The HC-200, shown in Figure 15, thus used the new damped transducer. It also had an improved suspension system and a new amplifier system where also an external sound source could be connected. The housing was CNC machined but still we had to color the inherent white plastic material afterwards like for the HC-100. Some patients might remember that the sun gradually changed the color back to white again.

It was quite obvious that some of our patients had a poorer nerve loss and needed a stronger device. Therefore we developed the body worn version comprising a more powerful transducer the Superbass HC 220 that was driven from a commercially available body worn processor from Phillips. We also found that some patients needed a well functioning Tele coil facility which required a separate device the BiCros HC-210 that also included a contra lateral microphone. A Tele coil was actually built-in the HC-100 device but it was considered too weak because it suffered from magnetic feedback from the Oticon transducer located in the proximity to close to the coil.

Figure 15:

 First serial produced BAHA – the HC 200 ( 1 ) and the Superbass HC-220 ( 2 ).
 
Third generation of the BAHA: 1991-1999

During 1988 it was clear that the BAHA was a clinically important treatment for patients with conductive and mixed hearing loss and that not could use a conventional air conduction hearing aid in the ear canal. Formal recognition was gained by the approval of the Swedish social welfare authorities (the BAHA was listed as a recommended treatment free of charge for the general indications we had specified). Also, the BAHA project was acknowledged as the author and his colleague Peder Carlsson won the prestigious Innovation Cup in 1988 for the best innovative technical solutions in Sweden that year. We also received Certificate of commendation in IEE Prize for Helping Disabled people in 1989.

It was at this point clear that a more production friendly design of the BAHA had to be developed. Therefore a project to develop the next generation of the BAHA was started that we called HC-300 (later named Classic 300). In early 1989 we were ready to order the plastic tools but suddenly the top management at Nobelpharma made a new strategic decision to leave the BAHA business as it had a too low commercial potential compared with their other business areas. In view of the huge potential in their core dental business and that they had on-going research projects in huge artificial joint area this was understandable but never the less an undesired situation for us. It shows also how important it is that a development project must fit the core business of a company (not only to be used as nice illustrations and exciting reports in annual financial information to the investors) to be successful otherwise it will lose time and focus. As a consequence, negotiations took place with potential partners world wide to conditions essentially free of charge. The most serious discussion was with Cochlear Ltd and a final take over plan was negotiated. However, the implementation was interrupted by a decision of the board of Cochlear late 1989. Most key personal at Nobelpharma left the project and once again the initiatives were back to the core group of persons outside the company. During 1990 a restart was made at Nobelpharma and HC-300 project was back on track.

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