Flexible Acupuncture Electrode With Segmented Sites for Current Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electroacupuncture needles face challenges in accurately controlling pulse current direction, leading to poor therapeutic effects, potential tissue damage, and inability to maintain long-term stimulation due to metal corrosion and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A flexible electrode with a multi-layer structure, including insulating and conductive layers, is implanted at acupoints to deliver precise electrical stimulation, allowing for long-term treatment with controlled current distribution and reduced tissue damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional metal needles are used for electroacupuncture, then electrical stimulation can be delivered to acupoints, but the pulse current direction cannot be accurately controlled and tissue damage may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent direction controlVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle electrode is segmented into multiple independent electrode sites (positive and negative electrodes) along the needle body. Each electrode site can be independently controlled to deliver electrical stimulation in specific directions, enabling precise control of current direction and reducing unintended tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the needle electrode are assigned different electrical polarities (positive and negative electrodes) to create localized electrical fields. This allows the current to be concentrated in specific directions at specific locations, improving measurement precision of current direction while minimizing harmful effects on surrounding tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of moving object

If metal needles are implanted for long-term electroacupuncture, then continuous stimulation can be provided, but metal corrosion occurs and causes discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestimulation durationVSAvoidmetal corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The needle electrode is constructed as a composite structure with a metal core wire providing mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, and an insulating coating layer (such as Parylene) providing corrosion resistance. This composite material structure enables long-term implantation without metal corrosion while maintaining electrical functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

An insulating coating layer serves as an intermediary between the metal core wire and the biological tissue environment. This intermediate layer protects the metal from direct contact with corrosive bodily fluids, preventing corrosion and enabling long-term reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If traditional electroacupuncture needles are used, then electrical stimulation can be delivered, but the therapeutic effect is poor due to inability to concentrate current

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical stimulation intensityVSAvoidcurrent concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The needle electrode is divided into multiple segmented electrode sites with defined positive and negative poles. This segmentation allows the electrical current to be concentrated between adjacent opposite-polarity electrodes, creating focused high-intensity stimulation zones that improve therapeutic effect while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The flexible electrode provides accurate, concentrated electrical stimulation, enhancing therapeutic effects while minimizing tissue damage and discomfort, enabling long-term treatment without metal corrosion.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of wires are to respectively apply identical or different electrical stimulations to the acupoint through the plurality of electrode sites after implantation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250360052A1Flexible electrode for acupuncture and method for manufacturing same

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 SHANGHAI STAIRMED TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible electrode (100, 200) for acupuncture and a method (300) for manufacturing the same. An implanted portion of the flexible electrode (100, 200) can be implanted into an acupoint for a long or short term. The flexible electrode (100, 200) includes a first insulating layer (201), a second insulating layer (202), and a wire layer (203) located between the first and second insulating layers (201, 202). The implanted portion (110, 210) includes multiple electrode sites, each electrode site is electrically coupled to one of multiple wires in the wire layer (203), and is in contact with the acupoint after implantation. The multiple wires are configured to respectively apply identical or different electrical stimulations to the acupoint through the multiple electrode sites after implantation.