Company milestones
Otometrics' history dates back to the 1950's. Since then, we have been an innovative player in the hearing and balance diagnostics industry delivering many industry-firsts:
- First electroacoustic “impedance bridge”
- First commercially available EP instrument
- First air caloric irrigator
- First computer-compatible audiometer
- First REM system
- First computer-based system for electronystagmography (ENG)
- First integrated fitting system with audiometry, REM and HIT
- First cross-over clinical audiometer
Ye
|
Year |
Key milestone in the history of Otometrics |
|
1950's |
The Danish parliament rules that hearing examinations and hearing aids are free of charge. |
|
|
Electronics engineer Poul Madsen leaves Bang & Olufsen to design and produce audiometers in Odense. |
|
1960's |
Poul Madsen establishes Madsen Electronics. |
|
|
The world’s first impedance bridge becomes a reality – a forerunner to today's middle-ear analyzers. |
|
1970's |
In Germany, G. Hortmann builds groundbreaking vestibular unit to record eye movements. |
| Danplex (formerly Kamplex/Amplex) founded; produces portable audiometers. | |
| 1980's | Electronics and microprocessors usher in a paradigm shift in audiology. |
| Boem and Simonson acquire ENG technology and found ICS Medical. | |
| Madsen Electronics applies microprocessor-based technology to clinical audiometers. | |
| 1990's | GND ReSound Corp. merge to form GN ReSound, the world's largest manufacturer of audiological equipment. |
| Madsen transfers first audiogram from audiometer to PC. | |
| 2001 | Madsen and Danplex integrate within the GN Group. Acquisition of Hortmann in Germany and ICS Medical in the USA. GN Otometrics founded on January 1, 2001. |
| 2017 | Natus Medical, Incorporated acquires Otometrics from GN Group. |