Reported Reactions

Devices › Implant, cochlear

Device brand name · Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system

Nucleus 24 Contour Advance: medical device reports filed with FDA

234 reports name it, 2012–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Cochlear. Product code MCM.

234
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 17 a year
32
reports, 12 months to August 2026
15 in the 12 months before
32.9%
classified as malfunction
43.1% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 234 reports that name the brand "Nucleus 24 Contour Advance" (nucleus 24 cochlear implant system), received between June 2012 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Cochlear. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

32 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 113% from 15 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are injury (67.1%) and malfunction (32.9%); across all implant, cochlear reports (product code MCM) death is recorded in 0.1% and malfunction in 43.1%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are expulsion (9.8%), impedance problem (7.3%) and therapeutic or diagnostic output failure (7.3%). The patient problems coded most often are appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available, hearing impairment and pain. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

048Sep 2021: 1Oct 2021: 0Nov 2021: 2Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 0Feb 2022: 1Mar 2022: 2Apr 2022: 2May 2022: 1Jun 2022: 0Jul 2022: 0Aug 2022: 1Sep 2022: 0Oct 2022: 1Nov 2022: 3Dec 2022: 22023Jan 2023: 0Feb 2023: 2Mar 2023: 0Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 1Jun 2023: 0Jul 2023: 2Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 3Oct 2023: 2Nov 2023: 1Dec 2023: 22024Jan 2024: 3Feb 2024: 0Mar 2024: 1Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 6Jun 2024: 4Jul 2024: 2Aug 2024: 2Sep 2024: 1Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 0Dec 2024: 22025Jan 2025: 2Feb 2025: 0Mar 2025: 4Apr 2025: 1May 2025: 4Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 1Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 8Nov 2025: 3Dec 2025: 62026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 2Mar 2026: 1Apr 2026: 5May 2026: 2Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 3Aug 2026: 1

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

024472012: 420122017: 322018: 2820182019: 472020: 1420202021: 162022: 1320222023: 152024: 2120242025: 292026: 152026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury67.1%157
Malfunction32.9%77
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report90.6%212
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report9.4%22
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 75,481 reports carrying product code MCM. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Expulsion239.8%3.6%
Impedance problem177.3%7.6%
Therapeutic or diagnostic output failure177.3%2.2%
No device output146%5%
Output problem93.8%6.9%
Insufficient device problem information73%6%
Circuit failure62.6%2.2%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed62.6%3.4%
Device operates differently than expectedthe device behaved unexpectedly52.1%8.1%
Unexpected therapeutic results52.1%0.7%
Device dislodged or dislocated31.3%1.2%
High impedance31.3%1.6%
Decreased sensitivity20.9%0%
Device appears to trigger rejection20.9%0.8%
Device stops intermittentlythe device stopped now and then20.9%1.2%
Intermittent shock/stimulation20.9%0.1%
Migration or expulsion of device20.9%2.3%
Patient-device incompatibilitythe device did not suit the patient20.9%0.3%
Device handling problem10.4%0.2%
Device operational issue10.4%0%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Appropriate clinical signs, symptoms and conditions term/code not available4619.7%
Hearing impairment4217.9%
Painpain, site not specified3213.7%
Failure of implant146%
Discomfortdiscomfort93.8%
Head injurya head injury83.4%
Headachehead pain73%
Implant pain73%
Tinnitusringing in the ears73%
Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness41.7%
Tissue breakdown41.7%
Bacterial infectiona bacterial infection31.3%
Deafnesshearing loss31.3%
Medical device site infectioninfection at the device site31.3%
Purulent discharge31.3%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureNucleus 24 Contour AdvanceProduct code MCMAll MAUDE reports
Reports23475,48126,136,888
Share of that pool—0.3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports019
Classified as injury67.1%56.2%36.2%
Classified as malfunction32.9%43.1%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer90.6%91.7%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code MCM

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Nucleus 24 Channel Cochlear Implant System12,13700.1%
Med-El Maestro Cochlear Implant System7,39100%
MED-EL Combi 40+ Cochlear Implant System6,14900%
HiRes Ultra Implant5,3844040%
HiRes Ultra 3D Implant4,1775320.1%
HiRes 90K3,452300.1%
HiRes 90K Implant2,754890%
Nucleus CI512 Cochlear Implant with Contour Advance Electrode2,6052320%
Clarion2,56300.8%
Nucleus CI622 Cochlear Implant with Slim Straight Electrode2,3985100%
Nucleus CI632 Profile Plus with Slim Modiolar Electrode2,3534610%
HiRes 90K Advantage Implant2,226860%
Nucleus Freedom Implant with Contour Advance Electrode1,9731890.2%
CLARION Implant1,7291690%
Nucleus CI522 Cochlear Implant with Slim Straight Electrode1,5841790%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Nucleus 24 Contour Advance reports

How many FDA reports name Nucleus 24 Contour Advance?

234 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 32 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (67.1%) and malfunction (32.9%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

expulsion (9.8%), impedance problem (7.3%), therapeutic or diagnostic output failure (7.3%), no device output (6%) and output problem (3.8%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (90.6%) and distributor reports (9.4%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Nucleus 24 Contour Advance was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.