[Acquisition and objective quantification analysis of acupuncture manipulation parameters based on the optical...

To establish a method for in vivo acquisition of acupuncture manipulation (AM) waveforms and objective quantitative analysis of acupuncture parameters based on the motion trajectory of filiform needle by applying an optical positioning system, so as to evaluate the accuracy of AM waveforms acquisition and feasibility of quantitative analysis performed by the method.

Firstly, the Ruitong SE optical positioning system and a customized marking ball that can be connected to an acupuncture needle were employed to construct an in vivo AM acquisition method. The AM waveforms acquired by the optical positioning system and the AM parameter-measuring instrument were respectively compared and analyzed. Then, the waveforms of 6 types of AMs, namely, the lifting-thrusting uniform reinforcing-reducing method, lifting-thrusting reinforcing method, lifting-thrusting reducing method, twirling reinforcing-reducing method, twirling reinforcing method and twirling reducing method, were recorded in real time by stimulating Zusanli (ST36) in healthy volunteers. The AM parameters including the displacement and velocity of lifting and thrusting manipulations and the twisting angle and angular velocity of the twirling method were quantitatively analyzed.

The AM waveforms recorded by the optical positioning system were similar to the waveforms recorded by the AM parameter measuring instrument, which had a positive correlation (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the upward and downward displacements in the lifting-thrusting manipulations, and the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation angles in twirling manipulations. However, a significant difference was found in the movement velocity, that is, 1) the downward movement speed of the lifting-thrusting reinforcing method was greater than that of the lifting speed (P<0.001), while the reduction method was opposite (P<0.001);and 2) the clockwise twisting angle speed of the twirling reinforcing method was higher than that of the counterclockwise twisting angle speed (P<0.001), and the reverse was true for the reduction method (P<0.001).

The AM waveforms recorded in vivo by using the optical positioning system are accurate, and can also be used for quantitative analysis of the AM parameters, which is applicable in the objective quantitative study of AMs.