Insulated Electrode Acupoint Stimulation for Precise Deep Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing acupuncture therapies, such as electro-acupuncture and warm acupuncture, face challenges in providing precise stimulation to acupoints due to needle bending, difficulty in applying appropriate stimulus intensity, and limited depth of stimulation, while conventional electrical stimulators struggle to target deep local acupoint areas accurately.
Innovation Solution
An acupoint stimulation device with insulated electrodes and a controller that generates targeted electrical stimulus signals, using biosignal measurement to determine optimal electrode pairs for precise acupoint stimulation, and includes a heating unit to enhance depth of treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal needle is used in electro-acupuncture therapy, then electrical stimulation can be applied to the acupoint, but the needle may bend due to the weight of the attached clip, changing the orientation of the needle tip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical metal needle system with a flexible wire-based electrode system. The wire can be bent to match body contours without compromising structural integrity, eliminating the bending problem of rigid metal needles while maintaining electrical stimulation capability. This substitution allows the electrode to conform to the treatment area without requiring clips or additional fixation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible wire electrodes that can be shaped and positioned according to the body's anatomy. These thin, flexible conductors can be routed along muscle paths and contoured to reach deep acupoints without rigid structural support, thereby preventing orientation changes while remaining easy to manipulate and position.
2Reliability
If a pulse wave signal is used for electrical stimulation, then the signal magnitude can be adjusted, but the short signal application time makes it difficult to provide an appropriate amount of stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes continuous or prolonged electrical stimulation through the flexible wire electrode system, replacing brief pulse wave applications with sustained current delivery. This periodic or continuous stimulation mode allows adequate time for therapeutic effect accumulation while maintaining adjustable intensity through electrical parameter control rather than relying on brief high-magnitude pulses.
3Measurement precision
If conventional electrical stimulators are used, then electrical stimulation can be applied to muscles or nerves, but it is difficult to stimulate deep local acupoint areas accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating electrical stimulation at specific acupoint locations through strategically placed electrode contacts on the flexible wire. The electrode can be positioned to deliver current precisely at the target acupoint while the flexible structure allows the treatment to extend to deep tissues along the wire's path, achieving both precision and depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible wire electrode introduces a spatial dimension that allows stimulation to proceed along the length of the wire, reaching deep tissues by following muscle or nerve pathways. This linear extension along the wire's axis enables deep local stimulation at the target acupoint while maintaining precise positioning through the wire's flexible configurability.
4Reliability
If clips are coupled to the metal needle for electrical stimulation, then electrical current can be transmitted, but the added weight causes the needle to bend and the orientation to change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid metal needle with a flexible wire electrode system that inherently maintains its shape without requiring additional mechanical fixation. The wire's flexibility allows it to conform to the body without bending under clip weight, while electrical connection stability is achieved through direct skin contact or secure attachment methods that do not add significant weight.
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 device provides accurate and appropriate stimulation to acupoints, enhancing treatment efficacy by ensuring precise electrode placement and intensity control, while preventing skin burns and improving biometric levels.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit to enhance depth of treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an acupoint stimulation device and an acupoint stimulation method using the same. The acupoint stimulation device includes: a power supply unit configured to supply power; a controller configured to generate an electrical stimulus signal applied to a skin of the subject; and an electrical stimulation unit including two or more electrodes configured to receive power from the power supply unit and to supply the stimulus signal to the acupoint area, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a state of being electrically insulated from each other and are in electrical contact with the skin of the subject. Thereby, it is possible to provide an appropriate amount of stimulation required for treatment and symptom relief by providing stimulation to an accurate acupoint position.