Variable Speed Intramuscular Needling for Rigid Tissue Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intramuscular stimulation devices struggle with penetrating 'rock-like' muscle zones due to their fixed constant speed and inability to effectively needling such areas, leading to difficulty in obtaining local twitch responses and prolonged treatment times.
Innovation Solution
An intramuscular stimulation needling device equipped with a stepper motor and control unit that allows for variable speed needling, with acceleration during the first half-cycle and deceleration in the second, enabling deeper penetration into rigid muscle tissues by adjusting the delay time between pulses to change the needle's velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a constant speed motor is used for needling, then the device operation is simple and stable, but the needle cannot effectively penetrate 'rock-like' muscle zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static constant-speed motor into a dynamic variable-speed system. The stepper motor can adjust its rotation speed during operation, allowing the needle to penetrate rigid muscle zones with higher speed and force when needed, while maintaining lower speeds for normal needling. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between penetration strength and device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter of the motor during the needling process. By varying the rotation speed of the stepper motor, the system can optimize needle penetration force for different muscle conditions. The control unit adjusts motor parameters in real-time, enabling effective penetration of 'rock-like' zones without requiring a completely different motor system.
2Reliability
If the needle penetrates deeply into rigid muscle tissues, then local twitch responses are obtained, but the treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic acceleration and deceleration cycles during the needle reciprocation. The stepper motor accelerates the needle during the insertion phase to rapidly penetrate deep into rigid muscle tissues, then decelerates during the withdrawal phase. This periodic speed variation allows deep penetration and reliable local twitch responses while minimizing overall treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary acceleration of the needle before it encounters the rigid muscle zone. By pre-accelerating the needle during the initial insertion phase, the system ensures sufficient kinetic energy is available to penetrate deep into tough tissues quickly, reducing the time required to reach the target depth and elicit local twitch responses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the needle reciprocates at fixed stroke length, then the motor control is simple, but the treatment effectiveness varies for different muscle conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the stroke length dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit can adjust the reciprocation stroke length based on the specific muscle condition and treatment requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different muscle depths and rigidities, improving treatment effectiveness while using a programmable stepper motor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the control unit to handle multiple functions: speed regulation, stroke length adjustment, and acceleration control. This multi-functional control system allows a single device to effectively treat various muscle conditions with different characteristics, from soft to 'rock-like' tissues, without requiring multiple specialized devices.
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
This solution allows for effective needling of 'rock-like' trigger point zones, reducing treatment time and increasing the frequency of local twitch responses, thereby enhancing treatment effectiveness and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a stepper motor, a needle and a control unit. The needle can poke an affected muscle tissue, the needle can be operably coupled to the stepper motor, wherein the stepper motor reciprocates the needle within the affected muscle tissue
Data Source
AI summary
An intramuscular stimulation needling device for chronic pain relief. The needling device can include a stepper motor, a needle, and a control unit. The needle can poke an affected muscle tissue and driven by a stepper motor in reciprocating manner. In each cycle, the needle moves a pre-determined distance forwardly in a first half cycle and retracts to original position in a second half cycle. The control unit can accelerate of the needle one or more times in the first half cycle at spaced intervals and decrease the velocity in the reverse pattern in the second half cycle.