Application method of ultramicro invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation

The minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device uses extremely short metal needles to pierce the epidermis of the skin. Combined with instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation technology, it solves the problems of acute nerve damage in traditional acupuncture and skin blisters in non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices. It achieves balanced stimulation and continuous needling sensation at multiple target acupoints, improving the safety and efficacy of treatment.

CN121512846APending Publication Date: 2026-02-13HEFEI HENGJIA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202512053144.4
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2025-12-31
Publication Date
2026-02-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional acupuncture procedures carry the risk of acute nerve damage and endocrine shock, while non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices may cause skin blisters and make it difficult to achieve balanced stimulation of multiple target acupoints.

Method used

The treatment utilizes an ultra-minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device, employing extremely short metal needles to pierce the epidermis. It combines instantaneous single-circuit and sequential stimulation electroacupuncture methods. Through reference electrode pads and needle assembly, an instantaneous single-circuit multi-loop circuit is formed, and sequential cyclic stimulation technology is used to stagger the stimulation time of each acupoint to achieve a balanced needle sensation intensity.

Benefits of technology

It avoids acute nerve damage and skin blisters, and the patient's sensation is close to that of a traditional electroacupuncture device. It achieves balanced stimulation and continuous needling sensation at multiple acupoints, improving the treatment effect and safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention discloses an application method of an ultramicro wound acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation. The application method comprises the following steps: using an ultramicro wound electronic acupuncture instrument; the ultramicro-invasive electronic acupuncture instrument comprises a needle head assembly, an electric acupuncture instrument host and a reference electrode plate, the reference electrode plate is connected with the electroacupuncture apparatus host; the needle head assembly is movably connected with an electric connector on the electric acupuncture apparatus host; the electro-acupuncture apparatus host is used for transmitting electro-acupuncture signals to the needle head assembly and the electro-acupuncture apparatus host; during use, the needle head assembly only punctures the epidermal layer of the skin; and the number of the needle assemblies is multiple, the number of the reference electrode slices is the same as that of the corresponding power connection connectors, the reference electrode slices serve as common loop electrodes between the needle assemblies and the power connection connectors, an instantaneous single-loop circulation multi-loop circuit is formed, and sequential circulation stimulation is adopted for the instantaneous single-loop circulation multi-loop circuit. The ultramicro invasive acupuncture instrument solves the problem that skin blisters are generated by a novel noninvasive electronic needle instrument.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture technology, specifically to a method for using a minimally invasive acupuncture device based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation. Background Technology

[0002] Acupuncture is one of the most brilliant clinical treatment methods in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, which has been passed down for thousands of years. Acupuncture has significant therapeutic effects on many common acute, chronic, and functional diseases. It is fast-acting, simple, convenient, and economical. The essence of acupuncture is to stimulate certain physiologically specific points (acupoints) on the body, causing patients to experience special sensations such as "soreness, numbness, distension, and pain," which TCM calls "deqi" (obtaining qi). This sensation, through nerve reflexes, forms a feedback regulation between the central nervous system and the neurohumoral system, thereby regulating physiological functions and treating diseases. The key to the efficacy of acupuncture lies in two aspects: first, selecting the correct acupoints or acupoint groups for different patients and their specific diseases; and second, using effective techniques to stimulate the patient and induce "deqi." Currently, the principles of acupuncture are very clear and highly consistent with the basic logic of modern medical physiology and pathology. Therefore, acupuncture is also the first TCM treatment method to be internationalized. Acupuncture treats a wide range of diseases with definite efficacy. However, the training period for acupuncturists is lengthy. A mature acupuncturist must undergo years of study in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine theory, as well as years of clinical training and practice in both traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, before they can practice independently. Therefore, the extreme shortage of mature acupuncturists has become the biggest obstacle to the popularization of this traditional Chinese medicine art. International health status and development trends research institutions estimate that the global demand for mature acupuncturists could reach 1.6 million. The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine predicts that by 2025, the demand for mature acupuncturists in medical and health institutions at all levels across the country will be no less than 500,000, while the total number of mature acupuncturists worldwide in 2024 was less than 200,000.

[0003] With societal development, people are paying increasing attention to health. China is about to enter a stage of severe aging; by 2024, the elderly population aged 60 and above in China will reach 310 million. After the age of 40 or 50, the body's various physiological regulatory functions weaken. Due to the decline in the nervous system's conduction response and endocrine function, the body gradually ages, and various chronic and functional diseases gradually appear. 75-80% of people aged 65 have one or more chronic diseases, which is an inevitable phenomenon of aging. Managing and controlling these chronic diseases has become the most important task for medical institutions at all levels, and elderly care and geriatric medicine have become the biggest challenges and key points in social medical care. Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture has unparalleled advantages in controlling chronic diseases compared to modern medicine. The effectiveness, convenience, and affordability of acupuncture make it the best means of managing and controlling age-related chronic diseases. However, due to a severe shortage of experienced traditional Chinese medicine acupuncturists, it is difficult to popularize acupuncture treatment methods in grassroots medical institutions and elderly people's homes. Developing an intelligent acupuncture device that can be used by ordinary staff in grassroots community institutions and by the elderly themselves has become an urgent task for social development.

[0004] The efficacy of acupuncture treatment depends on the acupuncturist's techniques and acupoint selection skills. Acupuncturists typically treat patients one-on-one, with highly skilled practitioners sometimes treating up to two patients simultaneously. Acupuncturists require intense concentration during treatment, resulting in significant mental and physical exertion. To reduce the workload and improve efficiency, electronic acupuncture devices were developed in the 1950s and 60s, partially replacing manual stimulation and achieving good results. Electroacupuncture, based on correct acupoint selection by the acupuncturist, involves inserting filiform needles. After achieving the desired sensation (deqi), the needles are connected to the electroacupuncture device via alligator clips, delivering specific pulsed currents to the body. This replaces manual needling, reducing the practitioner's workload and increasing efficiency. Electroacupuncture organically combines filiform needles with electrical stimulation, reducing manual needling while enhancing therapeutic effects, expanding the treatment range, and allowing for precise control of stimulation levels. Therefore, it is widely used clinically. This traditional electroacupuncture device has solved some problems in clinical acupuncture treatment and represents a significant achievement in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine treatment methods. However, traditional electroacupuncture devices still require experienced acupuncturists to conduct TCM diagnosis of patients, select acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, and perform needle stimulation. This has failed to solve the biggest problem hindering the popularization of TCM acupuncture treatment: the shortage of acupuncturists.

[0005] However, during our later clinical trials, we discovered many problems with this traditional electroacupuncture device. The most prominent of these are these drawbacks: 1. Electroacupuncture needles can cause tissue damage if inserted deep into the body.

[0006] 2. Fainting during acupuncture is a common problem among the population, making it difficult for people to accept acupuncture treatment and prevent it.

[0007] 3. Electroacupuncture devices still require experienced and professional acupuncturists to select acupoints and assist in the acupuncture. However, there is still a shortage of acupuncturists, making electroacupuncture devices a tool that works in conjunction with acupuncturists and difficult to operate independently of them. Therefore, it is not easy to promote them on a large scale.

[0008] Regarding drawback 3, with the development of artificial intelligence, some TCM syndrome differentiation and acupoint selection systems and intelligent acupoint selection systems have emerged, solving this problem. Regarding drawbacks 1 and 2, invention patent CN114452197A discloses a novel intelligent non-invasive electronic acupuncture device. This patent uses non-invasive electrode pads, combined with a waveform generation module connected to the non-invasive electrode pads via electrical signal control circuitry to achieve acupuncture sensation. This patented solution is non-invasive, using conductive electrode pads and eliminating the need for needle insertion, thus solving drawbacks 1 and 2. However, many problems were discovered during clinical trials of this non-invasive electronic acupuncture device. The most troublesome issue is that the non-invasive electroacupuncture achieves the acupuncture sensation at the acupoint entirely through the current-voltage ratio between a special acupoint treatment electrode and a reference electrode. At this time, due to the extremely high skin impedance formed by the stratum corneum of the epidermis, a locally high current is generated. This large local current can cause skin burns at the acupoint due to the high current, resulting in blisters. Although only about 10% of the particularly sensitive population will experience this phenomenon, 10% is already the lower limit for adverse reactions in the medical device industry. In other words, without eliminating this adverse reaction, the industrialization and promotion of this product will be very difficult.

[0009] Minimally invasive treatment techniques are new clinical treatment technologies that have gradually developed in the mid-20th century. Minimally invasive treatments often involve combining endoscopes with tubular surgical instruments to perform small-incision, low-damage, and fast-recovery surgical procedures. Traditional acupuncture can also be considered a uniquely Chinese form of minimally invasive surgery. However, acupuncture carries significant clinical risks, and inexperienced acupuncturists are not permitted to perform acupuncture on patients according to medical standards. The human body has an extremely rich nervous system, as well as numerous small blood vessels, capillaries, and various physiological regulatory sensors. Inexperienced individuals performing acupuncture on the human body have a high probability of causing organ damage or triggering unpredictable adverse health changes. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to address the unpredictable risks such as acute nerve damage and endocrine shock that may result from improper traditional acupuncture procedures, while also addressing the issue of skin blisters caused by the novel non-invasive electronic acupuncture device when used on multiple acupoints.

[0011] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A method for using a minimally invasive acupuncture device based on instantaneous single-path cyclic and sequential stimulation includes: a minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device; wherein the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device includes: a needle assembly 10, an electroacupuncture device main unit 20, and a reference electrode 30; and the reference electrode 30 is connected to the electroacupuncture device main unit 20; the needle assembly 10 is movably connected to an electrical connector 21 on the electroacupuncture device main unit 20; the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 is used to transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle assembly 10 and the electroacupuncture device main unit 20; during use, the needle assembly 10 only punctures the epidermal layer 1 of the skin; Furthermore, the needle assembly 10 is provided in multiple sets, and the corresponding electrical connectors 21 are provided in the same number. The reference electrode 30 serves as a common reference electrode between the multiple sets of needle assemblies 10 and the electrical connectors 21, forming an instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit, and sequential cyclic stimulation is applied to the instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit is as follows: The multiple needle assembly 10 includes a first needle assembly A, a second needle assembly B, a third needle assembly C, and so on up to the Nth needle assembly; correspondingly, the multiple electrical connectors 21 include a first electrical connector Aa, a second electrical connector Bb, a second electrical connector Cc, and so on up to the Nth electrical connector. The first group of needle assembly A is connected to the first group of electrical connectors Aa, the second group of needle assembly B is connected to the second group of electrical connectors Bb, the third group of needle assembly C is connected to the second group of electrical connectors Cc, and so on, with the Nth group of needle assembly connected to the Nth group of electrical connectors. When the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 is working, the instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit formed is as follows: Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode 30 → First group of needle assembly A → First group of electrical connectors Aa → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming loop cycle one; Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode 30 → Second group of needle assembly B → Second group of electrical connector Bb → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming loop cycle two; Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode 30 → Third point group needle assembly C → Second group electrical connector Cc → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming a loop cycle three; And so on, the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → reference electrode 30 → Nth group of needle assembly → Nth group of electrical connector → electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming a loop N.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sequential cyclic stimulation is applied to the instantaneous single-channel cyclic multi-loop circuit, including: In the instantaneous single-loop multi-loop circuit, each single loop corresponds to one target acupoint. The stimulation time of each target acupoint is staggered, ensuring that the stimulation of each target acupoint does not exceed 20ms. The staggered stimulation times of multiple target acupoints, based on the phenomenon of sensory delay in the human body, result in a balanced needle sensation intensity at each target acupoint. Therefore, the circuit formed by each acupoint and the reference electrode is a multi-loop circuit. During application, at any given moment, only a single loop carries current. The single loops corresponding to each acupoint are energized sequentially, realizing the combination of instantaneous single-loop circuits into multiple loops, i.e., the instantaneous single-loop multi-loop circuit.

[0014] It can be seen that all the single-loop circuits of electroacupuncture start from the reference electrode and form current circuits through each acupoint. They can be regarded as having the reference electrode as the core, extending to each electrode needle.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, N≤10.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the needle assembly 10 includes a needle 11, an inner insulating layer 12, an adhesive layer 13, and a needle holder 14. The inner ring insulating layer 12 and the needle holder 14 are located on both sides of the adhesive layer 13; and the adhesive layer 13 and the side of the inner ring insulating layer 12 on the same side have adhesive properties. The needle 11 passes through the inner insulating layer 12 and the adhesive layer 13, with both ends exposed and facing the needle holder 14, and is fixedly connected to the needle holder 14; and both the needle 11 and the needle holder 14 are conductive.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of needles 11 are provided to form a needle bundle; and the area of ​​the entire needle bundle is less than one square centimeter.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the needle 11 penetrates the epidermis less than 3 mm deep.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the needle holder 14 includes a first magnetic connection port 141; the power connector 21 includes a first insulating shell 211 and a first magnetic power connector 212; wherein, the first magnetic power connector 212 is located inside the first insulating shell 211 and is used to magnetically attract with the first magnetic connection port 141, so that the electroacupuncture device host 20 can transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle 11.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second conductive connector 142 and the second conductive connector 214 are magnetic.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the needle holder 14 includes a third conductive connection layer 143, a conductive rubber layer 144, and a third insulating layer 145 stacked sequentially; a conductive connection hole 1441 is provided on the conductive rubber layer 144; the electrical connector 21 includes an insulating connector base 215, and a conductive probe post 2151 is provided on the insulating connector base 215; the conductive probe post 2151 is used to be inserted into the conductive connection hole 1441, so that the electroacupuncture device host 20 can transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle 11.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the third conductive connection layer 143 serves both to fix the needle 11 and to conduct electricity; and the thickness of the third conductive connection layer 143 is relatively thinner than the thickness of the conductive rubber layer 144.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, a disease TCM classification and acupoint selection system is also included, which is used to output corresponding target acupoints according to the input disease syndrome; Apply the reference electrode 30 to the Dazhui acupoint, pierce the epidermis of the skin at the target acupoint with the needle assembly 10, and fix it in place; connect the power connector 21 to the needle assembly 10; when there are multiple target acupoints, use the same number of needle assemblies 10 and power connectors 21 accordingly. Turn on the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 to send an electroacupuncture signal to the needle assembly 10; after the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 has finished working, separate the needle assembly 10 from the power connector 21, tear off the needle assembly 10, and discard it.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The "minimally invasive" concept proposed in this invention involves using an extremely short metal needle bundle (less than 3mm) to pierce the epidermis, overcome skin resistance, and input therapeutic nerve electrical modulation signals to achieve electroacupuncture treatment. This does not produce pain or only slight pain (because the extremely short needles do not enter the dermis and do not touch nerve endings), and it avoids the unpredictable risks such as acute nerve damage and endocrine shock that may result from improper acupuncture operation.

[0025] The minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device of this invention overcomes the skin resistance of the stratum corneum through extremely short and fine sterile combined needle bundle electrodes. Applied to the skin surface via a patch, it reduces the treatment current to one-thousandth that of non-invasive electroacupuncture devices, eliminating skin rashes and blisters. According to IEC 60479 standards and other relevant references, under low-frequency electrical conditions (e.g., 60Hz), the resistance of the dry stratum corneum is approximately 93kΩ / cm². When using common gel electrodes, the resistance drops to approximately 10.8kΩ / cm² upon initial contact, before the stratum corneum is fully moistened. When using common gel electrodes, the resistance drops to approximately 1000-5000Ω when the stratum corneum and interstitial spaces are fully moistened, or when the stratum corneum is directly moistened. Through numerous experiments, when a sharp, good conductor penetrates deep into the skin, within the epidermal layer (approximately 0.3cm), the skin resistance drops to approximately 200Ω. Human body fluids contain a large amount of electrolytes, acting as a volumetric conductor; once the epidermal resistance is overcome, the body's internal resistance becomes negligible. Based on this, we propose the theory and method of minimally invasive electroacupuncture. Through multiple experiments, we found that with a fine, sharp needle bundle inserted approximately 1-2 mm into the epidermis, the working current is only about 2% of that of non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices. This completely overcomes the phenomenon of epidermal allergy, while the patient's sensation is closer to that of traditional electroacupuncture treatment, making it easier to achieve the "deqi" effect in the human body.

[0026] Instantaneous single-loop multi-circuit circuit. Compared with traditional electroacupuncture devices, this technology uses a single reference electrode on the patient's Dazhui acupoint (sharing a single reference electrode, with all circuits passing through it, avoids the messy wiring and inconvenient operation caused by too many electrodes and wires). The target acupoint uses a needle assembly, while the reference electrode is a hydrogel electrode sheet with a large conductive area. This results in a strong needling sensation at the target acupoint, while there is virtually no sensation at the reference electrode sheet on the Dazhui acupoint.

[0027] To ensure similar needle sensation intensity at multiple target acupoints during acupuncture, this invention utilizes the phenomenon of sensory nerve delay in the human body. The stimulation time for different target acupoints is staggered, with each target acupoint stimulation not exceeding 20ms. Due to this sensory nerve delay (with a period not exceeding 200ms), even when treating the maximum number of target acupoints simultaneously, the patient's needle sensation remains continuous. This invention incorporates an intensity tuning function on each target acupoint's individual circuit, ensuring balanced needle sensation intensity at each acupoint for optimal therapeutic effect. This avoids the problem of inconsistent intensity across all acupoints when multiple circuits are activated simultaneously. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture device piercing the epidermis in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the current loop in the prior art.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an instantaneous single-channel cyclic multi-loop circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the sequential cyclic stimulation cycle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an adhesive layer scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the second adhesive layer scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a needle holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the second needle holder embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the needle holder according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the acquisition of needle sensation using existing technologies.

[0038] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the acquisition of needle sensation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a sequential cyclic stimulation cycle, representing another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] To facilitate understanding of the technical solution of the present invention by those skilled in the art, the technical solution of the present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0041] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0042] Please see Figures 1 to 10As shown, this invention provides a method for using a minimally invasive acupuncture device based on instantaneous single-loop circulation and sequential stimulation, comprising: a minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device; wherein, the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device includes: a needle assembly 10, an electroacupuncture host 20, and a reference electrode 30; and the reference electrode 30 is connected to the electroacupuncture host 20; the needle assembly 10 is movably connected to an electrical connector 21 on the electroacupuncture host 20; the electroacupuncture host 20 is used to transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle assembly 10 and the electroacupuncture host 20; during use, the needle assembly 10 only punctures the epidermal layer 1 of the skin. Furthermore, multiple sets of needle assemblies 10 are provided, with the same number of corresponding electrical connectors 21, and the reference electrode 30 serves as a shared reference electrode between multiple sets of needle assemblies 10 and electrical connectors 21, forming an instantaneous single-loop multi-circuit circuit, and sequential cyclic stimulation is applied to the instantaneous single-loop multi-circuit circuit. In the figures, reference numeral 2 indicates the dermis.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the instantaneous single-channel cyclic multi-loop circuit and sequential cyclic stimulation technology are solutions to problems that inevitably arise during the use of minimally invasive electronic acupuncture devices. So why is it necessary to set up the instantaneous single-channel cyclic multi-loop circuit and sequential cyclic stimulation scheme? During acupuncture, the acupuncturist often selects several acupoints, the target acupoints, based on the patient's disease state and individual constitution, forming an acupoint prescription. Acupuncture stimulation is then performed in a single session according to this prescription. The sensations transmitted from each acupoint reach the central nervous system of the brain, creating a comprehensive regulatory effect to achieve therapeutic efficacy. The balanced transmission of sensations at each acupoint and sufficient stimulation intensity are crucial conditions for effective sensory transmission and achieving therapeutic effects.

[0044] Traditional electroacupuncture devices use alligator clips to hold the handles of acupuncture needles inserted into acupoints, delivering therapeutic pulses of current to achieve the same sensations and therapeutic effects as acupuncture treatments performed by a practitioner. Because acupuncture needles often penetrate more than 10mm into the body, reaching deep into tissues, and considering the large amount of electrolytes within the body, we can view the body as a complete volume conductor. When electrical stimulation is applied, the resistance between the two electrodes is very low, and the resistance difference between each group of acupoints is also small, resulting in a generally consistent intensity of the needle sensation across all acupoints. Due to the deeper penetration into the skin, the current is even smaller, and the circuit within the body is essentially a volume conductor. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2 As shown, the current loop is as follows: Taking the four target acupoints in the diagram as an example, it can be seen that traditional electroacupuncture instruments insert needles relatively deeply into the target acupoints. The human body environment at the needle tips of the four acupoints is close to that of a standard volume conductor, with extremely low resistance. Furthermore, acupuncture treatment often involves selecting acupoint groups. In this case, assuming we use acupoint groups Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, with Q1 and Q2 as one pair and Q3 and Q4 as another pair, there are actually two circuits in use: Q-Q1-Q2 and Q-Q3-Q4. The resistance of all four circuits is essentially the same and extremely low, and the resistance between the tips of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 is also extremely low. Therefore, the circuit design of traditional electroacupuncture instruments is very simple: when needles are used at the four acupoints, power is applied simultaneously. The same needling sensation can be achieved at all four acupoints. However, in practice, this type of traditional electroacupuncture instrument often presents the following problems: 1. Acupuncture treatment often involves selecting acupoint groups, frequently four or more acupoints. If... Figure 2 In this scenario where multiple acupoints are simultaneously energized for acupuncture, forming multiple circuits, each circuit consists of two wires corresponding to acupoints. This results in a large number of wires in the device when there are many acupoints, making the operation very messy.

[0045] 2. Under the current depth of traditional electroacupuncture devices, the human body is a volume conductor, and the current at each stimulation point may interfere with each other during electrical stimulation, affecting the treatment effect.

[0046] 3. In clinical practice, acupuncture therapy involves acupuncturists prescribing acupoints based on the patient's condition, often using no fewer than five acupoints. Traditional electroacupuncture devices face a significant challenge when treating multiple acupoints: the human body is a volume conductor, and the stimulation intensity at different acupoints cannot be individually adjusted according to the individual patient's sensitivity. This results in some acupoints receiving stronger stimulation than others, causing discomfort for the patient and hindering the achievement of optimal therapeutic effects.

[0047] Based on the above three points, which are some shortcomings of traditional electroacupuncture treatments, the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device of this invention will also face the following problems: Traditional electroacupuncture devices allow for easy control of treatment intensity with simple intensity adjustment. However, the needles in the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device are less than 3mm in diameter, allowing them to penetrate the stratum corneum and reduce skin impedance to only 1 / 250th of that of the epidermal gel electrode. Because it only penetrates the stratum corneum and not the fat layer between the dermis, the impedance is still significantly higher compared to traditional electroacupuncture devices where acupuncturists use filiform needles and alligator clips to input the treatment current. High internal conduction resistance and varying distances between different acupoints and the circuit electrodes result in significant current path loss and inconsistent stimulation sensations at different acupoints, hindering balanced stimulation and negatively impacting the therapeutic effect of acupuncture. To overcome these issues, a transient single-loop multi-loop circuit and a sequential cyclic stimulation scheme are proposed.

[0048] In this embodiment, the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device has the following technical characteristics: The concept of "minimal invasiveness" involves using extremely short metal needles (less than 3mm) to pierce the epidermis, overcome skin impedance, and input therapeutic nerve electrical modulation signals, i.e., electroacupuncture signals, to achieve electroacupuncture treatment without producing pain or only slight pain (because the extremely short needles do not enter the dermis and do not touch nerve endings). It also avoids the unpredictable risks of acute nerve damage and endocrine shock that may result from improper acupuncture procedures. However, correspondingly, it only penetrates the stratum corneum of the epidermis and does not penetrate the fat layer between the dermis. Compared with traditional electroacupuncture devices where acupuncturists use filiform needles and alligator clips to input the therapeutic current, the impedance is still much higher. The high internal conduction resistance and the significant difference in distance between different acupoints and the circuit electrodes result in greater current path loss and greater differences in the sensation of stimulation at each acupoint. This makes it impossible to achieve balanced stimulation of all acupoints, which is detrimental to the efficacy of acupuncture treatment. To address this, a transient single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit and a sequential cyclic stimulation scheme are provided.

[0049] Please see Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit comprises: multiple sets of needle assemblies 10 including a first set of needle assembly A, a second set of needle assembly B, a third set of needle assembly C, and so on up to the Nth set of needle assemblies; correspondingly, multiple sets of electrical connectors 21 include a first set of electrical connectors Aa, a second set of electrical connectors Bb, a second set of electrical connectors Cc, and so on up to the Nth set of electrical connectors. The first set of needle assembly A is connected to the first set of electrical connectors Aa, the second set of needle assembly B is connected to the second set of electrical connectors Bb, the third set of needle assembly C is connected to the second set of electrical connectors Cc, and so on, with the Nth set of needle assembly connected to the Nth set of electrical connectors.

[0050] When the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 is working, the instantaneous single-path cyclic multi-loop circuit formed is as follows: Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode plate 30 → First group of needle assembly A → First group of electrical connectors Aa → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming loop cycle one.

[0051] Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode 30 → Second group of needle assembly B → Second group of electrical connector Bb → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming loop cycle two.

[0052] Electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → Reference electrode 30 → Third point group needle assembly C → Second group electrical connector Cc → Electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming a loop cycle three.

[0053] And so on, the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → reference electrode 30 → Nth group of needle assembly → Nth group of electrical connector → electroacupuncture device main unit 20, forming a loop N.

[0054] In this embodiment, the instantaneous single-loop multi-circuit circuit generally refers to multiple acupoint stimulation points. The design allows for the simultaneous selection of up to six acupoints for acupuncture (simultaneous selection of six acupoints can meet the treatment needs of over 95% of clinical acupuncture indications). A single loop electrode is used on the patient's Dazhui acupoint (using a single loop avoids the confusion caused by excessive electrodes and wiring, which leads to operational inconvenience). The target acupoint uses the needle assembly 10, and the loop electrode is a hydrogel electrode sheet with a large conductive area, i.e., the reference electrode sheet 30. This ensures a strong needling sensation at the target acupoint during acupuncture, while there is virtually no sensation at the reference electrode sheet 30 on the Dazhui acupoint.

[0055] In this embodiment, the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device, due to its significant innovative breakthroughs in safety and the elimination of the need for professional medical operation, employs minimally invasive needles that penetrate the skin. While this avoids the substantial impedance of the epidermis and stratum corneum, the impedance at the depth of insertion is still an order of magnitude higher than that of traditional electroacupuncture devices. In fact, directly applying electricity to form a circuit as with traditional electroacupuncture devices would present the following two technical problems: 1. Insufficient needle sensation; Since the needle bundle of the needle assembly 10 generally penetrates less than 3mm into the epidermis, the overall resistance of the circuit is higher than that of traditional electroacupuncture devices. Even if multiple target acupoints are acupunctured at the same time, the circuit of the main output of the electroacupuncture device 20 → reference electrode 30 and needle assembly 10 still has difficulty overcoming the impedance and achieving effective needle sensation.

[0056] 2. The circuit resistance is different for each target acupoint; In this embodiment, when the minimally invasive electronic acupuncture device uses a momentary single-loop multi-loop circuit, each target acupoint corresponds to a circuit loop, such as loop loop one, loop loop two, loop loop three, loop loop N, etc. When the needle bundle is inserted into the skin, the resistance between two adjacent target acupoints, although relatively small, cannot be completely ignored. Obviously, loop loop one, loop loop two, loop loop three, loop loop N, etc., cannot have the same resistance. Therefore, when multiple target acupoints are acupunctured simultaneously, there is a situation where, since the target acupoint corresponding to the first group of needle assembly A is closest to the Dazhui acupoint, when acupuncture begins simultaneously, the current will be basically concentrated in the electroacupuncture device host 20 → reference electrode 30 → first group of needle assembly A → first group of electrical connectors Aa → electroacupuncture device host 20. This completely fails to guarantee the sensation at each target acupoint, and theoretically, mutual interference between loops cannot be avoided.

[0057] See again Figure 3 As shown, taking loop cycle one and loop cycle four as examples, they correspond to the yellow and green current loops respectively. It is easy to see from the previous description that since the target acupoint corresponding to loop cycle four is farther away from the Dazhui acupoint, that is, the point corresponding to the reference electrode 30, the resistance is greater. Therefore, when the two loops are started at the same time, the strength of loop one is always greater.

[0058] To solve the above problems, sequential cyclic stimulation was developed.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sequential cyclic stimulation is employed on the instantaneous single-loop cyclic multi-loop circuit, comprising: each single loop in the instantaneous single-loop cyclic multi-loop circuit corresponds to one target acupoint. The stimulation time of each target acupoint is staggered, ensuring that the stimulation of each target acupoint does not exceed 20ms. By staggering the stimulation times of multiple target acupoints, based on the phenomenon of sensory delay in the human sensory nerves, the sensation at each target acupoint is achieved simultaneously. This also avoids the inherent, unchangeable difference in current intensity of each pathway caused by the simultaneous energization of each target acupoint (because the resistance of each channel is always different due to the different distances from the target acupoints to the Dazhui acupoint). Furthermore, by tuning the individual channels of the device, the intensity of the needle sensation at each target acupoint can be balanced.

[0060] Please see Figure 4As shown in this embodiment, to ensure similar needle sensation intensity at multiple target acupoints during acupuncture, this invention utilizes the phenomenon of sensory nerve delay in the human body when multiple target acupoint channels are in the same loop. The stimulation times for different target acupoints are staggered, with each target acupoint stimulation not exceeding 20ms. Due to the sensory nerve delay (cycle not exceeding 200ms), even when treating the maximum number of target acupoints simultaneously, the patient's needle sensation remains continuous. This invention designs an intensity tuning function on the loop of each target acupoint, which can balance the needle sensation intensity at each target acupoint to achieve the best therapeutic effect. That is, at any given moment, only one loop is actually energized. This avoids the problem of inconsistent intensity across all acupoints when multiple loops are activated simultaneously. This technology is called sequential loop stimulation technology. In this embodiment, in order to specifically explain the period of the sequential cyclic stimulation technique, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 12 This is a periodic sequence array diagram of the stimulation time of various acupoints by an electroacupuncture device, with time as the horizontal and vertical axes. Here we present two cases for comparison.

[0061] Case 1: such as Figure 4 There are a total of four target acupoints. Figure 4 This is a time-cycle sequence diagram of stimulation of four target acupoints.

[0062] The actual device-current loop is as follows: Electroacupuncture host 20 - Reference electrode 30 - A - Electroacupuncture host 20, Electroacupuncture host 20 - Reference electrode 30 - B - Electroacupuncture host 20, Electroacupuncture host 20 - Reference electrode 30 - C - Electroacupuncture host 20, Electroacupuncture host 20 - Reference electrode 30 - D - Electroacupuncture host 20, and so on. As shown in the figure, under sequential cyclic stimulation, with a total of four target acupoints, and only one loop at each instant, each target acupoint is energized once every 20ms, for a total of 80ms, which is less than 200ms. This means that after acupuncture at the target acupoint corresponding to the first group of needle components A, 80ms have passed after all loops are completed before the electroacupuncture host 20 is energized again, and the 200ms sensory dissipation threshold has not yet been reached neurologically. Even though the target acupoint corresponding to the first group of needle components A is actually energized in a regular intermittent manner, the sensation is continuous to the human body.

[0063] Case 2, such as Figure 12 A stimulation time cycle sequence diagram of 11 acupoints (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K) is generated, which includes a total of 11 target acupoints. By analogy, the current circuit is as follows: Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - A - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - B - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - C - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - D - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - E - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 - Reference electrode 30 - F - Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20, Electroacupuncture main unit 20 The sequence of steps 0-Reference Electrode 30-G-Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20, Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20-Reference Electrode 30-H-Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20, Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20-Reference Electrode 30-I-Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20, Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20-Reference Electrode 30-J-20, Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20-Reference Electrode 30-K-20, Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20-Reference Electrode 30-A-Electroacupuncture Main Unit 20... continues in this cycle. As shown in the diagram, a complete cycle takes 220ms. This means that after the circuit corresponding to the target acupoint in the first set of needle components A is energized, it takes 220ms after all cycles are completed before it is energized again, exceeding the nerve sensory delay threshold of 200ms. This means that the sensory experience at acupoint A is actually interrupted after one cycle.

[0064] Therefore, it is evident that the sequential cyclic stimulation protocol should not be applied to more than ten acupoints, which already far exceeds the actual treatment needs of this device.

[0065] Please see Figure 1 , Figures 5 to 11 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the needle assembly 10 includes a needle 11, an inner insulating layer 12, an adhesive layer 13, and a needle holder 14. The inner insulating layer 12 and the needle holder 14 are respectively located on both sides of the adhesive layer 13, and the side of the adhesive layer 13 on the same side as the inner insulating layer 12 has adhesive properties. The needle 11 passes through the inner insulating layer 12 and the adhesive layer 13, with both ends exposed. The end facing the needle holder 14 is fixedly connected to the needle holder 14, and both the needle 11 and the needle holder 14 are conductive. Undoubtedly, the needle holder 14 serves both to fix the needle 11 and to conduct electricity, so that electroacupuncture signals can be transmitted to the needle 11.

[0066] In this embodiment, several needles 11 are provided to form a needle bundle. Specifically, three needles 11 are provided to form a needle bundle, and the area of ​​the entire needle bundle is less than one square centimeter, maintaining a minimum coverage of the entire acupoint. The specific arrangement of the needle bundle is based on the following considerations: in one square centimeter, the entire needle bundle contains fewer than 12 needles 11 and more than 2 needles 11. Undoubtedly, the area of ​​the inner insulating layer 12 is larger than the needle bundle.

[0067] Adhesive layer 13, Option 1; Please see Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, after the needle 11 is inserted into the skin, the skin is fixed by the adhesive layer 13 around the needle 11. The electrical connector 21 is connected to the needle fixing seat 14 behind the adhesive layer 13, thereby forming a circuit. In this embodiment, the adhesive layer 13 is circular, resembling an electrocardiogram electrode pad. The advantages and applicable scenarios of using the circular adhesive layer 13 are: it is suitable for fixing the needle 11 within the skin; the adhesive layer is insulating and does not affect the conductivity of the needle.

[0068] Adhesive layer 13, Option 2; In practical applications, when multiple target acupoints exist, multiple needle assemblies 10 are required. Undoubtedly, the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 is equipped with a corresponding number of power connectors 21. Due to the minimum distance between acupoints on the human body, the adhesive layer 13 among the multiple needle assemblies 10 should not be circular. Please refer to... Figure 6 As shown, the adhesive layer 13 is shaped like a waist hole, similar to a band-aid. This ensures that the distance between the adhesive layers 13 on two adjacent target acupoints is smaller than the distance between two circular adhesive layers 13, and also ensures the tensile strength required for the adhesive to be fixed to the skin.

[0069] In this embodiment, whether it is a circular adhesive layer 13 or a waist-shaped or rectangular adhesive layer 13, breathable cloth, waterproof cloth or other composite materials are used. For specific base materials, please refer to the adhesive bandage.

[0070] Needle holder 14, Option 1; Please see Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the needle holder 14 includes a first magnetic connection port 141, and correspondingly, the power connector 21 includes a first insulating shell 211 and a first magnetic power connector 212. The first magnetic power connector 212 is located inside the first insulating shell 211 and is used to magnetically attract with the first magnetic connection port 141, so that the electroacupuncture device host 20 can transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle 11.

[0071] In this embodiment, the first insulating shell 211 is made of plastic or other insulating materials. The needle 11 and the first magnetic connection port 141 are integral metal parts. The first magnetic connection port 141 is specifically a frustum-shaped metal block. The needle bundle pierces the adhesive layer 13 and the inner insulating layer 12 to protrude into the skin. The length of the needle 11 protruding from the inner insulating layer 12 is the actual depth of penetration into the skin, specifically less than 3mm. The first magnetic electrical connector 212 is specifically a magnetic metal plate. During connection, the first magnetic electrical connector 212 directly attracts and contacts the first magnetic connection port 141 and conducts electricity to form a circuit. The first insulating shell 211 restricts the first magnetic electrical connector 212 and the first magnetic connection port 141 from moving left and right when they are in contact, preventing the magnetic attraction from falling off. Undoubtedly, the adhesive layer 13 can be circular, round-hole-shaped, or rectangular, and the shape limitation of the adhesive layer 13 is similar in the following two and three schemes for the needle fixing seat 14.

[0072] In this design, from the perspective of circuit guidance, the unobstructed flow of contact points and conductors, as well as the full contact of conductors, are ensured. From a safety perspective, during the treatment process when current flows through the circuit, in the event of a dangerous situation in the circuit, it is convenient to promptly remove rather than disassemble the needle assembly that is stuck to the skin, thereby directly disconnecting the circuit and ensuring the safety of the body. Needle holder 14, Option 2; Please see Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the needle holder 14 includes a second conductive connection port 142, and a conductive protrusion 1421 is provided on the second conductive connection port 142. The electrical connector 21 includes a second insulating shell 213 and a second conductive connector 214. The second conductive connector 214 is located inside the second insulating shell 213, and a conductive recess 2141 is provided on the second conductive connector 214. The conductive recess 2141 is used to engage with the conductive protrusion 1421, and the second conductive connector 214 contacts the second conductive connection port 142, so that the electroacupuncture device host 20 can transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle 11.

[0073] In this embodiment, the first insulating shell 211 is made of plastic or other insulating materials. The needle 11 and the second conductive connection port 142 are integral metal parts. The first magnetic connection port 141 is specifically a frustum-shaped metal block. The needle bundle A1 pierces the adhesive layer 13 and the inner insulating layer 12 to protrude into the skin. The length of the needle 11 protruding from the inner insulating layer 12 is the actual depth of penetration into the skin, specifically less than 3mm. During connection, the conductive recess 2141 is used to engage with the conductive protrusion 1421 to form a conductive circuit. The second insulating shell 213 restricts the contact and fixation of the second conductive connection port 142 and the second conductive connector 214 through its protruding contour. More specifically, the second conductive connection port 142 and the second conductive connector 214 are magnetic. In this case, the second insulating shell 213 restricts the contact of the second conductive connection port 142 and the second conductive connector 214 through its protruding contour, preventing them from moving left and right and causing the magnetic attraction to fall off.

[0074] In this solution, a connection method with protruding and recessed metal parts is used. From the perspective of circuit guidance, this ensures the unobstructed flow of contact points and conductors. From a safety perspective, it ensures that when the needle 11 is inserted into the skin, the contact points will not slip or fall off due to forces in different directions. Furthermore, during the treatment process when the current passes through the circuit, in the event of a dangerous situation in the circuit, it is convenient to remove the needle assembly that is stuck to the skin in time, thereby directly disconnecting the circuit and ensuring the safety of the body.

[0075] Needle holder 14, Option 3; Please see Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the needle holder 14 includes a third conductive connection layer 143, a conductive rubber layer 144, and a third insulating layer 145 stacked sequentially. A conductive connection hole 1441 is provided on the conductive rubber layer 144. The electrical connector 21 includes an insulating connector base 215 and a conductive probe post 2151 provided on the insulating connector base 215. The conductive probe post 2151 is used to connect to the conductive connection hole 1441, enabling the electroacupuncture device host 20 to transmit electroacupuncture signals to the needle 11. The third conductive connection layer 143 serves both to fix the needle 11 and to conduct electricity, and the thickness of the third conductive connection layer 143 is relatively thinner than the thickness of the conductive rubber layer 144.

[0076] The reason for choosing the side-insertion conductive rubber design in this scheme is that it reduces the cost of the needle attachment and minimizes the overall space and thickness occupied by the connection between the needle and the fixing base. This is beneficial in treating multiple adjacent acupoints simultaneously, reducing the likelihood of wires becoming tangled. Furthermore, this design allows for easy disconnection and interruption of the circuit in case of sensory disturbances or electrical abnormalities, ensuring the safety of the device.

[0077] Please see Figures 1 to 9 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, in order to better illustrate the principle of the present invention, the patent mentioned in the background art is first described, and the cause of skin blisters is analyzed: such as Figure 10 The diagram shows the electroacupuncture treatment protocol of this non-invasive electronic acupuncture device. Non-invasive electrode pads are applied to points O and Q5, which are actually attached to the skin without piercing it. The electrode pad at point O is the loop electrode, applied to the Dazhui acupoint, and has a larger area. The electrode pad at point Q5 is relatively smaller than that at point O and is applied to the target acupoint. During treatment, the current loop is main unit → point O → point Q5 → main unit, and then repeats. Due to the significant difference in area between the non-invasive electrode pads at points O and Q5, and because they are in the same loop with the same current, the charge movement per unit area at point O is much smaller than at point Q5. This results in a large unit charge density at point Q5, which manifests as a point-like stimulation "needle sensation" caused by the current. However, because the non-invasive electrode pad is applied at point Q5, the current between points O and Q5 passes through the epidermis, where skin resistance is very high.

[0078] Please see Figure 11 As shown, in this embodiment, a needle assembly 10 is used at the target acupoint. The needle assembly 10 mainly consists of a bundle of several fine metal needles. The needle bundle only pierces the epidermal layer of the skin by less than 3mm, forming a minimally invasive procedure. The current circuit is: electroacupuncture device main unit 20 → reference electrode 30 → needle assembly 10 → electroacupuncture device main unit 20. Because the area difference between the reference electrode 30 and the needle bundle in the needle assembly 10 is greater, and because they are in the same circuit with the same current, the charge movement per unit area of ​​the reference electrode 30 is much smaller than that at the needle assembly 10. Therefore, a huge unit charge density will be formed at the needle hole where the needle assembly 10 is inserted into the epidermis, which actually manifests as a point-like stimulation formed by electroacupuncture, directly resulting in a noticeable needle sensation.

[0079] In this embodiment, as mentioned above, in the prior art, since point Q5 is a non-invasive electrode patch, the current between points OQ5 passes through the epidermis, and the skin impedance is very high. However, in this invention, because the needle assembly 10 is inserted via a bundle of needles, the circuit between the reference electrode 30 and the needle assembly 10 is essentially within the body fluid environment inside the skin, not on the skin surface, and is close to a volumetric conductor state (traditional electroacupuncture needles are inserted much deeper, completely achieving an ultra-low resistance state where the internal environment of the human body is essentially the same as that of the conductive wire). The impedance between the reference electrode 30 and the needle assembly 10 is significantly lower than that of point OQ5 by many orders of magnitude. Furthermore, since the present invention essentially involves the needle bundle penetrating the skin, in terms of the most important aspect of acupuncture treatment—the sensation of obtaining qi—the present invention faces far less resistance to actually achieving the sensation of obtaining qi than existing non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices. Apart from the factors of current resistance, from the perspective of the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, the sensation of obtaining qi is often linked to the physical fact that the needle penetrates the skin. The aforementioned non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices do not insert into the skin and achieve the sensation of needling solely through the difference in electrical flux, but it is difficult to achieve the sensation of obtaining qi.

[0080] In this embodiment, from the perspective of the practical application of electroacupuncture, if the resistance of the entire working current circuit becomes larger, the current becomes smaller, the sensation becomes smaller, and the actual sensation (needle sensation) becomes smaller than expected. If the resistance of the entire working current circuit becomes significantly smaller, the current becomes larger, the sensation becomes larger, and the actual sensation (needle sensation) becomes larger than expected.

[0081] Therefore, it is evident that the current intensity required by this invention to achieve the desired acupuncture sensation is significantly lower than that of non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices. Consequently, the operating current of this invention is smaller than that of non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices while achieving the target acupuncture sensation. The thermal effect of the current in this invention on human cells is far less than that of non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices, avoiding the short-term thermal effects caused by intracellular water molecule vibration and the long-term cell apoptosis resulting from the relatively high operating current of non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices. From a clinical perspective, it avoids the current burns and skin blisters associated with non-invasive electronic acupuncture devices.

[0082] In one embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the needle assembly 10 of the present invention actually overcomes the skin resistance of the stratum corneum through an extremely short and fine sterile combined needle bundle electrode, and the reference electrode sheet 30 is attached to the skin surface by means of an adhesive patch, so that the treatment current is reduced to one-thousandth of that of a non-invasive electroacupuncture device, and no longer produces skin rashes and blisters.

[0083] According to the IEC 60479 standard and other relevant references, under low-frequency electrical conditions (e.g., 60Hz), the impedance of a dry stratum corneum is approximately 93kΩ / cm². When using common gel electrodes, the impedance drops to approximately 10.8kΩ / cm² upon initial contact, before the stratum corneum is fully wetted. When using common gel electrodes, the impedance drops to approximately 1000-5000Ω when the stratum corneum and interstitial spaces are fully wetted, or when the stratum corneum is directly wetted. After numerous experiments, when a sharp, good conductor penetrates deep into the skin, within the epidermal layer (approximately 0.3cm), the skin impedance drops to approximately 200Ω. Human body fluids contain a large amount of electrolytes, acting as a volumetric conductor; once the epidermal impedance is breached, the body's internal resistance becomes negligible. Based on this, the present invention proposes a minimally invasive electroacupuncture theory and method. Multiple experiments were conducted, and the fine, sharp needles were inserted into the epidermis at a depth of about 1-2 mm. The working current was only about 2% of that of the non-invasive electronic acupuncture device, which completely overcame the phenomenon of epidermal allergy. At the same time, the patient's sensation was closer to that of traditional electroacupuncture treatment, making it easier to achieve the effect of "deqi" in the human body.

[0084] Please see Figures 1 to 11 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the method of using the minimally invasive acupuncture device further includes a disease TCM classification and acupoint selection system, which is used to output corresponding target acupoints according to the input disease syndrome.

[0085] Apply the reference electrode 30 to the Dazhui acupoint, pierce the epidermis of the skin at the target acupoint with the needle assembly 10, and fix it in place. Connect the electrical connector 21 to the needle assembly 10; when there are multiple target acupoints, use the same number of needle assemblies 10 and electrical connectors 21.

[0086] Turn on the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 to send an electroacupuncture signal to the needle assembly 10; after the electroacupuncture device main unit 20 has finished working, separate the needle assembly 10 from the power connector 21, tear off the needle assembly 10, and discard it.

[0087] In one embodiment of the present invention, the TCM disease classification and acupoint selection system refers to classifying patients with diagnosed modern medical diseases using the TCM diagnostic methods of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation. This makes the efficacy of parallel TCM treatment in the integration of TCM and Western medicine more precise. This system establishes a modern medical disease spectrum database, which summarizes the research results of TCM disease classification over the years. It can trace the origin of a patient's diagnosed modern medical disease name, and through automated machine operation of the "observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation" methods, determine the TCM type of the patient's disease and provide the most suitable acupuncture point prescription. This TCM disease classification and acupoint selection system improves the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for most common diseases.

[0088] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the present invention, and no reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0089] The above embodiments are merely examples of implementation methods of the invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of using an ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation, characterized in that, The application relates to an ultra-minimally-invasive electronic acupuncture instrument, wherein the ultra-minimally-invasive electronic acupuncture instrument comprises a needle assembly (10), an electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) and a reference electrode sheet (30); the reference electrode sheet (30) is connected with the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20); the needle assembly (10) is movably connected with an electric connection head (21) on the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20); the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) is used for transmitting an electronic acupuncture signal to the needle assembly (10) and the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20); during use, the needle assembly (10) only pierces the epidermis (1) of the skin. Furthermore, the needle assembly (10) is provided with multiple groups, the corresponding electric connection heads (21) are provided with the same number, the reference electrode sheet (30) is used as a common reference electrode between the multiple needle assemblies (10) and the electric connection heads (21), a transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit is formed, and a sequential circulating stimulation is adopted for the transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit. The transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit is as follows:

2. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-loop circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple needle assemblies (10) comprise a first needle assembly A, a second needle assembly B, a third needle assembly C and an Nth needle assembly; correspondingly, the multiple electric connection heads (21) comprise a first electric connection head Aa, a second electric connection head Bb, a third electric connection head Cc and an Nth electric connection head; The first needle assembly A is connected with the first electric connection head Aa, the second needle assembly B is connected with the second electric connection head Bb, the third needle assembly C is connected with the second electric connection head Cc, and the Nth needle assembly is connected with the Nth electric connection head; When the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) works, the transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit formed is as follows: The electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) -> the reference electrode sheet (30) -> the first needle assembly A -> the first electric connection head Aa -> the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20), forming loop circulation one; The electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) -> the reference electrode sheet (30) -> the second needle assembly B -> the second electric connection head Bb -> the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20), forming loop circulation two; The electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) -> the reference electrode sheet (30) -> the third needle assembly C -> the second electric connection head Cc -> the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20), forming loop circulation three; The electronic acupuncture instrument host (20) -> the reference electrode sheet (30) -> the Nth needle assembly -> the Nth electric connection head -> the electronic acupuncture instrument host (20), forming loop circulation N. The sequential circulating stimulation is adopted for the transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit, and the sequential circulating stimulation comprises the following steps:

3. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each single-circuit loop in the transient single-circuit circulating multi-loop circuit corresponds to a target acupoint; the stimulation time of each target acupoint is staggered, so that the stimulation of each target acupoint is less than 20 ms; the stimulation time of multiple target acupoints is staggered; according to the human body sensory nerve feeling delay phenomenon, the needle feeling intensity at each target acupoint is balanced. The needle assembly (10) comprises a needle (11), an inner circle insulating layer (12), a viscose layer (13) and a needle fixing base (14).

4. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 3, characterized in that, N≤10。 5. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 1, characterized in that, ​ The inner ring insulation layer (12) and the needle fixing seat (14) are respectively located on two side surfaces of the adhesive layer (13); and the side surface on the same side of the inner ring insulation layer (12) and the adhesive layer (13) has adhesive property. The needle (11) penetrates through the inner ring insulation layer (12) and the adhesive layer (13), and the two ends of the needle (11) are exposed and leak out, and the end of the needle (11) facing the needle fixing seat (14) is fixedly connected with the needle fixing seat (14); and the needle (11) and the needle fixing seat (14) both have electric conductivity.

6. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The needle (11) is provided with a plurality of needles, forming a needle bundle; and the area of the whole needle bundle is less than one square centimeter.

7. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 6, characterized in that, The needle (11) penetrates into the epidermis layer below 3mm.

8. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The needle fixing seat (14) comprises a first magnetic connection port (141); the electric connection head (21) comprises a first insulation shell (211) and a first magnetic electric connection head (212); wherein the first magnetic electric connection head (212) is located in the first insulation shell (211), and is used for being magnetically attracted to the first magnetic connection port (141), so that the electric acupuncture instrument host (20) can transmit the electric acupuncture signal to the needle (11).

9. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The needle fixing seat (14) comprises a second electric connection port (142), and a conductive protrusion (1421) is arranged on the second electric connection port (142); the electric connection head (21) comprises a second insulation shell (213) and a second electric connection head (214); wherein the second electric connection head (214) is located in the second insulation shell (213), and a conductive recess (2141) is arranged on the second electric connection head (214); the conductive recess (2141) is used for being recessed and protruding clamped with the conductive protrusion (1421), the second electric connection head (214) is in contact with the second electric connection port (142), so that the electric acupuncture instrument host (20) can transmit the electric acupuncture signal to the needle (11).

10. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second electric connection port (142) and the second electric connection head (214) have magnetic property.

11. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The needle fixing seat (14) comprises a third electric connection layer (143), a conductive rubber layer (144) and a third insulation layer (145) which are sequentially stacked; a conductive connection hole (1441) is arranged on the conductive rubber layer (144); the electric connection head (21) comprises an insulation head base (215), and a conductive probe column (2151) is arranged on the insulation head base (215); the conductive probe column (2151) is used for being inserted into the conductive connection hole (1441), so that the electric acupuncture instrument host (20) can transmit the electric acupuncture signal to the needle (11).

12. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 11, characterized in that, The third electric connection layer (143) has the functions of fixing the needle (11) and conducting electricity; and the thickness of the third electric connection layer (143) is relatively smaller than the thickness of the conductive rubber layer (144).

13. The method of using the ultra-minimally invasive acupuncture instrument based on instantaneous single-path circulation and sequential stimulation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system further comprises a disease TCM type and acupoint selection system for outputting corresponding target acupoints according to inputted disease types; The reference electrode sheet (30) is attached to the Dazhui acupoint, the needle assembly (10) is used to pierce the epidermis layer of the skin at the target acupoint and is fixed, the electric connection head (21) is connected with the needle assembly (10); when there are multiple target acupoints, the same number of needle assemblies (10) and electric connection heads (21) are used correspondingly; The main machine (20) of the electric acupuncture instrument sends an electric acupuncture signal to the needle assembly (10). When the main machine (20) of the electric acupuncture instrument finishes work, the needle assembly (10) and the electric connection head (21) are separated, the needle assembly (10) is torn off, and is discarded.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Novel intelligent noninvasive electronic needle instrument

    CN114452197A