Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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W O 98/02128 . PCTnUR97/00140
MAGNETIC NEEDLE FOR ACUPUNCTURE
Technical Field
The present invention relates, in general, to
instruments for acupuncture and, more particularly, to a
magnetic needle for acupuncture, with a magnetically
concentrated wedge-shaped projection being capable of
forming an intensive magnetic field around a human
meridian point and giving a soft, stable and steady
magnetic stimulus to the meridian point thus accomplishing
a desirable acupuncturing effect, additionally being
capable ofperforming finger-pressuretreatment, improving
the acupuncturing effect.
Background Art
In the Chinese medical art, acupuncture is a
treatment for pain and illness in which thin needles are
positioned just under the surface of the skin at special
nerve centers around the body. In acupuncture, the
special nerve centers are called meridian points, which
are specifically distributed on both the twelve main
meridians and the eight extra meridians at 365 positions.
Modern acupuncture finds that the meridian points
interact with nerves, thus forming an electric induction
system around the body. Therefore, the acupuncturing
effect which can be expected by directly puncturing the
meridian points with such thin needles may be achieved by
giving electric stimuli to the meridian points while
detecting fine electric current or electromagnetic waves
formed in the meridian points.
The application of magnetic force for the promotion
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of health has been actively studied recently.
Particularly, the magnetic force is known to preferably
promote blood circulation in the body and perform
thermotherapeutic effect. In accordance with progress in
modern medical science, it is noted that hemoglobin in
blood actively reacts with magnetic force and the magnetic
poles of the micro particles of the body react with the
magnetic field thus performing a magnetic massage effect
on the body.
Disclosure of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention has been made
keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior
art, and an object of the present invention is to provide
a magnetic needle for acupuncture which has a magnetically
concentrated wedge-shaped projection being capable of
forming an intensive magnetic field around a meridian
point and giving a soft, stable and steady magnetic
stimulus to the meridian point thus performing a desirable
acupuncturing effect, additionally being capable of
performing finger-pressure treatment, improving the
acupuncturing effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a magnetic needle for acupuncture which is detachably
attached, by an adhesive fabric, to the surface of the
skin around a meridian point with the magnetically
concentrated projection being positioned on the meridian
point, thus being repeatedly and effectively used for a
lengthy period of time.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a magnetic needle for acupuncture,
comprising: a housing having an opening; a magnet seated
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in the opening of the housing; and a wedge-shaped
projection held in the opening of the housing so as to
project into the exterior of the bottom wall of the
housing and come into contact with the magnet, the
projection being adapted for pressing a meridian point and
giving finger-pressure effect to the meridian point while
forming a magnetic field around the meridian point with
the magnetic force of the magnet being concentrated at the
tip of the projection.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and other objects, features and other
advantages of the present invention will be more clearly
understood from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a magnetic
needle for acupuncture in accordance with the primary
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the assembled magnetic
needle of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the third embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the
present invention;
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Fig. 7 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the magnetic needle of
Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an assembled magnetic
needle in accordance with the seventh embodiment of the
present invention;
Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the magnetic needle of
Fig. 9; and
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a housing with a
plurality of pressure projections performing the finger-
pressure effect in accordance with another embodiment of
the present invention.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
Figs. 1 and 2 show a magnetic needle for acupuncture
in accordance with the primary embodiment of this
invention. As shown in the drawings, the magnetic needle
of this invention is comprised of a disc-shaped magnet 1
and a magnetically concentrated wedge-shaped projection
2, which are set in a housing 3. The projection 2 forms
a magnetic field around a meridian point 51 with the
magnetic force of the magnet 1 and gives finger-pressure
effect to the meridian point 51.
In consideration of the size of each meridian point
51, the housing 3 is shaped into a caldron configuration
with an outer diameter of 10 - 30 mm and a thickness of
4 - 10 mm. The housing 3 has a central opening 33, which
is bottomed by a centrally holed bottom wall in which the
magnet 1 with a central hole 11 is seated. The projection
2 is formed at the lower end of a shaft 22, which passes
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through both the hole 11 of the magnet 1 and the bottom
hole 34 of the housing 3 with the lower end or the
projection 2 projecting into the exterior of the bottom
wall of the housing 3. The projection 2 is elastically
biased downward by an elastic biasing means thus
elastically pressing the meridian point 51. In the
primary embodiment, the elastic biasing means for the
projection 2 is a disc 21, which is coaxially integrated
with the top end of the shaft 22 and is seated on the
magnet 1 inside the opening 33. The disc 21 has a
magnetically attracted surface 23, at which the disc 21
is magnetically and strongly attached to the top surface
of the magnet 1. The magnetic force of the magnet 1 is
induced to the projection 2 through both the disc 21 and
the shaft 22 thus being concentrated at the tip of the
projection 2. The magnetic attraction of the magnet 1 to
the disc 21 allows the projection 2 to elastically press
the meridian point 51. The magnetic attraction force
between the magnet 1 and the disc 21 may be adjusted by
enlarging or reducing the area of the magnetically
attracted surface 23 of the disc 21. After the magnet 1
and the projection 2 are seated in the opening 33 of the
housing 3, the opening 33 is closed by a circular lid 31,
which is fitted into the opening 33 while forming a cavity
33' inside the opening 33 at a position between the lid
31 and the disc 21.
The projection 2, disc 21 and shaft 22 are all made
of magnetizable iron which is capable of becoming
magnetized by the magnet 1. It is preferable to coat each
of the iron members or the projection 2, disc 21 and shaft
22 with a synthetic resin, gold, platinum, silver or
copper layer which effectively prevents the iron members
from rusting and has an affinity to the skin.
.
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When the disc 21 is magnetically attracted to the
magnet 1 and induces the magnetic force of the magnet 1
to the projection 2 thus causing the projection 2 to
become magnetized, the magnetic polarity of the projection
2 is equal to that of the top surface of the magnet 1.
When the projection 2 becomes magnetized by the magnet 1
as described above, the magnetic force is concentrated at
the tip of the projection 2.
In the present invention, it is preferable to select
the magnet 1 from magnets individually having a magnetic
flux density of 500 - 10,000 Gauss.
The housing 3 is preferably formed of synthetic resin
through an injection molding process or formed of
nonferrous metal. The housing 3 is provided with a
connection part 37 for connecting an adhesive fabric 32
to the housing 3. The adhesive fabric 32 attaches the
magnetic needle to the skin 5 at a position around a
selected meridian point 51.
In the operation of the above magnetic needle, the
magnetically concentrated projection elastically presses
a selected meridian point around the body and performs a
magnetic massage effect on the meridian point. The
projection also forms a magnetic field around the meridian
point, having fine electric current or electromagnetic
waves, and magnetically stimulates the meridian point,
thus accomplishing an acupuncturing effect for relieving
pain and curing disease as expected in typical
acupuncture.
Figs. 3 and 4 show assembled magnetic needles in
accordance with the second and third embodiments of this
invention, respectively. In each of the second and third
embodiments, the magnetic needle is comprised of a magnet
la, lb and a magnetically concentrated projection 2a, 2b,
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with a compression coil spring 21a, 21b being used as the
elastic biasing means for the projection.
In the magnetic needle according to each of the
second and third embodiments, the magnet la, lb is seated
in the opening 33a, 33b of the housing 3a, 3b. The shaft
22a, 22b, having the projection 2a, 2b at its lower end,
passes through the hole lla, llb of the magnet la, lb,
with the projection 2a, 2b projecting into the exterior
of the bottom wall of the housing 3a, 3b. The magnetic
force of the magnet la, lb is induced to the projection
2a, 2b through the shaft 22a, 22b, thus causing both the
shaft and the projection to become magnetized. The
magnetic force is particularly concentrated at the tip of
the projection 2a, 2b so that the projection 2a, 2b
magnetically and elastically presses a selected meridian
point.
The elastic biasing means or the compression coil
spring 21a, 21b is installed in the opening 33a, 33b of
the housing 3a, 3b covered with the lid 31a, 31b. The
spring 21a, 21b biases the shaft 22a, 22b downward. In
order to prevent the shaft 22a, 22b from being
unexpectedly removed from the housing 3a, 3b, the shaft
22a, 22b is provided with a stop flange 23a, 23b at its
top end. The stop flange 23a, 23b is normally stopped by
the inside edge of the bottom hole 34a, 34b of the housing
3a, 3b.
In the .same manner as described for the primary
embodiment, the iron members or the projection 2a, 2b and
shaft 22a, 22b are coated with a synthetic resin, gold,
platinum, silver or copper layer.
In addition, the housing 3a, 3b is provided with a
connection part 37a, 37b for connecting an adhesive fabric
to the housing 3a, 3b.
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Fig. 5 shows an assembled magnetic needle in
accordance with the fourth embodiment of this invention.
In the fourth embodiment, the magnetic needle is comprised
of a magnet lc and a magnetically concentrated wedge-
shaped projection 2c, which are integrated into a singlestructure. The magnet lc is seated in the opening 33c of
the housing 3c, with the projection 2c of the magnet lc
projecting into the exterior of the bottom hole 34c of the
housing 3c and magnetically and elastically pressing a
selected meridian point.
In the same manner as described for the primary
embodiment, the housing 3c is provided with a connection
part 37c for connecting an adhesive fabric to the housing
3c.
In addition, the projection 2c is coated with a
synthetic resin, gold, platinum, silver or copper layer.
Fig. 6 shows an assembled magnetic needle in
accordance with the fifth embodiment of this invention.
In the fifth embodiment, the housing, the magnet and the
magnetically concentrated wedge-shaped projection are
integrated into a single structure. The magnet ld is
formed into the configuration of the housing with the
wedge-shaped projection 2d being formed at the bottom
surface of the magnet ld. The magnet ld also has a
connection part 3d for connecting an adhesive fabric to
the magnet ld.
The projection 2d is coated with a synthetic resin,
gold, platinum, silver or copper layer.
Figs. 7 and 8 show an assembled magnetic needle in
accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, the magnetic needle is
comprised of a magnet le and a magnetically concentrated
wedge-shaped projectlon 2e, but a plurality of holes are
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formed on both the housing 3e and the projection 2e for
allowing the skin to breathe.
The magnet le is seated in the opening 33e of the
housing 3e. Meanwhile, the projection 2e is attached
upward to the bottom surface of the magnet le through the
center hole 36e of the housing's bottom wall 34e, thus
allowing the magnetic force of the magnet le to be
concentrated at the tip of the projection 2e.
In the same manner as described for the primary
embodiment, the projection 2e is made of magnetizable iron
and is coated with a synthetic resin, gold, platinum,
silver or copper layer.
In order to allow the skin to breathe, a plurality
of regularly spaced holes 35e are formed on the bottom
wall 34e of the housing 3e, while a center hole 21e is
axially formed on the projection 2e.
The housing 3e is provided with a connection part 37e
for connecting an adhesive fabric to the housing 3e.
Figs. 9 and 10 show an assembled magnetic needle in
accordance with the seventh embodiment of this invention.
In this embodiment, the magnetic needle is comprised of
a magnet lf and a magnetically concentrated wedge-shaped
projection 2f, but a plurality of holes are formed on the
housing 3f for allowing the skin to breathe.
The magnet lf is seated in the opening 33f of the
housing 3f. Meanwhile, the projection 2f is attached
upward to the bottom surface of the magnet lf through the
center hole 36f of the housing's bottom wall 34f, thus
allowing the magnetic force of the magnet lf to be
concentrated at the tip of the projection 2f.
In the same manner as described for the primary
embodiment, the projection 2f is made of magnetizable iron
and is coated with a synthetic resin, gold, platinum,
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silver or copper layer.
In order to allow the skin to breathe, a plurality
of regularly spaced holes 35f are formed on the bottom
wall 34f of the housing 3f.
The housing 3f is provided with a connection part 37f
for connecting an adhesive fabric to the housing 3f.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a housing 3, which is
provided with a plurality of pressure projections 39 on
the outside bottom surface in accordance with a further
embodiment of this invention. The projections 39 perform
a finger-pressure effect at a position around a selected
meridian point, at which the magnetically concentrated
wedge-shaped projection is positioned. The housing 3 of
this embodiment may be effectively used with any one of
the magnetic needles of Figs. 1 to 10.
In order to use the magnetic needle for acupuncture
of this invention, the magnetic needle is attached to the
skin at a position around a selected meridian point using
an adhesive fabric. In detailed description, when a
plurality of magnetic needles of this invention are
attached to the surface of the skin around the meridian
points in the same manner as in the typical acupuncturing
art, themagnetically concentratedwedge-shaped projection
of each magnetic needle forms an intensive magnetic field
around each of the meridian points, having fine electric
current or electromagnetic waves, and gives a soft, stable
and steady magnetic stimulus to each meridian point thus
accomplishing an acupuncturing effect for relieving pain
and curing disease as expected in typical acupuncture.
The wedge-shaped projections also perform finger-pressure
treatment, thus improving the acupuncturing effect.
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Industrial Applicability
As described above, the present invention provides
a magnetic needle for acupuncture. In the magnetic needle
of this invention, a magnetically concentrated wedge-
shaped projection forms an intensive magnetic field arounda meridian point, which has fine electric current or
electromagnetic waves. The projection magnetically
stimulates the meridian point while performing a magnetic
massage effect on the meridian point. The magnetic needle
of this invention thus accomplishes an acupuncturing
effect for relieving pain and curing disease as expected
in typical acupuncture.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions and substitutions are possible,
without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
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