A system and method for manipulating devices, such as a medical implant arranged within a subject, is provided. For non-invasive manipulation of a medical implant, a subject having a non-ferromagnetic medical implant arranged therein is arranged within a system having a static magnetic field and a plurality of adjustable magnetic fields. The non-ferromagnetic medical implant includes at least one cavity and at least one ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material arranged within the at least one cavity. The plurality of adjustable magnetic fields of the system are controlled to induce forces on the at least one ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material arranged within the at least one cavity to thereby apply the induced forces to the non-ferromagnetic medical implant to effectuate a non-invasive, in vivo manipulation of the non-ferromagnetic medical implant. Other implementations include the manipulation devices such as robotic medical systems, using magnetic fields to drive the robotic medical system.
