US Patent 7344491 - Magnetically responsive nanoparticles for hearing aid

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7344491.html

Nanobiomagnetics is a company devoted to using magnetic nanoparticles for targeted therapeutic delivery. This patent discloses magnetic nanoparticles used as a component of a hearing aid. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for affecting a function of a mammalian ear, the method comprising: moving at least a single-domain magnetically responsive nanoparticle into a cell of the ear using a controllable first magnetic field; supporting the nanoparticle in the ear of the mammal; and transmitting a second magnetic field to move the nanoparticle.