Objective: This article presents shear wave generation by remotely exciting aluminum patches through a transient magnetic field and its application in the cross-correlation approach based ultrasound elastography. Methods: A transient magnetic field is employed to remotely vibrate the patch actuators through the Lorentz force. The origin and the characteristics of the Lorentz force are confirmed using an interferometric laser probe. The shear wave displacement fields generated in the soft medium is studied through the ultrasound ultrafast imaging. The potential of the shear wave fields generated through the patches actuators for the cross-correlation approach based elastography is confirmed through experiments on the multi-shaped agar phantoms samples. Results: Under a transient magnetic field of changing rate of 10.44 kTs -1 , the patch actuator generates a shear wave source of an amplitude of 100 µm in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) phantom sample. The shear wave fields created by experiments agrees qualitatively well with that by theory. From the shear wave velocity maps computed from 100 frames of shear wave fields, the interfaces or boundaries of layered or cylindered regions of different stiffness can be clearly recognized, which are completely concealed in the ultrasound images. Conclusion: Shear wave fields in the level of 100 µm can be remotely generated in soft medium through stimulating aluminum patches with a transient magnetic field, from which qualitative shear wave velocity maps can be reconstructed. Significance: The proposed method allows potential application of the cross-correlation approach based elastography in intravascular-based or catheterbased cardiology.