• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1221-1225
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• 2009

The pulse diagnosis is an important and universally used method in Oriental Medicine. Since the traditional method of palpating the pulse relies on the subjective sense in the fingers of an Oriental Medical Doctor(OMD), there has been continued need for more objective method for pulse diagnosis. Recently, various pulse analyzers have been developed to meet such objective palpation and interpretation. However, most of these attempts were not successful to replace OMD's own palpation by fingers. To improve the performance of the pulse analyzers, one should develop machine-appropriate interpretations for the pulse images in the literature, in addition to the improvement in the repeatability and reproducibility. One of such widely-used pulse images to be interpreted is the floating and sinking pulse. The floating and sinking pulses are the two representative pulse images informing us how strong pressure one should apply to obtain the maximal pulse strength. A previous study suggested a convenient and unified measure for the floating and sinking pulses by defining the coefficient of the floating-sinking pulse(CFS). We found the original definition of the CFS could be erroneous under some situations. To improve the performance, we introduce new CFS algorithm for determining the floating and sinking pulse with a pulse analyzers(3-D MAC). To test the performance of the newly suggested algorithm, we conducted a clinical study comparing the agreement ratio with the floating and sinking pulse diagnosis by the OMDs. We found that, among the subjects who are diagnosed with having either the floating pulse or sinking pulse, the new CFS algorithm showed 55.3% diagnosis rate and 73.0% concordance rate, which are about 3% and 6% improvement in the diagnosis rate and agreement rate, respectively, compared to the original CFS algorithm.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1193-1198
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• 2009

Pulse diagnosis is a central diagnosis method used in traditional Oriental medicine. To standardize and modernize the pulse diagnosis method, it is essential to develop an instrument-based reinterpretation of the clinically used pulse images in terms of the physical quantities such as the strength, period, width, length, and depth of the pulse. As a step towards such standardization, we conducted a clinical study on the floating/sinking pulses based on an automated palpation instrument (3D-MAC, Daeyo Medi, Korea) for 213 female subjects in their 20s and 174 female subjects in their 60s. The floating/sinking pulses are the two representative pulse images depending only on the depth of the pulse, and can be conveniently scaled by the coefficient of the floating-sinking pulse ($C_{fs}{\in}(0,1)$), which represents how strong one should apply the hold-down pressure to obtain the maximal pulse strength. As a result, primarily we found that it tends to appear more floating-like pulse ($C_{fs}{\rightarrow}0$) at Gwan and more sinking-like pulse ($C_{fs}{\rightarrow}1$) at Cheek, at both age groups and at both wrists. This result is consistent with a previous study on the geometrical structure of the blood vessel by an ultrasonograph. Second, the pulse tends to be more sinking-like in the age group of 60s than 20s. Finally, the pulses at the right palpation positions were found to be more sinking-like than the left, at both age groups.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1673-1675
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• 2005

The pulse diagnosis is an important and universal method in Oriental medicine. Nevertheless, because of characteristic that depends on subjective sense of Oriental medicine doctor (OMD), it is not recognized by objective basis. The Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine(KIOM) and Daeyo Medi. Co. Ltd. developed the 3-D Mac using arrey piezoresistive sensors and multi-axial robot. 133 healthy subjects participated in this study, 75 males and 58 females, between 20 and 70 years of age. All subjects were relaxed in a supine position on a comfortable chair for twenty minutes before the measurement was taken. The measured position is the radial artery of subject's left wrist and the position is called Chon, Kwan and Chuck in Oriental medicine. To detect floating and sinking pulse, we established coefficient of floating and sinking(CFS). CFS means relative position of maximum pulse pressure in PH curve. The lower CFS value means that the pulse has floating tendency. There was significant diffence between CFS and diagnosis of floating-sinking pulse by OMD(p=0.020). CFS value of over 40's group was significantly larger than those of 20's and 30's(p=0.000). There was no significant difference between male and female(p=0.061).

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.118-131
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• 2006

1. Objective Pulse diagnosis is generally applied to Traditional Oriental Medicine but not to Sasang Constitution diagnosis. Recently new pulse analyzer using array piezoresistive sensor and multi-channel robot arm developed. It reflects Oriental Medical Doctors' diagnostic processes, and its reproducibility test was done at Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. We performed this study to set parameters diagnosing Sasang Constitution. 2. Methods One hundred thirty three subjects participated in this study. They are healty and approved this study. Before being tested with pulse analyzer, they had interview with Sasang Constitution Specialist to diagnose their Sasang Constitution. We established some useful parameters from parameters of pulse analyzer according to the Original Texts of Oriental Medicine and clinical experiences to analyze with clinical data of this study. 3. Results (I) There is a significant difference in pre-dicrotic notch time among all parameters of pulse analyzer in Sasang Constitution groups(P=0.047). (2) There is a significant difference in maximum pulse pressure in 33 to 48 year Sasang Constitution groups(P=0.010). (3) There is a significant difference in frequency width in 17 to 32 year Sasang Constitution groups(P=0.002). (4) There is a significant difference in CFS value in groups which OMD diagnoses; Floating & Sinking pulse(P=0.020). (5) There is a significant difference in pulse rate in groups which OMD diagnoses; Rapid & Slow pulse(P=0.000). (6) There is a significant difference in maximum pulse pressure in groups which OMD diagnoses; Deficient & Solid pulse(P=0.000). 4. Conclusions Analyzing parameters in each Sasang Constitution group, we found it shows significant difference in maximum pulse pressure and corresponding tendency in coefficient of floating & sinking pulse with theories of Sasang Consti-tutional Medicine. As we accumulate more clinical data, we will establish algorithm to diagnose Sasang Constitution using a pulse analyzer.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.13 no.2 s.20
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• pp.71-74
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• 2007

Background : Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM) is the field of traditional Korean medicine that emphasize four constitutional types for diagnosis and treatment. Appearance, personalities and pathological characteristics are main factors of Sasang constitutional classification. Previous studies carried out by the pulse analyzer showed that the pulse wave can discriminate these types. In addition, It was reported that the pulse wave are affected by age and sexuality. In this study, we investigated the pulse wave characteristics related Sasang constitution types in control group regarding their age and sexuality. Subjects and Method : Two hudred and eighteen volunteers participated in this study: healthy men in $20{\sim}49$ years old. Participants were interviewed and examined to evaluate their health condition and Sasang constitution type. Then they were tested with pulse analyzer when they ere stabilized. The pulse at the radial artery just beside styloid process was measured, because this area is landmark for pulse diagnosis in oriental medicine. 3-D Mac pulse analyzer (Daeyo Medi Co. Ansan. Korea) was used in this study. We analyzed main features of pulse waves with the Sasang condtitution types by the SPSS for Windows (ver 12.0). Results : There was significant difference between Taeum and other types in contact pressure as weil as in coefficient of floating and sinking pulse. Conclusion : By analyzing pulse waves of healthy adult men. we found significant differences exist between Taeum and other types. These pulse differences may characterize Taeum type, and it will be helpful for the evaluation of Taeum type.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.191-197
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• 2015

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, nonthermal laser irradiation. Possible advantages in using laser acupuncture are the noninvasive, painless and low risks of infection treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of laser acupuncture on the quality and waveform of arterial pulses. Ten acupuncture points were stimulated repeatedly three times in 30 individuals by laser with emission in the near infrared spectral region (808 nm) using an out power and power density of 45 mW and $143W/cm^2$. The analysis of pulse quality and waveform was performed based on the measurement of arterial pressure of the left and right wrist, using a 3-dimensional blood pressure pulse analyzer. Excess-like pulse quality of subjects before laser acupuncture changed significantly to balanced pulse quality after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture; coefficient of deficient or excess, $C_{DE}$, decreased significantly from 0.68 before acupuncture to 0.61, 0.55, and 0.55 after 10, 20, 30 minutes of laser acupuncture ($$p{\leq_-}0.006$$), respectively. Other pulse qualities, floating or sinking, slow or rapid, choppy or slippery did not change significantly by laser acupuncture (p > 0.05). Pulse waveform analysis showed that amplitude of main peak (systolic function or aortic compliance, $h_1$) of left and right artery pulse waves decreased significantly after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture (p < 0.05). Other parameters, duration of one cardiac cycle (T), duration of rapid systolic ejection ($T_1$), duration of the systolic phase ($T_4$), and duration of the diastolic phase ($T_5$) of left and right artery pulses did not change significantly after laser acupuncture (p > 0.05).