The History of HORTMANN
Günter
Hortmann was born on March, 1941, in Berlin, Germany. After successfully passing his Abitur exams,
he
went on to take a degree in electronic engineering (Dipl. Ing.) and then worked in Geneva, Switzerland,
for Tele-Sahara in Algeria, and as an R&D engineer for electro-physiological devices at ERBE in
West Germany.
In
1972, Günter collaborated with the School of Product Design in Ulm
to develop an attractive
and functional
cabinet.
In 1971, the young electronics engineer had discovered a passion for the workings of the human balance system and was determined to realize his ideas in his own company. When he established Hortmann KG in Metzingen, West Germany, Günter already had a widespread network of ENT physicians and clinics. He also had a good idea for improving vestibular diagnostics.
Working in close collaboration with a number of practicing physicians, he succeeded in developing vestibular equipment to record eye movements as an alternative to the primitive Frenzel glasses being used at the time. The subsequent introduction of the first Photo-Electric Nystagmograph (PENG) marked the beginning of a successful company history in the vestibular field and later on also in audiology.
As
early as 1975, HORTMANN introduced
one- and two-channel ENG recorders with built-in
strip charts.
By the time of the company’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 1996, Hortmann GmbH was the leading distributor and service provider of audiologic and vestibular equipment in Germany. With 55 employees and dozens of different products, the company had also established a reputation for providing excellent support and some of the best training and information in the field of balance and dizziness diagnostics.
Opening
doors to new developments
With an open, engaging
personality and a sharp, inquisitive mind, Günter became a popular and central figure in the world of
otorhinolaryngology. Many of the professional contacts he made became personal friends, and many significant
advances in vestibular diagnostics came about as a result of such international collaboration.
For example, at a seminar in the mid-1970s organized by his friend and leading neuro-otologist Prof. Claus-Frenz Claussen, Günter listened to a discussion about caloric stimulation. Back then, this was performed by injecting a syringe full of water (alternately, hot and cold) into the ear – a messy and uncomfortable process.
This discussion gave birth to the AIRMATIC air caloric irrigator, a major step forward. Nystagmus could henceforth be stimulated by means of clean, dry air, with both temperature and duration precisely controlled. Other breakthroughs such as multi-channel ENG and rotating chair soon followed.
Günter Hortmann’s friendship with Claussen not only helped establish the Hortmann company as a one of the leading manufacturers in balance assessment, but also led to a long and beneficial collaboration with another important figure in the world of otorhinolaryngology, Dr. Jack Pulec (later the editor-in-chief of ENT JOURNAL, and a much-published author).
Ray
Charles sponsored the Jack Pulec
cochlear implant program in Los Angeles
Pulec was not merely a vestibular expert, he also opened the door to a new and very promising area for restoring hearing to the deaf and severely hard of hearing – cochlear implants. Günter actually started up another company, IMPLEX, which was solely concerned with the development of cochlear implant technology.
In addition, Günter also collaborated with the Westend Clinic at Berlin University to develop evoked response technology. Systems like the SH 221 were introduced as early as 1982 when computers were still in their infancy.
The HORTMANN company’s profile was significantly raised by the high-level seminars on vestibular and other subjects, which Günter was able to organize together with the famous professors and doctors he had befriended, e.g. Claus Claussen, Toni Haid, Arne Ernst and Bernhard Hofferberth.
Forging alliances in the audiologic equipment industry
Another avenue for progress was through forging alliances with other players in the industry – after all, few manufacturers in the small and splintered the market for audiologic equipment were large enough to research, develop, produce, market and support a truly comprehensive line of products. Products which could satisfy all the equipment needs of audiologists and other specialists in the fields of neuro-otology and otorhinolaryngology.
In
the early 1980s, HORTMANN entered into a fruitful and mutually beneficial alliance with Danplex A/S
– this was also the start of a lasting friendship with Danplex CEO, Gunnar Klansø. In the first 12 months
of this partnership, HORTMANN succeeded in selling 600 diagnostic tympanometers of the type TYMP 83
throughout West Germany. Subsequently, the company would not only sell and service HORTMANN-labelled
Danplex instruments, but also assemble their own diagnostic and clinical audiometers constructed around
Danplex PCB’s and signal processors (e.g. PA 442 and 444).
When the audiologic test battery was expanded by the introduction of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in the late 1980s, HORTMANN secured the rights to market and distribute Otodynamics’ ILO 88 system throughout the territory of Germany. Over the next few years, over 400 systems were sold.
HORTMANN also partnered numerous other firms, large and small, developing and marketing pediatric screeners, ENT practice software, vestibular peripherals and audiologic accessories. Equipment was also developed for use in more exotic fields like cranio-corpography, ultrasonic diagnostics, as well as electrodiagnosis and electrotherapy of the facial and cranial regions.
Joining
Danplex under the GN Otometrics Umbrella
After
Danplex was acquired in 1999 by GN ReSound, Günter began considering the benefits of early retirement.
His decision was not long in coming – in the summer of 2000, HORTMANN AG was likewise sold to GN ReSound
and became part of the newly established GN Otometrics on January 1, 2001.
HORTMANN’s core competence in the vestibular field extended the new company’s product portfolio while areas of expertise in, for example, probe technology were harnessed to enhance immittance and OAE instrumentation. In fact, the groundbreaking new probe for the OTOflex 100 was designed in Neckartenzlingen.
All
work and no play...
t the same time as building
up a successful business, Günter traveled the world and indulged in exciting hobbies like flying and
skiing. And following his retirement from the busy daily life of managing a thriving company, he has
found time for less hazardous activities such as tennis, golf and painting. He still finds time to share
his wealth of knowledge by lecturing at neuro-otologic seminars all over Germany as a consultant for
GN Otometrics. He also participates in ENT congresses in Germany and can be found at the GN Otometrics
booth.
HORTMANN Milestones
1971
HORTMANN
KG founded in Metzingen.
1970-76
Development
of PENG, COMUPRINT, NEUROTEST
and MYOTON.
1975
Introduction
of the first type of air caloric irrigator AIRMATIC
and 1-, 2- and 3-
channel ENG recorders using electrodes instead of photo-electric
components.
1977
Establishment of SAPPER &
HORTMANN as a distribution company.
Launch of the PHONAK Selector screening audiometer and the PHONAK 218.
Development
of
the PDS 5 and PDS 7 rotating chairs.
1978
Moved
to new premises at Neckartenzlingen.
1978/79
Beginning
of research on cochlear implants. The first extra-cochlear, percutaneous
implantations
using 4-channel systems were successfully performed.
1981
Development
of the
Cranio-Corpograph CCG according to Claussen for detection of
pathological body
sways and vertigo.
1982
Entry into brainstem
evoked response technology (BERA)
in co-operation with the
Berlin Westend University; launch of the BERA SH 221.
1983
Start
of development of cochlear implants with Prof. Banfai, Cologne and Düren.
Presentation
of new clinical audiometer SH 520.
1984
First
implantation of the IMPLEX Cochlea
Implant System with 8 channels,
extracochlear electrodes and transcutaneous
transmission.
1985
Introduction of the PA 424
tone and speech audiometer for
private practice.
Release of the successful diagnostic audiometer DA 323.
1986
AQUAMATIC
caloric water irrigator.
1988
Foundation of
several new regional sales and service offices
in West Germany.
Release of the PC-compatible, clinical audiometer CA 540 PC.
Introduction
of the CNG Computer Nystagmograph with automatic recognition and calculation of nystagmus. The OCTAVUS
concept was unveiled.
1989
Foundation
of the IMPLEX company, exclusively devoted
to cochlear implants,
implantable hearing aids and special hearing devices
(vibrotactile). Release of the very
popular practice audiometer PA 442.
1990
Co-operation
with Prof. D. Kemp, Otodynamics, leads to introduction of the ILO 88
OAE system
to the German market. New, portable version of the BERA system
with built-in
printer and other enhanced features.
1992
Redesign
and PTB approval of all
HORTMANN audiometers. Introduction of
VestibuLAB, a workstation for enhanced
clinical vestibular assessment.
1994
MediNET
software with GDT standard interface
ensures that HORTMANN
diagnostic instruments can be connected to the ENT doctors’
computer network and management office system.
1995
Release
of the PC-compatible
BERAmodul for ABR measurement.
1996
25th anniversary
celebrated by more than
240 people from all over the world.
Release of Windows-based software for TYMP
83 and TYMP 87 immittance devices featuring an animated race car event for distracting children.
1997
Presentation
of the AUDIOMASTER PA 444 clinical audiometer (based on the Danplex DA 65, but modified according to
the requirements of the German market.
HORTMANN GmbH was converted into a stock
company, HORTMANN AG.
1998
Design of new multifunctional
video goggles for
nystagmus registration in the dark as
well as with full vision for optokinetic
test procedures. New release of VNG (Video-Nystagmography) hardware and software. Redesign of the PDS
12 rotating chair system to perform both VNG and ENG.
1999
Introduction
of
the EchoMaster, a combined clinical TEOAE/DPOAE system
featuring a lightweight
probe capable of both measurements.
2000
Release
of Windows-based software
named CNG Analyser for VNG and ENG.
Another milestone in vestibular assessment
systems providing unique possibilities for controlling VNG/ENG, visual and rotatory stimuli using one
software platform. HORTMANN AG purchased by GN ReSound, Denmark,
2001
Joins
GN Otometrics A/S.