An intra-cochlear implant is provided for aiding in the hearing of a
patient. The implant includes a body portion implantable within an
interior of a cochlea of a patient. The body portion has a proximal end,
a distal end and a primary axis. A plurality of signal carrying
electrodes extends along the body portion. The electrodes have proximal
ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends being capable of receiving a
signal from a signal generator, and the distal ends being capable of
delivering the received signal to an anatomical receptor within a
cochlea. At least several of the plurality of electrodes have a
nanoelectrode-sized portion. The implant also may include a fluid
delivery system of tubules, reservoirs, and pumps for the delivery of
chemicals and cells to activate regeneration of neural elements lost
during the hearing loss process.