EP0934049B1 - Beheizbare akupunkturnadel - Google Patents

Beheizbare akupunkturnadel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0934049B1
EP0934049B1 EP97911316A EP97911316A EP0934049B1 EP 0934049 B1 EP0934049 B1 EP 0934049B1 EP 97911316 A EP97911316 A EP 97911316A EP 97911316 A EP97911316 A EP 97911316A EP 0934049 B1 EP0934049 B1 EP 0934049B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
needle
heating
acupuncture needle
head
needle according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97911316A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0934049A1 (de
Inventor
Philippe Korsec
Jean-Paul Hoessler
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0934049A1 publication Critical patent/EP0934049A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0934049B1 publication Critical patent/EP0934049B1/de
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
    • A61H39/00—Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture
    • A61H39/06—Devices for heating or cooling such points within cell-life limits
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S128/00—Surgery
    • Y10S128/907—Acupuncture

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of medicine, more particularly traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and moxatherapy and relates to a heating acupuncture needle.
  • Acupuncture with the use of a point heating medium acupuncture is a traditional technique which generally implements sagebrush or another medium, most often vegetable, raised to very high temperature, namely consuming itself like an ember.
  • Smoke is also a major drawback, not only because of the discomfort thus caused, but also because the said fumes, which contain toxic elements, can be the source of headache and other symptoms, which requires setting up systems such as hoods.
  • EP-A-552 482 It has also been proposed, by EP-A-552 482, to carry out the heating of an acupuncture point via a heating source of electric type, said heating source cooperating with an application surface heat that can be placed on the acupuncture point.
  • a heating source of electric type said heating source cooperating with an application surface heat that can be placed on the acupuncture point.
  • Such a device allows, certainly, a heating without risks and perfectly controlled to the point acupuncture but, however, the device according to this document EP-A-552 482 does not not allow to obtain regular deep heating, over the entire depth, human tissue.
  • a heated acupuncture needle provided with a external heat source cooperating with a heating means, which is integrated in the needle over its entire length and is in the form of a thermal conductor or resistive wire, one end of which is flush with the end upper part of the needle head and is in contact with a conductive wall of the heat source.
  • Such a needle allows for heating, in the depth dermis, to the point of acupuncture or reflexotherapy, so that it is possible to perform a non-exclusive monopunctual stimulation, of depth and of variable extent by means of a portable and autonomous assembly not requiring not an external connection via wires or other cabling.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known heated acupuncture needles, by proposing such a needle with flexibility comparable to that of acupuncture needles while allowing results of regular and constant penetration of heat in human tissue at least comparable to that obtained by traditional means of acupuncture with moxas.
  • the invention relates to an acupuncture needle heater provided with an external energy source cooperating with a means of heating integral with the needle and extending over the entire length thereof, characterized in that the heating means is in the form a thin resistive envelope surrounding the body of the needle over its entire surface, with the exception of the upper end of its head, which remains uncoated.
  • Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shows an acupuncture needle heater 1 provided with an external energy source 2 which cooperates with a means of heater 3 integral with needle 1 and extending over the entire length of it.
  • the heating means 3 is presented in the form of a thin resistive envelope surrounding the body of the needle 1 on the whole of its surface, except for the upper end of its head 1 ', which remains uncoated.
  • this resistive envelope is advantageously constituted by a thin insulating layer 13 entirely surrounding the body of the needle 1 except for the upper end of the head 1 'and the tip of the tip and itself covered, over its entire surface, of a very thin electrically conductive layer 14, this conductive layer 14 also covering the end of the tip not provided with the thin layer insulating 13 and forming a heating resistor.
  • This characteristic appears in the detail view in detail strongly enlarged with a needle end according to FIG. 2 of the attached drawing, in which the means 3 is represented by two lines extending on either side of the body of needle 1, while the very thin electrically conductive layer 14 also surrounding the point is represented by a single line parallel to this point.
  • the thin insulating layer 13 can advantageously be made up by an epoxy, polyurethane or fluorinated resin, of the tetrafluoroethylene type, and the electrically conductive layer 14 may be a metal film, in particular of bio-compatible metal.
  • the thickness of the resistive layer forming the heating means 3 is advantageously weak relative to the diameter of the needle body and is preferably less than 0.1 diameter.
  • the needle according to the invention will have flexibility roughly comparable to that of a conventional acupuncture needle.
  • the resins used are advantageously flexible and adhere well to the steel constituting the body of the needle 1.
  • these resins are biocompatible.
  • these resins have a viscosity allowing their deposition in the form of very thin layers and they are metallizable.
  • the coating of the body of needle 1 with the resin layer is made by dipping or any other coating technique and the subsequent deposition of the conductive layer 14 is carried out chemically or physically.
  • the insulating layer 13 is preferably a polyurethane resin of the type known under the trade name ESTHANE 5715P from BF GOODRICH. This resin allows obtaining adherent, smooth and insulating deposits.
  • the means heater 3 in the form of a thin composite layer 13 'made of a resistive material fully covering the body of the needle except the tip upper part of its head, this composite layer itself being covered by a electrically conductive layer 14.
  • a material can advantageously be. either a polytetrafluoroethylene type resin loaded, for example, with carbon black or metallic powder, either an epoxy conductive resin of the type known under the trade name EPO-TEK H20E or EPO-TEK 417 from the company EPOTECNY.
  • the external conductive layer 14 remains completely separated from the body of needle 1 by the resin constituting the layer 13 'and this layer 14 also covers the end of the point of the needle 1.
  • the external conductive layer 14 can then have a almost zero resistance, because it is not exploited. It follows that a current electric, flowing between the body of the needle 1 and the outer layer 14, will pass through the resistive layer 13 'throughout its entire mass.
  • the thin envelope forming the means of heater 3 has a resistance gradually decreasing from the head of needle 1 to its point. This results in a possibility of achieving a gradual loss of thermal energy, which corresponds to a gradual decrease in the temperature from head to tip of the needle, unlike the embodiment described above, in which the loss is uniform. So, the needle can behave identically to an acupuncture needle classic heated by any traditional external means.
  • the resistance of the resistive envelope can, for example, be between 10 ohms, in the case of a constitution in the form of a layer metallic external, and 100 ohms, in the case of an embodiment of the means 3 under form of a thin composite layer 13 'made of a resistive material, this layer composite itself being covered by a conductive layer 14 of electricity.
  • a needle coated with such a complex has a surface mechanically stable and a thermally stable underlay and allows radiation in the air of variable energy, by modulating the intensity in a range between 20 mA and 200 mA for a resistance included between 10 ohms and 100 ohms, for one hour without altering said coating.
  • the external energy source 2 is preferably in the form a receptacle provided at its lower part with a housing 4 for receiving and electrical connection of a head 1 'at the end of needle 1 and housed in a chamber 5 a device 6, removable or fixed, for producing electric current, said chamber 5 being closed in a sealed manner by a cover 7, a wall 8 electrically conductive being provided between the housing 4 for receiving the head 1 ′, from which it is electrically isolated, and chamber 5.
  • This receptacle can be provided, at its end for receiving the head 1 'at the end of needle 1, means 9 for holding head 1' of said needle 1 in its housing 4.
  • This holding means 9 can be provided under form of disk sectors 10 slidably mounted at the base of the receptacle forming the energy source 2 against the action of return springs.
  • the housing 5 has a depth such that in case closing the disk sectors 10 around the head 1 ′ of the needle 1, the upper end of said head 1 ′ of needle 1 is applied against wall 8 electrically conductive provided between the chamber 5 for receiving the device 6 of electricity generation and housing 4.
  • the conductive wall 8 is mounted on the bottom of the receptacle forming the energy source 2 via an insulating cylinder 11 and is isolated from the housing 4 by an insulating plate 12.
  • the electricity produced by the device 6 is transmitted, on the one hand, to the wall 8 and, on the other hand, to the housing 4 which is in contact with the conductive envelope of the heating means 3.
  • the device 6 consists, for example, of an electric battery of the button cell type or by an electric accumulator. In such a case, it suffices, after fitting the needle 1, to fix the energy source 2 on the head 1 ' of needle 1, so that the means 3 of needle 1 is in electrical contact with the battery forming the device 6 via the conductive wall 8 and the housing 4 and can heat up.
  • the needle according to the invention can undergo, for treatment, a temperature increase allowing dissipation in the tissues of a sufficient energy, equivalent to that dissipated by a heated needle traditionally.
  • This increase in temperature can be obtained from known manner, by a choice of the optimal resistance of the heating means 3 and the intensity delivered by the battery or the electric accumulator. As a result, the modulation of the degree of heat to be obtained can be perfectly delimited.
  • the invention it is possible to carry out heating, in the depth of the dermis, at the point of acupuncture or reflexotherapy using an acupuncture needle with flexibility comparable to that of conventional acupuncture needles and along the entire length of the needle.
  • the amount of thermal energy dissipated is constant over the punctured neurovascular complex.
  • Heat treatment time can be perfectly controlled by interrupting the production of heat directly by intervention on the external energy source or by separation of this source from the head 1 'of needle 1.
  • the needle 1 can have a straight shape or a curved shape in according to the implantation points and present a "seven" shaped end stars “or” plum blossom ", that is to say have ramifications ending with several points.
  • the invention allows an action comparable to that of the technique moxibustion, on the one hand, in terms of comfort for the patient and, on the other hand, in technical term for the practitioner.
  • the invention allows a treatment allowing a stroll, as well as accessibility of several skin areas simultaneously.
  • the practitioner is no longer bound to a constant presence, the risk of burns is eliminated and the energy sources used have sufficient autonomy for an overall duration of treatment.
  • the depth of puncture can also be chosen in total freedom from the fact that the external energy source 2 presents no risk of burns and that a possible inclination of the needle with said external energy source 2 towards the skin remains of no consequence.
  • Treatment of hairy areas can also be carried out without prior preparation by shaving. This advantage allows including the application of acupuncture with moxa in treatments veterinarians.
  • the needle according to the invention with its energy source is perfectly clean with regard to its use, i.e. does not emit any pollution and can be coupled, unlike the traditional technique, to the use of suction cups.
  • the heated acupuncture needle according to the invention finds its application in other areas and, particularly interestingly, in obstetrics and rheumatology. Indeed, in the field of obstetrics, the invention could provide a muscle relaxant supply of heat before and during work. In rheumatology, the invention is applicable for pathologies linked to cold, such as torticollis and lumbago, or even osteoarthritis. It is the same in this which concerns gastroenterology and pneumology.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Finger-Pressure Massage (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel (1), versehen mit einer externen Energiequelle (2), die mit einem Heizmittel (3) zusammenwirkt, das fester Bestandteil der Nadel (1) ist und sich über deren gesamte Länge erstreckt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Heizmittel (3) die Form eines feinen Resistivmantels hat, der den Körper der Nadel (1) über deren gesamte Oberfläche mit Ausnahme des oberen Endes ihres Kopfs (1'), der nicht überzogen ist, umgibt.
  2. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Resistivmantel, der das Heizmittel (3) bildet, aus einer isolierenden Schicht (13) besteht, die den Körper der Nadel (1) mit Ausnahme des oberen Endes des Kopfs (1') und des Endes der Spitze komplett umgibt und selbst über seine gesamte Oberfläche mit einer Elektrizität leitenden Schicht (14) überzogen ist, wobei diese Elektrizität leitende Schicht (14) außerdem das Ende der Spitze überzieht, die nicht mit isolierender Schicht (13) bedeckt ist.
  3. Benetzbare Akupunkturnadel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Heizmittel (3) aus einer Kompositschicht (13') aus Resistivmaterial besteht, das den Körper der Nadel mit Ausnahme des oberen Endes ihres Kopfs komplett bedeckt, wobei diese Kompositschicht (13') selbst mit einer Elektrizität leidenden Schicht (14) überzogen ist.
  4. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stärke des Resistivmantels, der das Heizmittel (3) bildet, im Vergleich zum Durchmesser des Nadelkörpers gering und kleiner als 0,1 Durchmesser der Nadel ist.
  5. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die isolierende Schicht (13) aus einem Epoxydharz, Polyurethanoder fluoriertem Harz des Typs Tetrafluorethylen besteht, wobei diese Harze geschmeidig sind und gut am Stahl haften, aus dem der Körper der Nadel (1) besteht.
  6. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die isolierende Schicht (13) aus einem biokompatiblen Harz besteht.
  7. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach einem der Ansprüche 2 und 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Elektrizität leitende Schicht (14) eine Folie aus biokompatiblem Metall ist.
  8. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Resistivwerkstoff, der die Kompositschicht (13') bildet, entweder ein Harz des Typs Polytetrafluorethylen mit Russschwarspulver oder Metallpulver ist oder ein leitendes Epoxydharz.
  9. Beheizbare Akupunkturnadel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Resistivmantel, der das Heizmittel (3) bildet, einen Widerstand darstellt, der vom Kopf der Nadel (1) ausgehend und bis zu ihrer Spitze allmählich sinkt.
EP97911316A 1996-10-22 1997-10-22 Beheizbare akupunkturnadel Expired - Lifetime EP0934049B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9613011 1996-10-22
FR9613011A FR2754707B1 (fr) 1996-10-22 1996-10-22 Aiguille d'acupuncture chauffante
PCT/FR1997/001893 WO1998017225A1 (fr) 1996-10-22 1997-10-22 Aiguille d'acupuncture chauffante

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0934049A1 EP0934049A1 (de) 1999-08-11
EP0934049B1 true EP0934049B1 (de) 2002-12-18

Family

ID=9497007

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97911316A Expired - Lifetime EP0934049B1 (de) 1996-10-22 1997-10-22 Beheizbare akupunkturnadel

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US6346103B1 (de)
EP (1) EP0934049B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE229789T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69718036T2 (de)
DK (1) DK0934049T3 (de)
ES (1) ES2188916T3 (de)
FR (1) FR2754707B1 (de)
HK (1) HK1024403A1 (de)
WO (1) WO1998017225A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6916329B1 (en) 2002-04-30 2005-07-12 Ruan Jin Zhao Optical/electrical acupuncture needle and system
US20050070948A1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-03-31 Kirsteins Andrew E. Subcutaneous insertion devices and methods for stimulating subcutaneous regions of patients
US20050203560A1 (en) * 2004-03-12 2005-09-15 Lieberman Christopher E. Atmospherically activated thermal acupuncture needle
US20090198157A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 Eilaz Babaev Ultrasound moxibustion method and device
WO2009137609A2 (en) * 2008-05-06 2009-11-12 Cellutions, Inc. Apparatus and systems for treating a human tissue condition
WO2010129899A1 (en) * 2009-05-08 2010-11-11 Cellutions, Inc. Treatment system with a pulse forming network for achieving plasma in tissue
CN104532217B (zh) * 2014-12-23 2017-01-11 南京久达光电科技有限公司 绝缘针灸针的绝缘镀膜系统和制备方法
JP6492975B2 (ja) * 2015-05-29 2019-04-03 株式会社村田製作所 温灸器
CN106420344B (zh) * 2016-11-17 2019-07-09 首都医科大学 一种温针灸用可自加热针灸针

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3625202A (en) * 1970-03-12 1971-12-07 Sakae Oyoshirhara Electrical instrument for medical treatment on moxacautery and acupuncture
US3938526A (en) * 1974-05-20 1976-02-17 Anderson Weston A Electrical acupuncture needle heater
DK61488D0 (da) * 1988-02-05 1988-02-05 Novo Industri As Fremgangsmaade
US5211175A (en) * 1988-11-07 1993-05-18 Regents Of The University Of California Method for implanting electra-acupuncture needle
US5094242A (en) * 1988-11-07 1992-03-10 Regents Of The University Of California Implantable nerve stimulation device
FR2715838B1 (fr) * 1994-02-07 1996-03-29 Philippe Korsec Dispositif portatif à moxibustion électrique.
DE19635264C1 (de) * 1996-08-30 1998-04-16 Max Planck Gesellschaft Thermoelektrische Mikrosonde

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69718036D1 (de) 2003-01-30
HK1024403A1 (en) 2000-10-13
EP0934049A1 (de) 1999-08-11
US6346103B1 (en) 2002-02-12
ES2188916T3 (es) 2003-07-01
FR2754707A1 (fr) 1998-04-24
DE69718036T2 (de) 2003-11-13
FR2754707B1 (fr) 1999-01-08
WO1998017225A1 (fr) 1998-04-30
DK0934049T3 (da) 2003-04-07
ATE229789T1 (de) 2003-01-15

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