On Jan. 24, 2024, Oregon Health & Science University announced that Pamela Runner, 77, of Corvallis, became the first person on the West Coast to have a cochlear implant inserted into her ear with the help of a small surgical robot by iotaSOFT system. Her electronic hearing device was activated three weeks later, on Jan. 12.

Cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021, the iotaSoft Insertion System uses a thumb-sized robot to precisely guide the placement of cochlear implants into the inner ear. The robot-assisted system inserts electrodes about 10 times slower than even the most skilled surgeons. Its ultra-slow insertion has been shown to reduce unintentional damage during surgery and better preserve the inner earﾒs tiny, delicate structures.