Physicochemical and mechanical evaluation of acupuncture needles

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Materials Science
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, utilizes filiform needles inserted into the body.
• Quality control of acupuncture needles is crucial for patient and practitioner safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quality of nine different brands of acupuncture needles.
• To perform physical-chemical and mechanical tests adhering to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 17218:2014.

Main Methods:

• Needles were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) for morphology and composition.
• Mechanical tests, including puncture performance, intensity, and needle tip sharpness, were conducted using an Instron 4411.
• Structural changes post-intensity testing were examined with a stereomicroscope.

Main Results:

• SEM-EDS revealed surface imperfections on various needle brands, notably Açomed and Complementar.
• All tested needle brands showed tip deformations after the intensity test.
• Significant variations in puncture force and sharpness were recorded among brands, with Uniqmed exhibiting the lowest puncture force and Dragon the lowest sharpness.

Conclusions:

• All evaluated acupuncture needles complied with ISO 17218:2014 limits, despite observed quality disparities.
• The study highlights the need for transparent brand-name reporting in acupuncture needle research for better comparisons.
• Findings are expected to contribute to future meta-analyses and revisions of the ISO 17218:2014 standard.