Therapeutic and diagnostic needling device and method

• US 6,808,499 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• Original Assignee: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• Inventors: Churchill, David L., Langevin, Helene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/188,213
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/372, 600/562, 600/564, 600/566, 600/567, 600/568, 600/573, 600/576, 600/578, 439/482, 439/820, 439/909, 606/185, 606/189, 604/117
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/02 Devices for locating such points
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/08 Devices for applying needles to such points, i.e. for acupuncture ; Acupuncture needles or accessories therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a needling device for mechanically effecting needling procedures according to predetermined parameters and/or measuring the physical and/or electrical characteristics of such needling procedures. The invention also relates to methods of using the invention for mechanically effecting needling procedures according to predetermined parameters and/or measuring the physical and/or electrical characteristics of such needling procedures.

Claims

1. A needling device comprising:

(a) an elongated encasement;

(b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement and adapted to receive and hold a needle; and

(c) at least one mounted rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.

2. A needling device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one rotary actuator includes a motor.

3. A needling device as in claim 1, wherein said needle mount includes a collet clamp.

4. A needling device as in claim 1, wherein said needle mount includes a collet clamp adapted to receive and hold the blunt end of an acupuncture needle.

5. A needling device as in claim 1, wherein said needle mount is adapted to establish electrical continuity with a needle held by said needle mount such that EMG signals may be detected using the needle as an EMG probe.

6. A needling device as in claim 5, further comprising a switch configured to establish and break the electrical continuity.

7. A needling device as in claim 5, further comprising an EMG amplifier further configured to amplify EMG signals and to transmit the signals to an analog power meter.

8. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising a contacting extension at an end of said encasement for resting against a subject to stabilize the device during needle insertion.

9. A needling device as in claim 8, wherein said extension includes a loadsensor for detecting and generating an output indicative of the amount of force with which the needling device is being held against the subject.

10. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one linear actuator.

11. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising at least one activation switch configured to provide power to said at least one rotary actuator.

12. A needling device as in claim 10, wherein said at least one linear actuator includes a miniature DC servomotor.

13. A needling device as in claim 10, wherein said at least one linear actuator is coupled to said needle mount by a lead screw device.

14. A needling device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one rotary actuator includes a miniature DC servomotor.

15. A needling device as in claim 10, wherein at least one of said at least one linear actuator and said at least one rotary actuator is configured as a stepper motor.

16. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising a linear variable displacement transducer mounted in said elongated encasement for providing a measure of axial needle position with respect to a needle held by said needle mount.

17. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising a uniaxial strain gauge loadcell positioned to measure the axial load applied to said at least one rotary actuator during at least one of needle insertion and needle retraction.

18. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising a computerized control system in communication with said device to control said at least one rotary actuator in a manner that permits insertion, manipulation, and retraction of a needle held by said needle mount.

19. A needling device as in claim 18, further comprising:

at least one activation switch mounted to the needling device;

wherein said computerized control system is configured to control insertion, manipulation, and retraction of the needle by activating said at least one activation switch.

20. A needling device as in claim 19, further comprising:

(a) a uniaxial strain gauge loadcell positioned to measure the axial load applied to said at least one rotary actuator during at least one of needle insertion and needle retraction; and

(b) an activation switch that generates a signal instructing said computerized control system to zero said loadcell in a starting position and to begin sampling data.

21. A needling device as in claim 18, wherein said computerized control system is programmed to continuously monitor parameters of needle insertion and to terminate operation of the needling device if one or more parameters exceeds at least one predetermined threshold.

22. A needling device as in claim 21, wherein said at least one predetermined threshold includes:

(a) the needle being inserted more than about 2 mm deeper than a target depth;

or

(b) a maximum insertion or retraction force reaching 3.9 N.

23. A needling device as in claim 8, wherein the axial travel of said needle mount is limited by mechanical contact of said needle mount with said contacting extension.

24. A needling device as in claim 1, further comprising a control and data acquisition system adapted to electrically communicate with the needling device using optical isolation amplifiers.

25. A method of using a needling device, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a needling device as recited in claim 1; and

(b) using the needling device to complete at least one step selected from the group consisting of (i) inserting a needle into a subject, (ii) manipulating the needle, and (iii) withdrawing the needle;

wherein said using step is performed to obtain at least one of physical and electrical data.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said using step is performed as a component of a therapeutic regimen.

27. A method as in claim 25, wherein said using step is performed as a component of a diagnostic regimen.

28. A method as in claim 26, wherein said using step includes inserting a needle into an acupuncture point of a subject.

29. A method as in claim 26, wherein said using step is performed to elicit needle grasp.

30. A method as in claim 26, wherein said using step is performed to elicit de qi.

31. A method as in claim 25, further comprising:

(c) measuring at least one of physical and electrical parameters associated with any step completed in (b); and

(d) comparing said at least one of physical and electrical parameters with a corresponding one of normal physical and electrical parameters to detect the presence of any adverse medical conditions.

32. A method as in claim 25, further comprising:

(c) measuring at least one of physical and electrical parameters associated with any step completed in (b).

33. A method of using a needling device, comprising:

(a) providing a needling device; and

(b) using the needling device to complete at least one step selected from the group consisting of (i) inserting a needle into a subject, (ii) manipulating the needle, and (iii) withdrawing the needle;

wherein said needling device includes a shaft, a needle grip mounted at an end of said shaft, a needle mounted in said needle grip and adapted for in vivo use in an animal or a human, and at least one mechanism selected from the group consisting of (i) mechanism for providing an output indicative of retraction force coupled to said shaft or said needle grip and (ii) mechanism for providing an output indicative of torque caused by rotation of said needle coupled to said shaft or said needle grip.

34. A method of using a needling device, comprising:

(a) providing a needling device; and

(b) using the needling device to complete at least one step selected from the group consisting of (i) inserting a needle into a subject, (ii) manipulating the needle, and (iii) withdrawing the needle;

wherein said needling device includes a shaft, a needle grip mounted at an end of said shaft, a needle mounted in said needle grip and adapted for in vivo use in an animal or a human, and a force indicator coupled to said shaft or said needle grip.

35. A needling device comprising:

(a) an elongated encasement;

(b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement and adapted to receive and hold a needle;

(c) at least one linear actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart linear motion to said needle mount; and

(d) at least one rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.

36. A needling device as in claim 35, wherein said at least one linear actuator includes a miniature DC servomotor.

37. A needling device as in claim 35, wherein said at least one linear actuator is coupled to said needle mount by a lead screw device.

38. A needling device as in claim 35, wherein at least one of said at least one linear actuator and said at least one rotary actuator is configured as a stepper motor.

39. A needling device comprising:

(a) an elongated encasement;

(b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement, said needle mount adapted to receive and hold a needle and adapted to establish electrical continuity with the needle held by said needle mount such that EMG signals may be detected using the needle as an EMG probe;

(c) a switch configured to establish and break the electrical continuity between said needle mount and the needle; and

(d) at least one actuator selected from the group consisting of (i) a linear actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart linear motion to said needle mount and (ii) a rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.