The Investigation Of Automatic Needling Apparatus For Acupuncture

Wang Yongsheng (Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Wuhan First Hospital)

In 1955, we had successfully designed and manufactured a "single tube rapid and painless needling apparatus" and a "multi-tube rotary needling apparatus". However, the needle was loaded one by one, and pulled off by hand after each insertion, not so much satisfying for clinical requirements.

For 20 years, research and improvement have been made constantly. In 1975, a new "automatic needling apparatus" was successfully manufactured, with the structure and mechanical principle similar to those of the stapler, 20 filiform needles can be loaded at one set and 20 points can be consecutively acupunctured. Moreover the needle can be fed automatically and during acupuncture, it can be swiftly inserted into the point so long as the thumb slightly presses. Therefore the patient could hardly feel any pain and enables a novice to insert the needle in a quick and painless way. At the same time, sterilization is strict and there is no influence on the traditional reenforcing and reducing manipulations as well as on the strength in strong and weak stimulations. Since the needle is inserted painlessly, the patient would not be frightened and would cooperate with the doctor, thus the curative effect may be enhanced.