Question: how long did it take you to develop your invention.

anon answered on 23 Jun 2015:

Cochlear implants took around 10 year to from its initial conception to the first experimental electronics in the 1960’s, and a further 15 years before its approved for use. And a further 20 years before NICE (national institute for clinical excellence) approved the implants as a treatment for profound deafness.

So currently working with vestibular implants. Took a couple of years to get eithics approval for trials in humans. Aorund 1 year to design and make the electrodes. Currently looking at reponses from the balance nerve from patients who allow us 30 mins – 1 hour or experimental time during surgery to remove their acoustic tumours. once we have the human data it will take around 2-3years to develp the electtronic and sofware before we reach an extended human trials.

So in a lifetime of working we may only develop one or two ideas due to the length of develpment and testing cycle. So it should be, to ensure what we design and tial is first and foremost safe, and secondly it does what its suppose to.