• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.382-389
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• 2022

Objectives: The Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for sterile acupuncture needles was established in 2009 based on research on the quality control of acupuncture needles. We aimed to determine the quality of acupuncture needles available in South Korea in 2021 by examining their surface condition and chemical composition using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Methods: In South Korea, there are 23 brands of acupuncture needles, and we examined 10-15 needles from each brand, resulting in a total of 285 needles. The microstructures of the needles were assessed by SEM. Using SEM images, we evaluated the acupuncture needle tips for the following defects/aspects: scratches, lumps, detached coating, bent tip, and tip sharpness. EDS was used to determine the chemical composition of the selected acupuncture needles. Results: Overall, 88.4% of 285 needles were found to have at least one type of abnormality. The most frequently observed abnormalities were scratches and dents on the surface (68.1%), followed by detached coating (63.2%), and lumps (61.8%); blunt tips were observed in about 24% of them. Of 252 needles with at least one defect, 86.9% had two or more types of defects. The ratio of the number of needles with any defect to that of needles without any defect varied among brands, ranging from 50% to 100%. Regarding foreign materials, higher proportions of Si and O were observed on the needles, indicating incomplete or detached silicone coating. Conclusion: The quality of acupuncture needles varied among brands, suggesting that further improvements can be made through various inspection methods.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.2256-2261
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• 2010

A corona discharge system with needle point or wire type corona electrode has been well used as an ionic wind blower. The corona discharge system with a needle point electrode produces ions at lower applied voltage effectively. However, the corona discharge on the needle point electrode transits to the arc discharge at lower voltage, and it is hard to obtain the elevated electric field in the discharge airgap for enhancing the ion migration velocity due to the weak Coulomb force. A cylindrical corona electrode with sharp round tip is reported as one of effective corona electrode, because of its higher breakdown voltage than that of the needle electrode. A basic study, for the effectiveness of cylindrical electrode shape on the ionic wind generation, has been investigated to obtain an maximum wind velocity, which however is the final goal for the real field application of this kind ionic wind blower. In this paper, a parametric study for maximizing the ionic wind velocity utilizing the cylindrical corona electrode and a maximum ion wind velocity of 4.1 m/s were obtained, which is about 1.8 times higher than that of 2.3m/s obtained with the needle corona electrode from the velocity profile.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.100-104
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• 2019

We have investigated the feasibility of fabricating fine stripes using needle coating for potential applications in solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). To this end, we have employed an aqueous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution that has been widely used as a hole injection layer (HIL) of OLEDs and performed needle coatings by varying the process parameters such as the coating gap and coating speed. As expected, the stripe width is reduced with increasing coating speed. However, the central thickness of the stripe is rather increased as the coating speed increases, which is different from other coating processes such as slot-die and blade coatings. It is due to the fact that the meniscus formed between the needle tip and the substrate varies depending sensitively on the coating speed. It is also found that the stripe width and thickness are reduced with increasing coating gap. To demonstrate its applicability to OLEDs, we have fabricated a red OLED stripe and obtained light emission with the width of about 90㎛.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Background: Previous studies have investigated technology-aided needling training systems for acupuncture on phantom models using various measurement techniques. In this study, we developed and validated a vision-based needling training system (noncontact measurement) and compared its training effectiveness with that of the traditional training method. Methods: Needle displacements during manipulation were analyzed using OpenCV to derive three parameters, i.e., needle insertion speed, needle insertion angle (needle tip direction), and needle insertion length. The system was validated in a laboratory setting and a needling training course. The performances of the novices (students) before and after training were compared with the experts. The technology-aided training method was also compared with the traditional training method. Results: Before the training, a significant difference in needle insertion speed was found between experts and novices. After the training, the novices approached the speed of the experts. Both training methods could improve the insertion speed of the novices after 10 training sessions. However, the technology-aided training group already showed improvement after five training sessions. Students and teachers showed positive attitudes toward the system. Conclusion: The results suggest that the technology-aided method using computer vision has similar training effectiveness to the traditional one and can potentially be used to speed up needling training.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.591-592
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.449-452
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• 2004

To obtain the ultra-sharp tungsten tip, an analog to digital converter circuit aided by a personal computer has been setup. At the moment the lower part of the needle drops off during the etching process, a maximum current change across the reference resistor is detected by the PC interface card and the applied voltage is then cut off within a few milliseconds. Out experiment has been able to fabricate an ultra-sharp tungsten tip ~200 $\AA$ radius with a higher reproduction rate and reliability than the conventional method.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.212-219
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• 2008

To develop the twin-fluid atomizer having the excellent performance of painting, the spray characteristics of how a wide area can be painted efficiently by one time spraying were studied in this paper. Spray phenomena are affected by the many factors determining the spray field such as the spraying pressure of gas, the spraying pressure and viscosity of liquid paints, the opening duration of needle valve, the design dimension of nozzle, and so on. As the results of experiments, these factors affecting on spray characteristics were suggested as followings; 1) The optimum spraying pressure of gas was $0.015{\sim}0.02\;kPa$, and the appropriate spraying pressure of liquid paint was 0.01kPa, In these situations, the setting up pressures must be compensated as much as the losing amount of pressure because a decompression occurred when operating valves. 2) The duration of opening the needle valve must be sustained for $1{\sim}2$ seconds to inject gas after spraying the liquid paint. This operating of the needle valve was necessary to avoid the affect on the changing of liquid column length, and to prevent the droplet deposit at the initial time of spraying. 3) The spray tip penetration was gained form the experimental equation, and the effective spraying angle was $85^{\circ}{\pm}5^{\circ}$ just at he appropriate spraying pressure of gas. The distribution of the area sprayed had the variation in $350{\pm}50\;mm$ because of the spraying pressure of gas, the its distance from the spray tip, and the lift of the needle valve.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.469-474
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• 1999

Methods and systems to remove static electricity are requested in the field of industry because the static electricity causes a flammable gas explosion or fire and a reduction of production rate in manufacturing semiconductor devices and so on. This paper is a basic study about a new structure of electrode system to control the quantities of generated ions and to solve the problem of dust attachment to needle electrode. In addition, a new type field controlled electrostatic charge neutralizer was proposed, and it could control the electric field in the end of the needle electrode by controlling the voltage of the third electrode around the tip of the needle electrode. As aresult, it was possible to control the quantities of generated ion by controlling the electric field in the needle electrode with the third electrode, which shows the possibilities to solve the nonequilibrium of generated ions in ac power source and the problem of the dust in the needle electrode.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 1989

Splanchnic nerve block is performed to relieve intractable upper abdominal pain caused by carcinoma of the pancreas, stomach, liver, or colon; and upper abdominal metastasis of tumors having more distant origins. We have performed splanchnic nerve blocks under control of X-ray fluoroscopy, for all cases of alcohol splanchnic nerve block at $L_1$ vertebra, to determine both the position of the needle tips and the spread of contrast media. During the period from December 1987 to August 1988, this method was used in 40 cases of malignancy at Severance Hospital and we clinically evaluated the location of the needle tip and the spread of contrast media. The results were as follows: 1) Our method was a retrocrural approach, the splanchnic nerve block, in all cases. 2) Most of the inserted needle points were located in the upper and anterolateral part of the $L_1$ vertebra on the antero posterior roentagenogram and in the upper quarter anteriorly on the lateral roentgenogram. 3) There was no specific relationship between the location of the needle and the spread of the contrast media. 4) The contrast media was spread around the needle and then upward along the anterior margin of the vertebral body in most of the cases. 5) Pain relief was obtained immediately in 37 cases (92.5%), but in 3 cases only after a second splanchnic nerve block.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.182-186
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• 2012

In conventional percutaneous disc surgery, introducing instruments into disc space starts by inserting a guide needle into the triangular working zone. However, landing the guide needle tip on the annular window is a challenging step in endoscopic discectomy. Surgeons tend to repeat the needling procedure to reach an optimal position on the annular target. Obturator guiding technique is a modification of standard endoscopic lumbar discectomy, in which, obturator is used to access triangular working zone instead of a guide needle. Obturator guiding technique provides more vivid feedback and easy manipulation. This technique decreases the steps of inserting instruments and takes safer route from the peritoneum.