ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLING TORQUE SENSOR

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 针灸针旋转(单向或双向)会导致结缔组织缠绕在针周围，并增加对进一步轴向移动(如提针和插针)的阻力。这种生物力学现象被称为“握针”，是被广泛认为是针灸疗效关键的特征“德气”反应的组成部分。 在针旋转过程中，继续旋转所需的扭矩逐渐增加。针灸医生在操作针头时，会感觉到针头扭矩的变化。因此，针对扭矩的感知构成了针灸医生用来确定是否已经达到“德气”的一种重要的触觉反馈形式。通过对针灸技术的适当调整来回应这种反馈被认为是针灸医生技能的重要组成部分。 能够客观测量针头扭矩的仪器将在针灸研究、教学和实践中有重要的应用，提供： 一种在针灸研究期间提供可重复的针刺程序的方法，允许控制所提供的针刺刺激的程度。 针灸技术的一种客观测量方法，以便学生可以直接将他们的技术与他们的老师的技术进行比较。这将缓解针灸教育中的一个主要挑战，即向学生传达多少针操作对给定的患者来说是“恰到好处”的。 一种客观地比较目前实践中各种针灸技术的手段。这应该会使人们更好地理解这些不同技术的相对好处。 扭矩的永久记录，以便可以随着时间的推移监测患者对治疗的反应。 我们在这笔赠款中的总体目标是开发和测试一种简单的手持传感器，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.