Case Study: Cochlear reduces development overhead by 60% and tests six times more algorithms with MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink

Cochlear Ltd. Streamlines Development of Cochlear Implant Sound Processing Algorithms

Cochlear, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, faced a bottleneck evaluating and clinically validating noise‑reduction algorithms for its cochlear implants because candidate algorithms had to be hand‑coded in assembly for proprietary DSP hardware. To accelerate research and real‑time testing, Cochlear turned to MathWorks tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Simulink Coder, and Simulink Real‑Time to prototype, simulate, and deploy algorithms without extensive low‑level coding.

Using MathWorks’ workflow, engineers modeled Cochlear’s commercial signal path in Simulink, integrated new algorithms via DSP System Toolbox and Fixed‑Point Designer, generated C code with Simulink Coder, and ran clinical real‑time tests with Simulink Real‑Time (deployed to a real‑time target). The MathWorks solution cut algorithm development overhead by 60%, enabled testing of six times as many algorithms in the same time, and eliminated platform integration issues, producing faster, clinically validated improvements for implant recipients.

Cochlear

John Heasman

Principal Engineer