Abstract
An automatic acupuncture device includes: a case; a motor or an electromagnet; a needle driver, configured to move linearly under the force of the motor or electromagnet to drive an acupuncture needle in a needle gadget into a human body, the needle gadget comprising a needle tube and an acupuncture needle inside the needle tube; a needle gadget chamber configured to house the needle gadget; and a locking-releasing structure that is configured to lock the needle gadget so that it will not fall out of the needle gadget chamber during acupuncture treatment, and also configured to release the needle gadget from the needle gadget chamber after acupuncture treatment. A needle gadget is provided for use with the acupuncture device, so that the acupuncture needle will not be exposed in air outside the needle tube before or after acupuncture. The acupuncture process is automatic, safe, without complicated manual operation.
Claims
1. An automatic acupuncture device, comprising: a case; one or more motors or electromagnets that are configured to provide force to move one or more needle drivers linearly after powered on; one or more needle drivers that are configured to move linearly under the force of the motors or electromagnets to push acupuncture needles in needle gadgets into human body, where a needle gadget includes a needle tube and an acupuncture needle inside the needle tube, the needle gadget is configured to keep the acupuncture needle with the needle tube before, during and after acupuncture treatment, so that the acupuncture needle will not be exposed to air outside of the needle tube to cause injury; one or more needle gadget chambers that are configured to house the needle gadgets, allowing the needle gadgets being put into or taken out of the needle gadget chambers detachably.
2. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more locking-releasing structures that are configured to lock the needle gadgets in the needle gadget chambers so that the needle gadgets will not fall out of the needle gadget chambers during acupuncture treatment, and that are also configured to release the needle gadgets from the needle gadget chambers after acupuncture treatment.
3. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit, which is configured to control device initialization, needle insertion, needle manipulation, needle removing, and/or user interface displaying.
4. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the motors are configured as rotary motors and motor shafts rotate when powered on, wherein the automatic acupuncture device further comprises transmission systems that convert rotary motions to linear motions.
5. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 4, the transmission system comprising: a screw rod connected to the motor shaft; a guide rail or a guide rod; a screw nut around the screw rod that slides along the guide rail or guide rod when the screw rod rotates, to move the connected needle driver linearly.
6. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the motor is configured as a linear motor, and is connected with a needle driver on its motor shaft, when powered on, the motor shaft and the needle driver move linearly.
7. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 6 wherein the motor shaft moves linearly as well as rotate, which drive the needle to move linearly and rotate through an uneven surface coupling between the needle driver and the needle top, to perform rotating and thrusting acupuncture manipulation.
8. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the needle driver is a bar, and the top of the needle tube of the needle gadget has a hole to allow the needle driver entering the needle tube along the direction of the needle, getting in touch with the needle top, and pushing the needle out of the needle tube.
9. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the needle driver is a bar, the top of the needle tube of the needle gadget has a hole, the side of the needle tube has a slit, the slit and the hole are connected, and when in use, the needle driver enters the needle tube through the hole and the slit, makes contact with the needle top, and moves down through the slit on the side of the needle tube to push the needle out of the need tube.
10. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the needle driver is a bar, the side of the needle tube of the needle gadget has a slit with a width wider than the needle driver, and when in use, the needle driver enters the needle tube through the slit on the side of the needle tube, makes contact with the needle top to move the needle.
11. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the needle driver has a shape of a fork or a clip, which is used to clamp on the needle top to move the needle.
12. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the case includes a first case part and a second case part, with the first case part and the second case part movable relative to each other, wherein the second case part houses the needle gadget chamber; when the first case part and the second case part are relatively opened, the needle gadget chamber is exposed and allows the needle gadget to be inserted; after the needle gadget is inserted, the first case part and the second case part are closed and the needle gadget is locked inside the needle gadget chamber for acupuncture treatment.
13. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery to power the motor or the electromagnet.
14. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic acupuncture device is in the shape of a cylinder, the diameter of the cylinder is less than 30 mm, and the height is less than 25 mm.
15. The automatic acupuncture device according to claim 14, the needle gadget is completely inserted into the needle gadget chamber from the bottom, side or top surface of the cylinder, and no parts bulge out from the cylinder.
16. A method to do acupuncture with an automatic acupuncture device, the method including: inserting a needle gadget into a needle gadget chamber of the automatic acupuncture device and locking it inside; attaching the automatic acupuncture device onto human body surface; powering on the automatic acupuncture device automatically or manually; running a computer program stored in a control circuit of the automatic acupuncture device to start a motor or electromagnet, to control a needle driver, to push an acupuncture needle, and/or to perform acupuncture manipulations; allowing the acupuncture needle to stay in human body for a preset period of time; after the preset period of time, controlling the motor or electromagnet to remove force from the needle top and allow a needle-holding spring in the needle gadget to pop out the needle from human body, or to exert a pulling force on the needle top to pull the needle out of human body, or to exert a trigger force to pop out the needle from human body; after the acupuncture treatment, detaching the automatic acupuncture device from the body.
17. The method to do acupuncture with an automatic acupuncture device of claim 16, wherein the method to attach the automatic acupuncture device onto human body surface is to use a double-sided adhesive tape to stick the acupuncture device on to human body and/or use a strap to wear the device onto human body.
18. A method to do acupuncture with an automatic acupuncture device, when needles are inserted into the skin of the human body, they are inserted in a vibration mode, like mosquitos insert the tips of their mouthparts into human being skin.
19. The method according to claim 18, the vibration mode is in a frequency of 0.2 to 16 Hz.
20. The method according to claim 18, the vibration distance is in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0056] FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of an automatic acupuncture device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] FIGS. 2A and 2B show an internal structure of the needle gadget chamber and a locking-releasing structure that can be used in the automatic acupuncture device in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a schematic diagram that the needle gadget has been inserted into the needle gadget chamber, the locking head 197 is pressed in the needle tube locking notch 240, and the needle driver has partially pushed the acupuncture needle out of the needle tube. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing that the locking head 197 is pushed away from the needle gadget when the needle gadget is half inserted or ejected.
[0058] FIGS. 2C and 2D show another internal design of the needle gadget chamber and a locking-releasing structure that can be used in the automatic acupuncture device in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2C and 2D differ from FIGS. 2A and 2B in the design of the needle tube locking notch 240 and a bulging column 258.
[0059] FIG. 3A shows a schematic design of an automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C show pictures of a real motor whose motor shaft moves linearly. The motor shaft in FIG. 3B is in the high position, and the motor shaft in FIG. 3C is in the low position.
[0060] FIG. 4 show internal structures of a needle gadget chamber (FIG. 4A), a needle gadget (FIG. 4B), a needle driver that is connected with the motor shaft (FIG. 4C) and an acupuncture needle and a needle-holding spring (FIG. 4D) that are housed inside a needle tube and can be used in the acupuncture device in FIG. 3, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0061] FIGS. 5A-5D show a schematic diagram of the working principle of the locking head 380 that is used in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 5A and 5C show a bottom view of the acupuncture device case, and FIGS. 5B and 5D show the inside surface of the bottom part 395 of the automatic acupuncture device case. FIGS. 5A and 5B show that the locking head 380 protrudes into the needle gadget chamber opening, and FIGS. 5C and 5D show that the locking head 380 is pushed out of the needle gadget chamber opening.
[0062] FIGS. 5E-5F show another schematic diagram of the working principle of the locking head 380 used in FIG. 3. In this design, the locking head 380 is only used on one side of the needle gadget chamber opening. FIG. 5E shows a state when the locking head is pressed into the chamber opening. FIG. 5F shows a state when the locking head is pushed away.
[0063] FIGS. 5G-5H show another schematic diagram of the working principle of a locking-release structure. FIG. 5G has the locking head protrudes into the needle gadget chamber and FIG. 5H has the locking head pushed out of the needle gadget chamber.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a schematic design of another automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIGS. 7A-7F show the detailed design of the needle gadget chamber 670 from FIG. 6.
[0066] FIG. 8 shows a schematic design of another automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 9 shows a detailed design of the case in FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0068] FIGS. 10A-10D show a needle gadget used with the automatic acupuncture device in FIG. 8, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0069] FIG. 11A shows a schematic design of an automatic acupuncture device driven by an electromagnet, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11B shows the internal structure of the needle gadget chamber and a needle gadget.
[0070] FIG. 12A shows another design of an automatic acupuncture device and a needle gadget according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12B shows a schematic diagram of the needle gadget chamber. FIG. 12C is the schematic diagram of the needle gadget. FIG. 12D is the schematic diagram of the bottom of the automatic acupuncture device. FIG. 12E is the needle driver 1215, and FIG. 12F is the top view of FIG. 12C, FIG. 12G. shows an ejector spring with a block 1212.
[0071] FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams showing how an automatic acupuncture device attaches on the skin according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1320 is double-sided adhesive tape and 1330 is release paper of double-sided adhesive tape. There is a small hole in the center of the double-sided adhesive tape that matches with the needle outlet 1315 at the bottom of the automatic acupuncture device 1310. During acupuncture, the needle passes through the outlet of the acupuncture device and the hole of the double-sided adhesive tape and inserts into the skin.
[0072] FIGS. 13C and 13D are schematic diagrams showing how an automatic acupuncture device attaches on the skin according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1340 is a strap that can fasten the automatic acupuncture device 1310 around the body part and attach it on to the skin.
[0073] FIGS. 14A and 14B show accessory designs of an automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0074] FIG. 15 shows the vibration mode with which an acupuncture needle in inserted into the body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0075] The embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0076] The inventive ideas of the invention are described as following: the acupuncture needle is pushed into the skin by a mini-motor or electromagnet to achieve the effect of acupuncture; two modes are preferred: 1), the motor moves the needle driver and the needle driver pushes the needle into the human body, which completes the insertion action; the acupuncture needle is ejected out from the human body by a spring attached to the needle, which is compressed during needle insertion; 2), the needle driver is made into a shape of a fork or a clip, which clamps on the needle top and moves the needle to do acupuncture; this type of automatic acupuncture device can both insert and remove needles. Electromagnetic acupuncture uses electromagnet to generate magnetic force and moves the needle through needle driver.
[0077] FIG. 1 shows a structural diagram of an automatic acupuncture device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic acupuncture device includes: a case 110; a motor 150, which is configured to exert force to move a needle driver after powered on; a needle driver 180, which is configured to move linearly under the force of a motor to insert the acupuncture needle in a needle gadget into the human body; the needle gadget that includes a needle tube and an acupuncture needle inside the needle tube; and a needle gadget chamber 190, which is configured to house the needle gadget; and a locking-releasing structure 191-198, which is configured to lock the needle gadget inside the needle gadget chamber, so that the needle gadget will not fall out of the needle gadget chamber during acupuncture, and which is also configured to release the needle gadget from the needle gadget chamber after acupuncture treatment.
[0079] The motor is preferably a mini-motor and there is a screw rod 140 connected to its shaft. When the mini-motor is powered on, its rotating shaft drives the screw rod to rotate, and the rechargeable battery 160 supplies power to the mini-motor. The rechargeable battery can be charged through USB charging or through wireless charging. If the wireless charging is adopted, a wireless charging receiver should be added to the acupuncture device.
[0080] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the automatic acupuncture device also includes a guide rail 120, a screw nut 130, a screw rod 140 connected with the motor shaft, a rechargeable battery 160, and a control circuit 170.
[0081] The control circuit 170 controls the device starting, needle insertion, needle removing, needle manipulation and/or user interface displaying. In this example, the automatic acupuncture device uses a rotary motor. The screw rod 140 is coupled with a screw nut 130. The screw nut moves linearly on the screw rod when the screw rod rotates. One end of the screw nut is connected with a needle driver 180, which moves up and down with the screw nut, to insert the acupuncture needle into the skin or allow the removal of the needle. The guide rail 120 makes the screw nut 130 sliding more stably and prevents the screw nut 130 from rotating with the screw rod. The acupuncture device also includes a locking-releasing structure 191-198 for locking and releasing the needle gadget, which will be explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. The whole acupuncture device is enclosed in the case 110. 190 is the top of the chamber for the needle gadget.
[0082] Optionally, the automatic acupuncture device is in the shape of a cylinder, the diameter of the cylinder is less than 30 mm, and the height is less than 25 mm. In one design according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder's diameter is 28 mm and the height is 21 mm. It is very small, light and convenient to wear, carry, store and operate.
[0083] Accordingly, the needle gadget is also very small. In an embodiment, the diameter of the needle tube of the needle gadget is less than 4 mm. The diameter of the needle tube bottom is less than 10 mm. The length of the needle tube is less than 18 mm. In a specific design, the diameter of the needle tube is 2 mm. The needle tube bottom has a diameter of 6.6 mm. Then length of the needle tube is 14 mm.
[0084] In an embodiment, after the needle gadget is inserted into a needle gadget chamber of an automatic acupuncture device, no parts of the needle gadget bulge out of the automatic acupuncture device.
[0085] In an embodiment, the automatic acupuncture device comprises one motor or one electromagnet, one needle driver, one needle gadget chamber, where one needle driver drives one needle in a needle gadget. In other embodiments, more than one needle gadgets can be inserted into an automatic acupuncture device and can be moved by multiple needle drivers. The needle drivers can be driven by multiple motors or electromagnet, or the needle drivers can be driven by one motor or electromagnet.
[0086] The automatic acupuncture device is operated by small motor or electromagnet. When in use, the user inserts the needle gadget into the needle gadget chamber of the acupuncture device and attaches the acupuncture device on the body through double-sided tape or through a strap. The motor or electromagnet then starts the acupuncture treatment according to specific signal (timer or physiological signal detected from the body). One thing to point out, the acupuncture device does not have to have the locking-release structure. The needle gadget can be secured inside an acupuncture device through tap or through strap.
[0087] When operating the automatic acupuncture device described above, the users do not need to hold it. Instead, the device is attached on the human body through double-sided tape or a strap.
[0088] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the internal structure of the needle gadget chamber presented in FIG. 1, and the schematic diagram of the locking-releasing structure. The structure shown in the figure includes a needle driver 180, the needle gadget chamber 190, the spring pusher 194, sliding button 192 for the spring pusher, vertical connecting rod 191 for the spring pusher, horizontal connecting rod 193 for the spring pusher, the flat spring 196, the fixing head 195 for the flat spring, the locking head 197 on the flat spring, the slot spring 198 for the spring pusher, the needle gadget ejector spring 210, needle tube top 215, the hole on the needle tube top 216, the needle top 220, the side of the needle tube 225, the needle-holding spring 230, the needle shaft 235, the needle tip 256, the wall of the needle gadget chamber 237, the needle tube locking notch 240, the needle tube bottom 245, the opening of the needle gadget chamber 250 and the needle outlet of the needle tube 255. The needle driver 180 is connected with the screw rod 140 of the motor through the screw nut 130 in FIG. 1. The driving head 180 drives the needle by pushing the needle top 220. The diameter of the needle top 220 is larger than that of the hole on the needle tube top 216, to prevent the needle from falling out of the needle tube 225.
[0089] In FIG. 2A, the acupuncture needle shaft 235 and the needle top 220 are connected. The needle-holding spring 230 is around the needle shaft and stays between the needle top and the bottom of the needle tube. During acupuncture, the needle-holding spring 230 is compressed by needle driver 180, and the acupuncture needle shaft 235 is pushed out of the needle tube outlet 255 and inserted into the human body. To withdraw the needle, the needle driver 180 removes the force from the needle top and the compressed needle-holding spring 230 extends and pops the acupuncture needle out of the skin. The design of such a needle gadget keeps the acupuncture needle always with the needle tube. Before and after use, the needle-holding spring always presses the needle top onto the needle tube top, and the needle tip hides inside the needle tube to prevent it from accidentally sticking people. Because the needle has a tip end and a top end and requires to be inserted in correct direction, in this embodiment, a needle tube bottom 245 is designed with larger diameter than the rest of the needle tube 225, to ensure that the needle gadget being inserted into the needle gadget chamber in correct direction. In addition, to lock the needle gadget so that it does not fall out during acupuncture, a locking head 197 and a needle tube locking notch 240 are designed. When pushing the needle gadget in, the locking head is pressed into the locking notch and the needle gadget is locked, and at the same time, the ejector spring 210 is compressed. After acupuncture, the user pushes the sliding button 192 to move the spring pusher 194, which in turn presses on the flat spring 196, and force the locking head 197 out of the locking notch 240. The compressed ejector spring 210 then ejects the needle gadget out. 191 and 913 are the vertical and horizontal connecting rods between the spring pusher 194 and the sliding button 192. The ejector spring 210 is fixed on the top of the needle gadget chamber. 198 is a spring in the slot where the sliding button 192 moves. The fixing head 195 fixes the flat spring 196 on wall 237 of the acupuncture device case.
[0090] FIG. 2B is the schematic diagram of the needle gadget chamber when the needle gadget is ejected by the ejector spring 210. At this time, the locking head 197 is pushed out of the locking notch and the needle gadget chamber.
[0091] FIG. 2C and FIG. 2D show another schematic diagram of the needle gadget, the needle gadget chamber, and the locking-releasing structure according to an embodiment of the invention. They are similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B, except the following two differences: 1) the locking notch 241 does not protrude into the inner space of the needle tube, but only slightly cuts into the side of the needle tube; and 2) the needle tube bottom protrudes into the needle tube a hollow column 258 with an outer diameter smaller than the needle-holding spring and an inner diameter slightly larger than the needle shaft, which has two main advantages: 1) stabilize the needle-holding spring, 2) prevent the bending of acupuncture needle during insertion.
[0092] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of another automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the invention, including linear motor 340, motor shaft 310 with thread 312, screw nut 335 fixed inside the motor. The motor shaft rotates in the screw nut to generate linear motion. The automatic acupuncture device also includes a case 320, a needle gadget chamber 350, a rechargeable battery 360, a control circuit 370, an opening of the needle gadget chamber 390, locking heads 380 and the bottom part of the case 395. This design uses a linear motor. The motor shaft moves linearly and push the needle to do acupuncture. FIGS. 3B and 3C show an example of a real linear motor. FIG. 3B shows the motor with the motor shaft at a higher position, and FIG. 3C shows the motor with the motor shaft at a lower position.
[0093] FIG. 4A-4D show detail schematic diagrams of the needle gadget chamber presented in FIG. 3, including the needle gadget chamber (FIG. 4A), the needle gadget (FIG. 4B), the needle driver which is a continuation of the motor shaft (FIG. 4C), and the acupuncture needle with needle-holding spring (FIG. 4D). The components shown in the figures include a motor shaft 310, threads on the shaft 312, an uneven surface 315 of needle driver, needle top 440, uneven surface 445 of the needle top, the needle gadget chamber side wall 350, the needle gadget chamber top 410, ejector spring 420, the needle tube top 430, the needle tube bottom 470, the indent on the needle tube bottom 490 and the needle outlet 480. As shown in FIG. 4D, the acupuncture needle includes a needle top 440, a needle shaft 460, a needle tip 461, and a needle-holding spring 450, an uneven surface 445 on the needle top 440, which matches with the uneven surface 315 on the needle driver in FIG. 4C and transmits the rotary motion from the needle driver to the needle to perform rotating acupuncture manipulation. FIG. 4B is a needle gadget composed of an acupuncture needle and a needle tube. The needle tip is always hidden inside the needle tube by the needle-holding spring before or after the needle gadget is used, to avoid accidentally sticking people's skin. The diameter of the hole on the needle tube top 430 is smaller than that of the needle top 440 to prevent the needle from falling out. The diameter of the needle-holding spring 450 is only a little smaller than that of the needle tube, which allows the needle-holding spring fit into the needle tube to prevent the spring from bending during compression. The hole on the needle gadget chamber top is for the needle driver to enter the needle tube. During acupuncture, the needle driver pushes the acupuncture needle into the human body and at the same time, compresses the ejector spring. At the end of the acupuncture treatment, the needle driver removes the force exerted on the needle top and the compressed needle-holding spring extends to pop the needle out of the body. After the acupuncture, the ejector spring 420 ejects the needle gadget from the needle gadget chamber when the locking head is released from the needle tube locking notch and unlock the needle gadget.
[0094] FIGS. 5A to 5D show a schematic diagram of another locking mechanism for the needle gadget according to another embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 5A and 5C show the bottom view of the automatic acupuncture device, and FIGS. 5B and 5D show the inside surface of the bottom piece of the automatic acupuncture device case, including push plates 510, push rods 530, connectors on the push plate 520 to connect with the push rods, locking heads 380 (also marked in FIG. 3) protruding into the needle gadget chamber opening 390 at resting state, locking head chambers 540, sliding rods 550 around which the locking head moves, connector rings 560 on the locking heads to connect with the push rods, and push plate springs 570. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the schematic diagram in which the locking heads 380 protrude into the chamber opening 390, and FIGS. 5C and 5D show the schematic diagram in which the locking heads are completely pushed into locking head chambers 540. When pushing a needle gadget into the needle gadget chamber opening 390, the locking heads 380 are pushed out of the chambers by the needle tube bottom 470 (shown in FIG. 4). Meanwhile, the push plate springs 570 are compressed under the force transmitted through the push rods 530. When the indent 490 at the needle tube bottom 470 are facing the locking heads 380, the locking heads are rebounded again under the action of the push plate springs 570, are pressed into the indent 490 and the needle gadget is locked. The locking heads 380 move on the sliding rods 550, which is fixed in the locking head chambers 540. The push rods 530 are connected to the locking heads through connector rings 560, and the push rods can rotate on the rings. The push rods 530 are connected to the push plates 510 through the connectors 520, and the push rods can also rotate on the connectors.
[0095] FIGS. 5E-5F show another schematic diagram of the working principle of the locking head 380 used in FIG. 3. In this design, the locking head 380 is only used on one side of the needle gadget chamber opening. The locking-releasing structure comprises a rotatable frame 580, a locking head 380 on the frame that protrudes into the chamber opening at resting state, a frame spring 582, a connector for the frame 584 to connect to the case, connectors (581, 583) to connect the spring to the case and the frame, a press button 585 connected with the frame to move the locking head, a button chamber 586. The needle gadget is configured to have a locking notch on the needle tube. When pushing the needle gadget into the needle gadget chamber, the needle tube pushes the locking head away. Meanwhile, the frame is rotated, and the frame spring is lengthened until the locking head is facing the locking notch on the needle tube. At this time, the locking head is pulled back into the locking notch of needle tube by the frame spring to lock the needle gadget inside the chamber. FIG. 5E shows a state when the locking head is present in the chamber opening. FIG. 5F shows a state when the locking head is pulled back.
[0096] FIGS. 5G-5H, viewed from device top down, show another schematic diagram of the working principle of a locking head 380 used in FIG. 3. In this design, the locking head 380 has an enlarged part 594 that is used to be stopped by a stopper 592 to restrict its motion range. The stopper 592 is fixed on the device case. A spring 596 is connected between the locking head and a mounting point 598 built on the device case. 599 shows an enlarged side view of the locking head with the stopper 592 and a sliding button. At rest state, the spring pushes the locking head inside the needle gadget chamber. When the user pushes the slider 597 to the direction way from the needle gadget chamber, the locking head is pulled out of the needle gadget chamber and the spring is compressed.
[0097] FIG. 6 shows a schematic design of another automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is similar to FIG. 3, except that a different locking-releasing structure is used with a self-locking chamber 670, but without locking head 380.
[0098] FIG. 7A shows a detailed design of the self-locking chamber 670 presented in FIG. 6 and the needle gadget 720, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The design includes a sliding plate 795, a sliding rod 675 for the sliding plate to slide up and down, a pull rod 796, a hook 792 at the tip of the pull rod, a spring 780 connecting the sliding plate and the device case, connectors (770, 790) for the two ends of the spring, a locking head 785, connectors (781, 782) connecting the locking head to the sliding plate. The sliding plate 795 comprises a rising groove 791, a falling groove 793, a notch island 794, a deep notch 792 on the notch island for the hook to hook on, and a guiding peninsula 797. The rising groove 791 becomes shallower along the way towards the notch island. The notch 792 is deeper than the neighboring rising groove. When pushing a needle gadget in for the first time, the pushing edge 735 of the needle tube pushes the sliding plate upward along the sliding rod and drives the locking head 785 moving upwards as well. At the same time, the pull rod is pushed to the rising groove. When the needle gadget is pushed to the end of the needle gadget chamber, the pull rod reaches the end of the rising groove and then suddenly falls into the deep notch 792 on the notch island, gets hooked there. At this moment, the force pushing the needle gadget can be removed, the needle gadget is locked and can be used for acupuncture. When the needle gadget is pushed for the second time, the hook will be released from the deep notch and enter the falling groove 793 when bump into the guiding peninsula 797. Afterwards, the spring 780 pulls the sliding plate toward the bottom of the acupuncture device, the locking head 785 breaks from the locking notch 745 on the needle tube and the needle gadget is pushed out of the needle gadget chamber on the pushing edge 735 by the sliding plate and taken out by the user. FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the sliding plate and its accessories presented in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is the back view of FIG. 7B, showing the connection structure between the locking head and the sliding plate. FIG. 7D is the side view of FIG. 7B, which shows how the locking head is pushed up by slope 783 and leans towards the sliding plate during the pushing in process. FIG. 7E shows a needle gadget comprising a needle tube and a needle. The needle tube bottom 750 restrict the insertion direction for the needle gadget. The pushing edge 735 pushes the sliding plate 795 when pushing the needle gadget into the needle gadget chamber. The needle gadget also includes the needle tube top 705, the needle tube bottom 750, the inner surface of the needle tube bottom 755, the needle tip 760, the needle-holding spring 740, the needle shaft 730, the needle tube 720, and the needle top 710. FIG. 7F is the top view of the needle tube without acupuncture needle, which mainly shows the structural relationship between the pushing edge 735 and the needle tube top 705.
[0099] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the needle gadget is very compact, as a small cylinder with a diameter of 2 mm and a height of 14 mm.
[0100] After the needle gadget is manufactured and shipped out from factories, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the needle will be always kept with the needle tube of the needle gadget. Before, during and after acupuncture, the acupuncture needle will never be exposed to the air outside the needle tube, thereby preventing accidental injury to people and is environmentally friendly.
[0101] FIG. 8 shows a schematic design of another automatic acupuncture device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This design includes cases 810 and 815, a needle gadget chamber opening 820, a chamber groove 825 to restrict the needle gadget insertion direction, a needle gadget chamber 830, a chamber slit 835 for needle driver to enter the chamber, a needle driver 840, a control circuit board 845, a rechargeable battery 850, a motor 855, a screw rod 860 connected with the motor shaft, a screw nut 865, a guide rail 870, and an end plate 875.
[0102] FIG. 9 shows a detailed design of the cases in FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cases consist of two parts. The case 810 is for a motor, a control circuit, and a rechargeable battery. The case 815 is for the needle gadget chamber 830. The case 810 and 815 can slide relative to each other but cannot be detached. When the clamping strips 930 and 960 encounter, it is the maximum distance that the two cases can be opened, which makes the needle gadget chamber opening 820 exposed and allows the needle gadget being inserted. During acupuncture treatment, the cases 810 and 815 are closed, and the clamping plate 910 clamps on the clamping strip 960 to prevent the two case parts from being opened. At this time, the plates 920 and 970 overlap and the needle outlets 940 and 950 are aligned, allowing the acupuncture needle being pushed out for acupuncture. The diameter of the chamber opening 820 is slightly larger than the rest of the chamber, and there is a long groove 825 on the side of the chamber. Together they limit the insertion direction of the needle gadget.
[0103] FIGS. 10A-10D show the needle gadget used with the automatic acupuncture device presented in FIG. 8. The needle gadget includes a needle tube bottom 1070, a needle outlet 1090, a bulging column 1075 to limit insertion orientation, a needle 1060, a needle-holding spring 1050, a needle tube 1040, a needle top 1030, a needle tube top 1020, a needle tube slit 1010 for a needle driver to enter the needle tube. Before the use of the needle gadget, the needle tube slit is generally sealed by a single-sided tape 1080 to prevent dust from entering the needle tube and contaminating the needle. The needle driver 840 is connected to the screw rod 860 by a screw nut 865, which moves up and down with the rotation of the screw rod. The end of the needle driver 840 has a fork shape to clamp on the needle top 1030, to drive the needle up and down.
[0104] FIG. 11A shows a design scheme of an automatic acupuncture device driven by an electromagnet according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11A, 1110 is the case of the automatic acupuncture device, 1130 is the battery, 1120 is an electromagnet, one end of which is connected with a needle driver 1140, 1150 is the needle gadget chamber, 1160 is the control circuit, and 1170 is the chamber opening. FIG. 11B shows the needle gadget chamber and the needle gadget. 1145 is the top of the needle gadget chamber, 1155 is a magnetic material fixed inside of 1145. 1165 is a ferromagnetic material fixed on the top of the needle tube. 1155 and 1165 form the locking-releasing structure for the automatic acupuncture device. When the needle gadget is inserted into the needle gadget chamber, it is attracted by 1155 through 1165, and is locked inside the needle gadget chamber. To remove the needle gadget, a small bump can be designed on the needle tube bottom to push or pull out the needle gadget. 1115 is the side of the needle tube, 1125 is the side wall of the needle gadget chamber, 1175 is the needle top, 1195 is the needle shaft, 1185 is the needle-holding spring, and 1135 is the needle outlet at the needle tube bottom. When powered on, the needle driver is pushed away from the electromagnet to push acupuncture needle into the skin. To remove needle, the electromagnet is powered off, and the needle driver will return to its original position. With the design of a needle gadget being similar to the previous designs, the needle can be pulled out through its own needle-holding spring, once the needle driver removes the force on the needle top.
[0105] FIG. 12A shows another design of the automatic acupuncture device and a needle gadget according to another embodiment of the invention. The motor part is similar to that in FIG. 8. The differences are the needle driver 1215, the needle gadget chamber 1210, the needle gadget and the case. There are openings on the tops and slits on the side of the needle tube and a slit on the side of the needle gadget chamber, which allow the needle driver to enter the needle tube from the top and move down along the slit, instead of entering the needle tube from the side in a horizontal way, as presented in FIG. 8. The device case is a whole piece instead of two pieces (as shown in FIG. 9). FIG. 12B shows the schematic diagram of the needle gadget chamber, in which 1205 is the opening on the top of needle gadget chamber, 1220 is the slit on the side wall of the needle gadget chamber 1210. 1211 is an ejector spring, and 1212 is a block. 1211 and 1212 are attached to the top of the needle gadget chamber, and to be described in detail in FIG. 12G. FIG. 12C is the schematic diagram of a needle gadget. 1230 is the needle tube top, 1235 is the needle top, 1240 is the needle-holding spring, 1245 is the needle shaft, 1255 is the locking notch on the needle tube, 1260 is the needle tube bottom, 1250 is the openings on the needle tube, designed to let the needle driver enter the needle tube. FIG. 12D is the bottom view of the automatic acupuncture device. 1225 is the case, 1270 is the needle gadget chamber, 1265 is the needle gadget chamber opening. The fact that 1270 is not exactly in the center of 1265 is to define the insertion direction of the needle gadget. FIG. 12E shows a needle driver 1215, and FIG. 12F shows the top view of FIG. 12C, showing the shape of needle tube bottom 1260 that matches the needle gadget chamber opening 1265. FIG. 12G shows the ejector spring 1211 in a larger view with a block 1212 attached to the bottom. The block has a notch 1213 where the needle driver stays. Before acupuncture, the needle driver is at the top of the block notch 1213. When the needle gadget is inserted into the needle gadget chamber, it pushes the block 1212, compress the ejector spring 1211 and the needle driver relatively moves down the notch. When the needle gadget is fully in, the needle driver will be at the bottom of the block notch 1213. With the needle gadget inserted in defined direction, the opening on the needle tube top now is right below the needle driver, allowing the needle driver to enter the needle tube and push the acupuncture needle into the human body. The locking-releasing structure for this design can adopt any locking-releasing structure presented in other places of this invention.
[0106] FIGS. 13A-13B show a scenario diagram of an automatic acupuncture device attached on the skin according to an embodiment of the present invention. There is a needle outlet 1315 at the bottom of the automatic acupuncture device 1310. When in use, one side of a double-sided adhesive tape 1320 sticks to the automatic acupuncture device and the other side sticks to the human body, as shown in FIG. 13B. The center of the double-side tape also has a hole in the center, match the needle outlet. Release paper 1330 is used on the double-sided tape before using to protect the tape.
[0107] FIGS. 13C and 13D are schematic diagrams showing how an automatic acupuncture device attaches on the skin according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1340 is a strap that can fasten the automatic acupuncture device 1310 around the body part and attach it on to the skin.
[0108] FIGS. 14A and 14B show an accessory of the automatic acupuncture device according to the embodiment of the invention, which is used to facilitate the acupuncture needle to insert into the body at different angles. FIG. 14A shows a cylinder with a slope at one end. The two planes of the cylinder are covered with tape, the inclined plane sticks to the skin, and the opposite side 1410 adheres to the automatic acupuncture device. The hole in the center 1420 is for the needle insertion. FIG. 14B is another design. This design adds a wall 1430 on the design of FIG. 14A, which allows the automatic acupuncture device to be placed right in the middle of the outer wall, for easier alignment.
[0109] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method to do acupuncture with an automatic acupuncture device is provide. When insert a needle into the skin of the human body, the needle is inserted in a vibration mode, in a way mosquito inserts the tip of its mouthpart into human being skin.
[0110] The vibration frequency is in the range of 0.2 to 16 Hz.
[0111] The vibration distance is in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
[0112] FIG. 15 shows the vibration mode with which an acupuncture needle is inserted into the body. In such a way to insert the acupuncture needle, people will barely feel the pain, just like mosquito bites the body. People will not feel it much.
[0113] Various embodiments of the invention have been described above, which are illustrative, not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments, many modifications and changes are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the claim.
