WO2002096283A1

WO2002096283A1 - Measuring instrument for spots on the body suitable for acupuncture

Info

Publication number: WO2002096283A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/001031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seong-Hyuck Bae
Original assignee: Seong-Hyuck Bae
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2002-05-30
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Also published as: KR100414029B1; KR20020091429A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus that makes it easy to find spots on the body suitable for acupuncture or cautery. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a link assembly that is formed by a chain of connection of segments which consist of an upper and a lower link of uniform length crossing each other on their center area; an upper and a lower end link which are connected to the end of said link assembly; a hinge that has a thru hole on its center and is installed on the crossing area of said links, combining them rotatably; a connecting shaft which is installed on a thru hole of said hinge located in crossing area of said upper, lower end links and protrudes itself above and below beyond the surface of said end link. The present invention helps to devide the length of bone equally, thereby making it easy to find spots on the body suitable for acupuncture or cautery. Also, the simplicity of the present invention in operation and structure leads a novice to find spots on the body suitable for acupuncture or cautery easily.

Description

Measuring instrument for spots on the body suitable for acupuncture

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus precisely to locate or pinpoint acupuncture spot.

Background Art

hi the Oriental, or Chinese medicine, there is a word 'acupuncture meridian', meaning a chain spread laterally and vertically all over the human body supposedly responsive to the conditions of internal organs.

Another word, "acupuncture spot", means the particular point of that

"acupuncture meridian", where a particular reaction of the "acupuncture meridian" is strikingly manifest when any one corresponding internal organ has a pathological problem.

hi the oriental, it has since about 2,000 years ago been known that these acupuncture meridian and acupuncture spot have relation to do with the respective corresponding internal organs of the human body, and, therefore, these have played very important roles in diagnosis and treatment of patients.

When an internal organ is affected by illness, the corresponding acupuncture spot gives a feel different from that of normal acupuncture spot, if lightly pressed with a finger, the patient, on many occasions, also feeling pain at the spot. This is so because an acupuncture spot is a point where the vitality or energy of an internal organ or acupuncture meridian is concentrates, hi the Oriental medicine, acupuncture or cautery is administered to such an acupunctures spot for treatment of patients. The efficacy of such a treatment is good only when acupuncture or cautery is applied precisely to acupuncture spot, and therefore it is very important to find where locate or exactly acupuncture each time.

To find acupuncture spot, a method called "bone degree method" is generally used.

In this method, the human body is divided by certain average measures, and the distances between the measures are also divided equally, whereby each acupuncture spot on the body is located. Said method is generally used because of correctness a . nd easiness. However, locating acupuncture spot was reliant upon the practitioner's sensorial finesse based upon their intuition and long-time experience. There were problems inherent in such unscientific approaches.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention has been conceived of to solve such problems, and to provide a measuring instrument for locating the exact positions of acupuncture spot by equally dividing the lengths of bones.

To obtain the objectives of the present invention, the instrument for locating acupuncture spot by means of equally dividing the lengths of bones is characterized in that it consists of: an assembly of sections, each section being made up of crossing an upper strip and a lower strip of equal length each other at the center, one over and the other under each other, while both ends of the upper strip of a section are placed crosswise to over the ends of the under strip of another section, and both ends of the under strip of the section .are placed crosswise to under the ends of the upper strip of another section, so that all these sections can be joined together in order to form a series or an assembly of sections; of both the upper end and the under end strips, each has a half length of said upper or under strip, with an end of them each meets together, one over the other, on the extension of the line connecting the points of intersection of the upper and under strips of all the sections of said assembly, and the other end of each placed are crossed on the upper or under end of the end strips of said assembly; hinges, which are formed where said strips crossed each other to join them rotatably, and having a through hole at the center respectively; and; a joint axis formed inside each of the through holes of the hinges at the crossing points of the end strips on both upper and under ends of said assembly, with its upper and bottom ends protruding beyond the upper and under surfaces of the strips.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a rough perspective view of an embodiment of the acupuncture spot locator of the present invention to show its shape when it is stretched open.

Fig. 2 is a rough perspective view of an embodiment of the folded acupuncture spot locator of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a hinge which rotatably joins the strips of the acupuncture spot locator of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view to show the strips connected by means of a joint axis inside a hinge of the acupuncture spot locator of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a fixing element which fixes the strips of the acupuncture locator of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a rough perspective view of another embodiment of the acupuncture spot locator of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

A preferable embodiment of the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is described in detail below, by attached drawings.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an upper strip 1 and a lower strip 2, of an equal length, intersecting, crossing each other at the center, and forming a section K in the shape of an "X". An end of the upper strip 1 of the section K is located, for joining together by a hinge, over an end of an under strip 2 of the next neighbor section K in one direction and the other end of the upper strip 1 is placed over an under end of an under strip 2 of the next neighbor section K in continuation in the opposite direction, continuing in this fashion on and on to form an assembly A of such sections K.

On the both ends of said assembly A of sections K are connected an upper end strip 3 and an under end strip 4, which having about half length of the upper 1 and the lower 2 strips. An end of said upper end strip 3 and that of said under end strip 4 are crossed each other. The intersecting point of an end each of said end strips 3, 4 is placed on the extension of the line C, connecting the central points of all the upper and lower strips of said assembly A. And also, the other end of said upper end strip 3 is placed crosswise over the end of the under end strip 2 on either end of aid assembly A, while the other end of the under end strip 4 is placed crosswise under the upper strip 1 at both ends of said assembly A. This way, both said upper and under end strips 3, 4 come to be connected with said assembly A.

Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 3, a hinge 5 is placed on each point of intersection of each strip (where the centers and ends of the upper strip 1 and the lower strip 2 respectively cross each other; where the upper strip 1 and the lower strip 4 cross each other), allowing each strip to rotate, h the center of said hinge 5 a through hole 5a is formed.

A joint axis 2 is inserted into the through hole 5a of each hinge placed at the intersection point of both the upper and lower strips 3, 4. Part of the upper and lower ends of said joint axis 6 protrudes from the surfaces of the upper or under end strips 3, 4. Such joint axes 6 can be made in a form to be inserted into the through hole 5a, but can also be made in one body like hinge 5, a can be seen in Fig. 4. What matters are that said joint axes must be connected with the hinges 5 in a way that they do not obstruct the rotatability of the strips.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, the acupuncture spot locator of the present invention the length can be extended to longer when another acupuncture spot locator is connected with it by inserting the upper protrusion of a joint axis 6 into the through hole 5a of the hinge formed at the intersecting point of the upper end and the under end strips 3, 4.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a fixing element 7 to fix the acupuncture spot locator 100.

A fixing element 7 consists of a penetration axis 7a, which penetrates the through hole 5a of the hinge 5 formed at the intersecting point of the upper end and the under end strips 1, 2 and of a fixer 7b connected with the upper part of said penetrating axis 7a. For example, said fixer 7b can be in the form of a nut, and the upper protrusion of the penetrating axis 7a to be connected with said fixer 7b, in the form of a bolt. When in this way said fixer 7b and the upper protrusion of said penetration axis 7a are connected, both the upper and the under strips 1, 2 will be firmly fastened together, their rotation rendered impossible. When, therefore, any one of the hinges 5 formed at the intersecting points of the many upper end and under end strips 1, 2 is fixed by said fixer 1, all the hinge connections formed on the other remaining parts are all automatically fixed immovable, thus the whole acupuncture spot locator 100 gets fixed. Now, the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention can be divided into two kinds of an odd number locator 10, based on equal division of bones by an odd number and an even number locator 20, based on equal division of bones by an even number.

The differentiation standard of the above two acupuncture spot locator is the number of the hinges 5 found along the C line which connects the central intersecting points of the upper and the under strips in a locator 100, excluding the ones in which said joint axes 6 are not inserted. So if the relevant hinges are in an odd number the locator is an odd number locator 10, while if it is in an even number the locator is an even number locator 20.

Below, the functions and some other examples of the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention are described.

To pinpoint the location of an acupuncture spot by the use of such a locator 100 of the present invention it is required first to decide whether the length of a bone is to be divided in an odd number or in an even number. If it is desired equally to divide in an odd number the odd number acupuncture spot locator 10 is used, and in the other case the even number acupuncture spot locator 20 is to be adopted.

The way how an acupuncture spot is pinpointed for administration of acupuncture to a patient by using of the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is described as follows:

First, an acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is placed in a position of the human body, where an acupuncture spot is located, the length of the relevant bone is divided by the equal lengths of the intervals of the hinges along the line C, an acupuncture spot locator 100 is so positioned that each hinge 5 on the line C may come precisely on the demarcation lines between each of said intervals. Then after fixing the acupuncture spots locator 100 by means of said fixing member 1, the acupunctural needle is driven through said through hole 5a of the hinge positioned along the line C.

The needle piercing the human body through said through hole 5a is left to remain even after the acupuncture spot locator 100 is taken away. In the case that the acupuncture spots are on the line which connects the intersecting points at the ends of both the upper and under strips 1, 2, besides along said line C, it is possible to drive the needle into the body through the through hole 5 a of the hinge formed on the intersecting points, too.

In case it is desired to find the acupuncture spot by changing said intervals, it is done by removing the fixing element 7 and making the intervals of the hinges 5 along the line C identical with those of the new desired equidistance intervals by adjustment of the acupuncture spot locator 100 by either folding or un-folding it a little. Because a hinge 5 is formed at a position where the strips come across, the acupuncture spot locator 100 can be folded or opened respectively by pushing or pulling the acupuncture spot locator 100 at its both ends. Therefore, the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is available for any equidistance intervals.

When the number of hinges (i.e. the number of those along the line C which do not have a joint axis inserted) which decides the kinds of the acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is fewer than the number of equal intervals dividing the length of a bone, the acupuncture spot locator 100 can be connected with another 100 by the use of a joint axis 6, to extend the length of the acupuncture spot locator 100. And in case a kind of the acupuncture spot locator 100 does not match the number of the desired equal divisions of the length of a bone, it may yet be possible to join an even number locator with an odd number locator, or vice versa, to obtain a acupuncture spot locator 100 connection suitable for a desired equidistance division.

The acupuncture spot locator 100 of the present invention is can be not only connected with others 100 by means of joint axes 6, but the two or more locators 100 joined one another can each be folded or unfolded in with the joint axes acting as pivots to offer the desired equidistance intervals of different sizes. So when a different equidistance division is wanted in a part from another part of the body like, for instance, a part from the elbow to the wrist from the other part from the elbow to the shoulder, two different locators can be joined to pinpoint the many acupuncture spots along the respective bones.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment, in which a joint axis 6 is formed, not only in the hinge formed at the point of intersection where the upper and the under end strips 3, 4 meet, but in the hinge formed at each point where the centers of both the upper end and the under end strips 1, 2 meet, where an end each of the upper and the under strips 1, 4 meets together, and where an end each of the under and the upper strips 2, 3 meets together also. If the locators 100 are connected together by the use of the joint axes 6 formed in these four points, the locators 100 on both sides of the joint axes 6 can be opened or folded to allow the same equidistance intervals.

Said upper and said under strips 1, 2, the upper end and the under end strips 3, 4 had better be made from some soft material like silicon to secure sufficient flexibility easily to bend.

Some preferable embodiments have been described above, but the present invention does not confine itself to these given embodiments, but many a variety can be derived from them within the extent that it does not go wildly beyond the technical concept inferred from the claims, detailed description, and drawings of the present invention, all such naturally belonging to the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention, making it possible to pinpoint the acupuncture spot for administration of acupuncture or cautery by means of equally dividing the length of a bone, can improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Its structure and handling are both simple and easy, and, therefore, it will help even a novice easily to pinpoint acupuncture spot. And because the acupuncture spot locator can be extended or contracted in accordance with the desired equidistance intervals in a human bone to adjust the intervals of the hinges, or by extending the acupuncture spot locator through connecting other locators, etc., it is easier than otherwise to locate or acupuncture spot regardless of the intervals and number of them acupuncture spot.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. An acupuncture spot locator, characterized in that it is comprises of:

an assembly of narrow strips, in which an upper strip and an under strip of the same length are placed to cross each other at the center and fonn a section; the end of the upper strip of section is placed crosswise over the end of an under strip of the next neighboring section, while an end of the under strip of said section is placed crosswise under the end of an upper strip of the said next neighboring section; so that these sections each of two strips are connected with the next neighboring section in continuation;

a pair of under end strips and another of upper end strips, each half as long as each of said upper and said under strips, said under end strips being placed to cross each other at an end which is on the extension of the line connecting the central intersecting points of all the upper and the under strips in said assembly, and the other ends of them each connected crosswise with the ends each of the last strips of the last section of said assembly, while the upper end strips, in turn, similarly joined together on one end and the other ends are similarly connected with the ends each of the first strips of the first section of said assembly;

hinges which are formed on the intersecting points of each strip to join them rotatably, and which have a through hole in the center respectively; and,

joint axes formed in the through holes of the hinges at the intersecting points of the upper end and the under end strips on the upper and the under ends of said assembly of strips, whose upper or under ends partly protrude beyond the surface of the pertinent strips.

2. The acupuncture spot locator according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is an odd- number locator, in which the hinges placed along the line connecting the central intersecting points of the strips of each section of the assembly, without having a joint axis inserted in them, is in an odd number.

3. The acupuncture spot locator according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is an even- number locator, in which the hinges placed along the line connecting the central intersecting points of the strips of each section of the assembly, without having a joint axis inserted in them, are in an even number.

4. The acupuncture spot locator according to Claim 1, characterized in that said joint axis is formed through each of the central intersecting points where the upper and the under strips at both ends of said assembly meet; where an end of the upper strip meets an end of the under end strip; and where an end of the under strip meets an end of the upper end strip.

5. The acupuncture spot locator according to Claim 1, characterized in that only the hinges, where, of all the hinges formed at the intersecting points of said strips, no joint axis is inserted, can have a fixing element connected inside their through holes.

6. The acupuncture spot locator according to Claim 5, characterized in that said fixing element comprises of a penetrating axis which goes through the through hole formed in the hinge formed in the intersecting points of the strips and of a fixer connected with the upper part of said penetrating axis.