ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLING TORQUE SENSOR

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心，不一定是研究者所在机构。针灸针旋转（单向或双向）导致结缔组织缠绕在针周围，并增加了对进一步轴向针运动（如提刺）的阻力。这种生物力学现象，被称为“抓针”，是特征性的“得气”反应的一个组成部分，被广泛认为是针灸治疗效果的关键。在针旋转期间，继续旋转所需的扭矩逐渐增加。针灸师在操作针时会感觉到针扭矩的变化。因此，对针扭矩的感知构成了针灸师用来确定是否达到“得气”的触觉反馈的重要形式。通过适当调整针刺技术来响应这种反馈被认为是针刺师技能的重要组成部分。能够客观地测量针扭矩的仪器将在针灸研究、教学和实践中具有重要的应用，提供：在针灸研究期间提供可再现的针刺程序的手段，允许控制所提供的针刺刺激的程度。 一个客观的测量针操作技术，使学生可以比较他们的技术直接向他们的教练。这将缓解针灸教育的主要挑战之一，即向学生传达对于给定患者来说，多少针操作是“刚刚好”的。 一种客观地比较目前实践中各种各样的针刺技术的方法。这将导致更好地理解这些不同技术的相对好处。 扭矩的永久记录，以便随着时间的推移监测患者对治疗的反应。我们的总体目标是开发和测试一种简单的手持式传感器，能够进行这种客观的针头扭矩测量。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Acupuncture needle rotation (uni-or bi-directional) results in winding of connective tissue around the needle and increased resistance to further axial needle movements (such as lifting and thrusting). This biomechanical phenomenon, termed "needle grasp", is a component of the characteristic "de qi" response widely viewed as key to acupuncture's therapeutic effect. During needle rotation, the torque required to continue rotation progressively increases. Acupuncturists feel for this change in needle torque as they manipulate the needle. The perception of needle torque therefore constitutes an important form of tactile feedback used by acupuncturists to determine whether "de qi" has been achieved. Responding to this feedback by appropriate adjustments in needle technique is thought to be an important component of an acupuncturist's skill. An instrument capable of objectively measuring needle torque would have important applications in acupuncture research, teaching, and practice providing: A means for delivering reproducible needling procedures during acupuncture research, allowing control over the extent of needling stimulus delivered. An objective measure of needle manipulation technique so that students can compare their technique directly to that of their instructor. This would alleviate one of the major challenges in acupuncture education, which is to communicate to the student how much needle manipulation is "just right" for a given patient. A means for objectively comparing the wide variety of needling techniques currently in practice. This should lead to an improved understanding of the relative benefits of these various techniques. A permanent record of torque so that a patient's response to treatments can be monitored over time. Our overall goal in this grant is to develop and test a simple hand-held sensor capable of making such objective needle torque measurements.