Popular Science Names Eargo A 'Best Of What's New 2015'

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The innovative, virtually invisible hearing device has garnered the attention and the prestige of Popular Science's Best of What's New 2015. The world's largest science and technology magazine has highlighted Eargo among this year's breakthrough products and technologies in health. Eargo's discreet design, comfort and pricing of less than half the average cost of a pair of hearing aids in the U.S. makes Eargo a win.

"Everything about the Eargo product has been designed to empower consumers to live and feel better through technological innovation," said Raphael Michel, co-founder and CEO, Eargo.  "We are honored Popular Science has taken note of our achievement. At Eargo, we believe that caring for your hearing health should not compromise your lifestyle, appearance or checkbook."

Eargo is a hearing device that is virtually invisible and was designed for the roughly 40 million people in the U.S. who experience mild to moderate hearing loss. Eargo combines high-end consumer electronics aesthetics with medical device engineering. Eargo is packed with technology, yet tiny enough to hide entirely inside the ear.  The devices were designed by ENT surgeon Dr. Florent Michel who was inspired by the feathers of a fishing fly to create patented Flexi Fibers, which are soft and self-adjusting.  Flexi Fibers make Eargo devices comfortable and breathable, and allow some natural bass sounds to pass through, since they don't plug the ear canal. 

"The Best of What's New awards honor the innovations that surprise and amaze us—those that challenge our view of what's possible in the future," said Cliff Ransom, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. "The award is Popular Science's top prize, and the 100 winners—chosen from among thousands of nominees—are each a revolution in their respective fields."

Since 2013, the father/son team of Dr. Florent Michel and Raphael Michel along with co-founder Daniel Shen has built a team of medical professionals and consumer tech visionaries focused on creating a device that feels natural, works in harmony with the ear, and fits the user's lifestyle, not the other way around.

"We designed Eargo and its patented Flexi Fibers to empower consumers to hear life to the fullest," said Dr. Florent Michel, Eargo inventor and co-founder.  "Using my 30 years of experience as an ENT surgeon, I set out to develop a hearing device that was virtually invisible. I listened to my patients. They wanted a comfortable, in-ear device that is easy to try, easy to buy, and easy to use. They wanted Eargo."

Eargo devices are straightforward and work right out of the box. Unlike most hearing devices, they are sold as a pair and are rechargeable. They come with four pre-set sound profiles, which are designed to work for the majority of people with mild to moderate hearing loss.  The company's in-house audiologists and dispensers across the U.S. will also custom-program devices for users who send their audiograms to Eargo.

Eargo devices are designed to be comfortable all day long, whether at the office, hitting the gym or meeting up with friends after work to check out the latest restaurant. Focused on users' on-the-go lifestyles, Eargo devices are rechargeable and can last a full day on a single charge.  They come with a portable charger that fits in a pocket or purse and can charge the Eargo devices while consumers are out and about. The portable charger's built-in battery lasts for up to a week at a time, and when needed, the portable charger can be recharged wirelessly by placing it on its inductive charging base at home or at work.

Eargo Availability/Pricing:

Eargo is available for purchase online at www.eargo.com or by phone at 1-800-61-EARGO and arrives ready to use.  The Eargo hearing system, which includes a pair of Eargo hearing devices, the portable charger, and the charging base, is available for as little as $96 a month, and Eargo offers a no money down 60 day test drive. Eargo is also available for purchase for $1,980 if users prefer to pay all at once, which is less than half the average cost of a pair of hearing aids in the U.S., and it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.  Interested customers can also order a free test kit to experience the comfort and near invisibility of Eargo firsthand before buying.

About Eargo:

Eargo is a consumer medical device developer and manufacturer focused on innovative hearing solutions. Eargo is dedicated to empowering people to maximize their hearing health so they can live and feel their best.  The company created nature-inspired, patented Flexi Fibers and believes that hearing technologies should feel natural, work in harmony with the ear, and fit the user's lifestyle, not the other way around.  Eargo was founded by an ENT surgeon and a team of Silicon Valley medical and consumer technology executives who believe that caring for your hearing health should not come at the expense of your lifestyle or appearance.  The Eargo team comes from Stanford, MIT, Harvard and Cambridge, and includes executives and advisors from Apple, Yahoo, Logitech, Match.com and large hearing device manufacturers Phonak and GN ReSound. Eargo is backed by leading venture capital firms, including Maveron, Dolby Family Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Birchmere Ventures, Montage Ventures, Peterson Ventures, and Red Sea Ventures.

About Best of What's New
Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year—breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners, the Best of What's New, are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What's New in 1988. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories: Automotive, Aviation, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green, Entertainment, Security, Software, Home, Health and Recreation.

About Popular Science
Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.

Eargo is indicated for mild to moderate hearing loss.  Eargo will not restore normal hearing. Full benefit best obtained with frequent use. Eargo is not available in all states.  See eargo.com for more information and labeling.

Contact: Nora Frost, 310-854-8144, [email protected]

SOURCE Eargo

Related Links

http://www.eargo.com