• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2001

Backgroud: Caudal blocks have been used for pain management in outpatient clinics. It is important to estimate the proper depth and angle in order to increase the success rate of the procedure. Methods: Data was collected from 60 patients who visited our pain clinic. We measured the depth of the needle's penetration and the angle of the needle at the insertion point when a caudal approach was confirmed by air flow method. We recorded age, sex, body weight and height, and calculated the ponderal index. Results: The depth from the skin to the caudal epidural space was a mean 2-4 cm ($3{\pm}0.4\;cm$). The angle at the needle insertion point was a mean 15-50 degree ($34.9{\pm}6.8$ degree). Conclusions: If we use the mean depth and angle as a guide, complications during the caudal epidural procedure can be avoided.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.712-717
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• 2005

In this thesis, it is investigated that the effect of the cross linked polyethylene(XLPE) insulator do to breakdown phenomenon by the insertion of the needle and bar electrode into XLPE which is used of electric power cable for the ultra-high voltage. The result of the partial discharge properties in the specimen showed that in case of the insertion of needle or bar electrode into XLPE, the effect of the inner discharge become large when the air void is bigger then the clearance of the electrode of the specimen. The closer the distance between the insulator and needle electrode, it takes less time to the insulation breakdown.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.242-244
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• 2021

LI15 is an important acupuncture point to treat shoulder pain. There are 4 needling methods for LI15 in the textbook; 1 method requires the insertion of the needle horizontally between the acromion and the great tuberosity of the humerus with the arm lowered for supraspinatus tendonitis. This method is also applicable for all conditions of rotator cuff disease, but it has not previously been described in detail. Providing X-ray scans and describing needle direction and depth of insertion will provide evidence for needling with the arm down as an effective stimulation of the subacromial space. Firstly, for this technique, with the arm raised, a concave point is located between the front edge of the acromion and the humerus, and the lower upper arm. Secondly, the acupuncture needle is inserted slightly posteriorly towards the supraspinous fossa, in the direction of the supraspinatus tendon and to a depth of 30-40 mm.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2012

Objectives : To observe physiological changes during clinical acupuncture treatment. Methods : We recruited 40 healthy volunteers who had experienced an acupuncture treatment at least once within the past three years. The experimental group was divided into four groups according to the needling site and frequency of electrical stimulation. Sites consisted of abdomen and legs. Frequencies consisted of 100 Hz and 2 Hz. The procedures of experimental treatment consisted of seven phases, Resting I phase (Resting I), Needle insertion phase (Insertion), Maintenance of needle insertion I phase (Maintain I), Electrical stimulation phase (ES), Maintenance of needle insertion II phase (Maintain II), Needle removal phase (Removal) and Resting II phase (Resting II). We measured the surface electromygraphy (SEMG) through an electrode on the frontalis muscle during all phases consecutively. Results : When SEMGs of all seven phases were analyzed, they significantly increased or decreased according to phases. SEMGs of Insertion, Maintain I, ES and Maintain II phase significantly increased more than RestingI in abdomen and legs groups. SEMGs of the abdomen group were measured as being $4.78{\pm}0.74{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $16.48{\pm}3.97{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $46.31{\pm}10.56{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $45.88{\pm}9.72{\mu}V$ on ES, $45.56{\pm}9.69{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $18.76{\pm}3.05{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $3.75{\pm}0.65{\mu}V$ on Resting II. SEMGs of the legs group were measured as being $3.34{\pm}0.35{\mu}V$ on Resting I, $12.11{\pm}1.76{\mu}V$ on Insertion, $36.74{\pm}6.99{\mu}V$ on Maintain I, $33.57{\pm}6.30{\mu}V$ on ES, $32.66{\pm}6.03{\mu}V$ on Maintain II, $14.08{\pm}2.15{\mu}V$ on Removal, and $2.88{\pm}0.32{\mu}V$ on Resting II. Conclusions : SEMG changed differently according to processes of acupuncture. Electrical stimulation showed different change of SEMG. Thus, acupuncture treatment may change the status of the autonomic nervous system.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2015

Due to an increased sitting time in work, lumbar disc disease is one of the most frequent diseases in modern days, and this occasionally requires surgery for treatment. Endoscopic disc surgery, one of the common disc surgeries, requires a process of inserting a guide needle to the target disc for which the insertion path is manually planned by drawing lines on the patient's skin while monitoring the fluoroscopic view of the lumbar. Such procedure inevitably exposes both surgeon and patient to the fluoroscopy radiation emitted from the c-arm for a long time. To reduce the radiation exposure time, this study proposes a computer assisted method of calculating the 3D guide needle path by using 2D c-arm images of the disc in 3 different angles. Additionally, a method of the guide robot control based on the 3D needle path was developed by implementing the Hand-eye Calibration method to calculate the transformation matrix between the c-arm and robot base coordinate systems. The proposed system was then tested for its accuracy.

• BioChip Journal
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2018

Microneedles (MNs) are being developed to overcome the limitations of the conventional hypodermic needle, e.g. the injection pain. In this study, we conducted an analysis of clinical pain and bleeding at the site of MN insertion and evaluated the insulin pharmacodynamic profile compared with parameters obtained with a conventional pen needle. MN insertion into the skin of 25 healthy adults or 15 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) revealed significantly less pain relative to a conventional hypodermic pen needle, thus reducing pain scores from $2.1{\pm}1.9$ to $21.3{\pm}1.4$ ($mean{\pm}standard$ deviation [SD]). Besides, no bleeding was observed when the MN was used. In the insulin pharmacodynamic assay, no significant differences were observed in the blood glucose-lowering effect between the pen needle and MN. Based on these results, the MN is expected to be a good substitute for conventional hypodermic pen needles and improve the quality of life of patients by significantly reducing the pain associated with insulin treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.74-80
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• 2011

Background: Lidocaine patch (L5P) has demonstrated short-term efficacy in treating both acute surgical pain and chronic neuropathic pain with tolerable side effects. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is the mainstay of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). Sufficient analgesia during PELD surgery makes the patient consider it real MISS. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of lidocaine patch in patients who underwent PELD under local anesthesia. Methods: L5P (L group) or placebo (P group) was randomly applied on the skin of the back covering the anticipated path of the working channel before 1 hour of surgery in 100 patients who underwent a single level PELD at L4-L5. Efficacy of the lidocaine patch was assessed by patient's numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain at each stage during the surgery and by a 5-scale grading of the satisfaction with the anesthesia of the operator and patients after surgery. Results: Mean NRS scores at the stages of needle insertion, skin incision, serial dilation and insertion of working channel, and subcutaneous suture were significantly lower in the L group than the P group. Postoperative operator's and patients' satisfaction scores were also significantly higher in L group than in the P group. There were subtle adverse effects in both groups. Conclusions: L5P provided better pain relief during PELD, especially at the stage of needle insertion, skin incision, serial dilation and insertion of working channel, and subcutaneous suture. It also provided higher patient and operator postoperative satisfaction, with only subtle adverse effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.563-572
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to suggest a new method to estimate the resistance by acupoint compositions by using the multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis(MF-BIA) of 5 kHz, 50 kHz and 200 kHz within 2 cm of acupoints as a local segment. Moreover, we try to confirm the relation to between measured resistance at skin surface and measured resistance by various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth. Methods : Ten male subjects participated in this study. We measured the resistance at left/right ST36 at skin surface and various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth(skin, 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm and 30 mm). Results : It was also observed that the all measured resistances were the highest at 5 kHz and the lowest at 200 kHz. There were significant differences at 5 kHz, 50 kHz and 200 kHz between measured resistance at skin surface and measured resistance by various manual acupuncture needle insertion depth(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the left and right identical acupoints under the identical condition(p>0.05). Conclusions : We conclude that the measured resistance at skin surface has limitation as to reflect the information of tissue. However, the measured resistance at each frequency was changed as similar pattern by different insertion depth. Hence, we confirmed the possibility of assumption on information of tissue which was expected to locate an acupoint.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.35-47
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• 2010

Objectives : Chim-Gu-Kyung-Heom-Bang(CGKHB; 鍼灸經驗方) is the needle and moxa specialized document written by the doctor specialized in needle and moxa treatment of Joseon(朝鮮), Heo Im(1570-1647). The document was published in April 1644(22nd year of King Injo). CGKHB contains the needle and moxa treatment techniques accumulated by the Joseon Dynasty as well as the personal experience of Heo Im. The aim of this study is to restore the past treatment method as a method of Needle Insertion Method at CV12(NIM-CV12, needle to penetrate blood vessel technique) in CGKHB.. Methods : Through Dong-Yi-Bao-Gam(DYBG; 東醫寶鑑), the implication of Korean medicine study of the Jungwan(CV12) has been studied. Next is the contemplation of the NIM-CV12 of CGKHB with the Acupuncture Treatment Using Jungwan(中脘鍼法) of Park Tae-won and Acupuncture Treatment for Byeokjeok(癖積鍼法) of "Geup Yubang". Results and Conclusions : 1. CV12 is one of the acupuncture points representing stomach(脾胃), middle energizer(中焦), phlegm-fluid retention(痰飮) and greater yin(太陰). 2. NIM-CV12 of CGKHB is the technique to penetrate the needle into the CV12 strictly relying on tactile sense of a person who give the penetration. This CV12 administration was carried out at intervals of every 7 or 8 day. During the administration period, the patient was not allowed to intake excessive amount of food. 3. The Acupuncture Treatment Using Jungwan(中脘鍼法) of Park Tae-won and Acupuncture Treatment for Byeokjeok(癖積鍼法) of "GeupYubang", existed in the same era of the NIM-CV12 of CGKHB, have similar linkage to the NIM-CV12 of Heo Im.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was conducted to observe the tip of needles which induce poor needle sensation upon injection of herbal acupuncture. Methods : Among the syringes used for herbal acupuncture, needles which cause poor sensation were collected and evaluated by SEM (scanning electron microscope) for changes in structure, existence of impure matters, physical damage, and etc. Results : 1. Various forms contributed to poor needle sensation. Bent needle body, damaged or crooked needle tip, and blunted tip 2. Poor needles could be made during the manufacturing process, during insertion of the needle into the vial(except for the lubricants), and repeated procedures with one needle at different regions. Conclusion : Poor needles induce unnecessary pain and discomfort not only to the patients but also to administrators during injection. Herbal acupuncture is a treatment technique injecting herbal extract on the meridian points, and strict quality check must be enforced to prevent occurrence of poor needles.