor Graeme Clark and his invention, the Bionic Ear, 1984 Commonwealth of Australia, National Archives of Australia 2016 Resource Section: Graeme Clark's Gift to the World [blog post] Tully, Helen Graeme Clark's Gift to the World [blog post] National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Commonwealth of Australia 2015 NFSA Blog, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia website Resource Section: Interview with Professor Graeme Clark, otolaryngologist O'Leary, Stephen Interview with Professor Graeme Clark, otolaryngologist Australian Academy of Science 2011 Interviews with Australian scientists Journal Article: Design Criteria of a Multiple-electrode Cochlear Implant Hearing Prosthesis Clark, G.M.; Black, R.C.; Forster I.C.; Patrick, J.F.; Tong, Y.C. Design Criteria of a Multiple-electrode Cochlear Implant Hearing Prosthesis 1978 Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 63 631-633 Book: Cochlear implants: Fundamentals and Applications Clark, Graeme Milbourne Cochlear implants: Fundamentals and Applications New York Springer Verlag 2003 Book: Graeme Clark: The Man Who Invented the Bionic Ear Worthing, Mark Graeme Clark: The Man Who Invented the Bionic Ear Crows Nest Allen & Unwin 2015

Source used to compile entry

 Resource: Bionic Ear: Fact Sheet Bionics Institute Bionic Ear: Fact Sheet Bionics Institute 2016

Source used to compile entry

 Resource: Bionic Ear Prototype National Museum of Australia Bionic Ear Prototype National Museum of Australia 2015

Source used to compile entry

 T2005/025: NIH Grant Applications Records Services, The University of Melbourne T2005/025: NIH Grant Applications 1987 - 1998 These administrative files regarding National Institute of Health (NIH) Grant Applications date from 1987 to 1998. The files were transferred to Central Records, University of Melbourne from Professor Graeme Clark's offices at the Bionic Ear Insititute. As at August 2016, they were stored in the basement of Wilson Hall and managed by Records Services, University of Melbourne. Records Services have details of the transfer in a 'Records Services Records Transfer Form' including a partial list of box contents, and, a report with box locations in Wilson Hall (generated from an internally managed database). T2005/025 is the transfer number given to the records. 61 boxes Department of Otolaryngology - Bionic Ear Records The University of Melbourne Archives Department of Otolaryngology - Bionic Ear Records 2004.0043 at U77/46-55 1949 - 2000 The 'Department of Otolaryngology - Bionic Ear Records' consist of 192 boxes at the University of Melbourne Archives. The records related to Professor Graeme Clark's (and associates) research activities at the University of Melbourne's Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and, the Bionic Ear Institute. Series/subjects include: General Administration; Funding; Hearing Prosthesis Project; Nucleus and Cochlear; Food and Drug Administration; Conferences, Promotional Materials, Advertising; Journals; Research and Development; Protocol Books; Personal Notebooks; Patents; Theses and Reprints; Surgical Techniques and Developments; Patient Case Histories and Ethics Committee; Overseas Patient Evaluation; Photographs and Slides; Children's Clinical Program; Australian Bionic Ear and Hearing Research Institute; and US National Institute of Health (NIH); Audiology; Tickle Talker; Museum of Victoria RE Bionic Ear Collection; Human Communication Research Centre (HCRC); External Organisations; Departmental Publications; Research; National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC); Cochlear Implantation for Infants and Children; Singular Publishing Group Inc.; The Cooperative Research Centre for Cochlear Implant, Speech and Hearing Research (CRC); Administration; Financial; Correspondence; Professor Clark's Personal Files; Staff Research; GMC Lectures and Talks; Cochlear Implant Clinic Ltd; Conferences; National Institutes of Health. Records from: Professor Graeme Clark, Dr Peter Blamey (Combionic Program); Associate Professor R Shepherd; Dr Ian Forster (Engineer); Lois Martin, Richard Dowell (Audiologists); Jim Patrick (Engineer); Dr Y.C. Tong (Joe); Dr H.L. (Lee) Seldon. 192 boxes Graeme Milbourne Clark - Records Private hands (Clark, G.M.) Graeme Milbourne Clark - Records 1970 - 1988 These records cover the period from 1970 to 1988 and included approximately 3000 items. As of 1990, this collection held by Graeme Clark included the following paper records: Correspondence (c100 items) reports (c100 items) meeting records (c100 items) diaries (c10 items) research notes (c50 files) publication records (c100 items) conference records (c100 records) lecture notes (c50 items) newspaper cuttings (c10 files) photographs (c1000 items) circuit diagrams (c100 items); Graeme Clark/bionic ear collection [National Film and Sound Archive of Australia] National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Graeme Clark/bionic ear collection [National Film and Sound Archive of Australia] 1956 - 2009 The National Film and Sound Archive holds at least 117 items relating to Graeme Clark and the bionic ear. The items include television programs, audio and video recordings made by Clark's research team and home movies of Clark's family. The formats include tape, disc and mp3 and wav files. As at June 2016, most items were available online via the National Film and Sound Archives website. 125 items Audio, Digital, Video Presentation plaque incorporating bionic ear circuit board [Peter Howson collection] National Museum of Australia Presentation plaque incorporating bionic ear circuit board [Peter Howson collection] 1980 This Presentation plaque (dimensions: Height 143mm Width 187mm Depth 13mm) is contained in the museum's Peter Howson collection. The statement of significance recorded by the museum was as follows: "The Peter Howson collection consists of a glass presentation plaque into which is set a circuit board manufactured for use in the prototype bionic ear, and a plaque bearing the inscription: 'Cochlear implant mk1 developed in the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, presented to the Honourable Peter Howson from Graeme Clark and team members, in appreciation for help with the project 1980.' As a federal government minister from 1964 to 1972 and President of the Deafness Foundation Victoria from 1974 to 1986, Peter Howson was a long-time supporter of Graeme Clark and his efforts to develop the bionic ear." As of 29 July 2016, the object had not yet been processed for display. 1 object Professor Graeme Clark - Miniature Bionic Ear National Archives of Australia, National Office Professor Graeme Clark - Miniature Bionic Ear A9984, 1558588 01 Jan 1948 - 31 Dec 1997 This is an audio recording produced for the purposes of promoting Australia, both here and overseas. The duration of the recording is 4:40 minutes. It is contained in a series of promotional audio visual material - Series number A9984, Control symbol 1558588 - created by various Federal government information services between 1948 and 1997. Tape (Audio), Digital Media Graeme Clark, University of Melbourne - Cochlear Limited collection National Museum of Australia Graeme Clark, University of Melbourne - Cochlear Limited collection 1970? - 2005? The 'Graeme Clark, University of Melbourne - Cochlear Limited collection' consists of several objects including medical equipment related to the development of the bionic ear. According to the 'statement of significance' on the National Museum of Australia website, there were 13 objects in this collection (However, a search of the Museum's webpage on 28 June 2016, found 15 objects). 15 objects Official Opening, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital The University of Melbourne Archives Official Opening, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital 2014.0110 1971 Records about the 'Official Opening, Department of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital' (1971) including: Invitation Lists; Draft Running Sheets; Correspondence; Invitation Acceptances; History of the Hospital and the department; Notes; Correspondence and Official Programme. 0.12 m, 1 box Papers of Graeme M. Clark, 1944-2012 [manuscript] National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Papers of Graeme M. Clark, 1944-2012 [manuscript] MS 8696 1944 - 2012 Records [MS 8696, comprising nine accessions 1994-2018] relating to Graeme Clark's career and the development of the bionic ear, including:- general correspondence notebooks and diaries various papers including papers relating to research and development audio tapes photographs and slides speeches certificates draft material for Clark's book "Sounds from Silence" (2000) and June Epstein's "The Story of the Bionic Ear" (1989) medals, plaques, awards and degrees awarded to Clark Bionic Ear Institute records Scientific publications bound and loose press clippings letters, manuscripts, theses and books lecture slides photographs of cochlear implants; a plaque, medals, awards and certificates of achievement and admission to fellowship of various organisations DVDs including published oral history recordings bound volume of scientific publications by Graeme Clark from between 2004-2012. 59.81 m, 162 boxes and 12 oversize containers Cochlear Implant - Cochlear Limited, 'Nucleus 24', C124M, 1998 Museum Victoria Cochlear Implant - Cochlear Limited, 'Nucleus 24', C124M, 1998 1998 Four digital photographs of the Cochlear Implant, 'Nucleus 24', manufactured by Cochlear Limited in 1998. Copyright Museums Victoria / CC BY (Licensed as Attribution 4.0 International)

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