• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.238-243
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• 2018

Background: Various factors can alter the efficacy of acupuncture treatment, such as the location of points, manipulations, depth of insertion, needle retention time, and needle type. In this study, the effect of needle diameter on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment was quantitatively evaluated. Methods: Five acupuncture needles of different diameters used in clinical practice were compared. Force on the porcine tissue phantom was measured using a sensor. Lifting-thrusting and twisting-rotating movements were performed using a needle insertion-measurement system. After repeated measurements, force magnitude was calculated and compared. Following this, we correlated needle diameter and force magnitude during lifting-thrusting and twisting-rotating movements. Results: The force magnitude was significantly altered between needle diameters during lifting-thrusting movements, as shown by a significant positive correlation between needle diameter and force magnitude. In contrast, there was no difference in force magnitude with different needle diameters during twisting-rotating movements. Conclusion: Needle diameter can significantly affect stimuli and force magnitude dependent upon the type of manipulation. Research into the effect of other needle type characteristics and stimulation method is necessary to fully elucidate the role of acupuncture needle choice in treatment efficacy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.634-642
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of the study is to find out whether effect of acupuncture is depending on the diameter of needle, which is a possible component of dose of acupuncture needling. Methods : To compare acupuncture effects in different diameters of needle, we measured the changes in muscle fatigue recovery using surface electromyogram(sEMG) in healthy 8 volunteers. Muscle fatigue was induced by 20 times sit-up for 1 min. Immediately after induction of muscle fatigue, acupuncture needle was inserted into ST36 or ST25 for 10 min by diameters of 0.20 mm, 0.30 mm, or 0.40 mm needles. The sEMG recording was followed by acupuncture for 30 min. As a control group, sEMG was recorded for the same period at rest after muscle fatigue induction. Results : In both of ST 36 and ST 25, stimulation with 0.4 mm diameter needle showed significant rapid recovery followed by short period of muscle fatigue increase. Stimulation with 0.2 mm diameter significantly suppressed the increase of muscle fatigue. Conclusions : These data suggest that acupuncture effect is, at least in part, dependent on diameter of needle. Therefore, diameter of needle is also considered to achieve effective outcome of acupuncture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.427-430
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• 1998

Electro Discharge Machining (EDM) is a so-call non-conventional machining technique. This paper presents the experimental results of an EDM technique for the fabrication of microholes on #7440 pyrex glass substrates. With various applied voltages and at various concentration of NaOH solution, the glass substrates have been microdrilled using the copper electrodes of which diameters are 250 $\mu\textrm{m}$ to 450 $\mu\textrm{m}$. The machined throughholes have been observed the top diameter, the bottom diameter and machining time have been measured. The experimental results show that the machining time decreases as the concentration of NaOH solution increases, the applied voltage increases and the needle diameter decreases. Also, the top diameter increases as the needle diameter increases or the applied voltage increases. The bottom diameter decreases as the needle diameter decreases or the applied voltage decreases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2017

Micro-needles are used as transferring devices for sampling of tiny constitute substances from biological bodies. Typically, nickel is used as a coating to improve the rigidity of micro-needles. This study introduces the methodology to manufacture a WC needle with very high hardness and toughness. Micro-EDM technology was used to manufacture micro-needles with holes $130{\mu}m$ in diameter and $2300{\mu}m$ in length. A micro-needle was aligned to the micro-EDM electrode using a custom two degree-of-freedom alignment system. A three-step manufacturing technique was developed to drill a micro-hole using a WC electrode. In the first process, an electrode $105{\mu}m$ in diameter was used to make a hole. Electrodes of 90 and $105{\mu}m$ diameters were used in the second and third process, respectively. Consequently, a WC micro-needle with an inner hole of $135{\mu}m$ diameter, length of $2300{\mu}m$, and outer diameter of $300{\mu}m$ was developed.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.434-443
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• 2011

A large scale seeding system was stable in terms of techniques but a convenient seeding system of small size was unsettled. This study was performed to develop a semi-automatic seeder for small and medium sized scale farm. To investigate optimum needle diameter and vacuum pressure was used vacuum suction needle seeder. Although the needle diameter according to the kinds of seed was different, the needle diameter for salvia and lettuce seed was suitable for 0.34 mm needle nozzle and 0.4 mm taper nozzle. The prototype consisted a seeding frame attached with needle nozzle, seed hopper, vibrating device, seeding part, vacuum ejector, seed tube etc.. As the result with the experiments, the seeding rate of the seeder was 92% and more at 0.34 mm diameter needle nozzle and 0.4 mm taper nozzle. Eccentric weight for seed hopper vibration was suitable that weight is 11 g and eccentric distance is 0.5 mm. Vibration acceleration of upward direction was 0.363 m/$s^2$. Working capacity of the seeder was possible 160 trays per hour. It was possible for sowing small seeds but it was required to make compact and simple model.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2001

The internal flow characteristics of a gasoline direct injector have been studied to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to examine the internal flow of the GDI with the purpose of designing the optimum geometry of the injector. This study tests orifice length, cone angle, swirl angle, orifice diameter and needle lift. The results show that optimum sizes of the orifice length, cone angle, swirl angle, orifice diameter and needle lift are 0.8mm, $140^{\circ},\;120^{\circ},\;80mm\;and\;70{\mu}m$, respectively. The size of the lift does not affect the formation of the air core signficantly near the tip of the needle compared to the ball-type needle. The vena contracta phenomenon near the orifice inlet can be released by smoothing the edge.

• Journal of the korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.35-40
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• 1987

The experimental study, using constant pressure injection system, is carried out to investigate the effect of the geometrical shape changes of the needle valve of the effective flow area, the spray angle and the Sauter's Mean Diameter according to needle valve lift for a pintle-type injection nozzle. The results are as follows: 1) With the increase of the needle valve lift, the effective flow area is increased, the spray angle is at first increased and later decreased, and the Sauter's Mean Diameter is decreased. 2) It is also shown that the spray angle is maximum at the rapidly increased region of the effective flow area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.2
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• pp.204-212
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• 2010

This study was performed in 22 unthinned Larix olgensis plantations in northeast China. Data were collected on 95 sample trees of different canopy positions and the diameter at breast height ($d_{1.3}$) ranged from 5.7 cm to 40.2 cm. The individual tree models for the prediction of vertical distribution of live crown, branch and needle biomass were built. Our study showed that the crown, branch and needle biomass distributions were most in the location of 60% crown length. These results were also parallel to previous crown studies. The cumulative relative biomass of live crown, branch and needle were fitted by the sigmoid shape curve and the fitting results were quite well. Meanwhile, we developed the crown ratio and width models. Tree height was the most important predictor for crown ratio model. A negative competition factor, ccf and bas which reflected the effect of suppression on a tree, reduced the crown ratio estimates. The height-diameter ratio was a significant predictor. The higher the height-diameter ratio, the higher crown ratio is. Diameter at breast height is the strongest predictor in crown width model. The models can be used for the planning of harvesting operations, for the selection of feasible harvesting methods, and for the estimation of nutrient removals of different harvesting practices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.250-253
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• 2004

Sharpness of the tip of micro needle is very Important quality that should be controlled in the manufacturing processes. Acupuncture needle is one of the most widely used micro-needle. And the tip sharpness of acupuncture needle Is usually checked by the magnitude of resisting force obtained through sharpness test. In this study, some sharpness tests of acupuncture needle were done and the relationship between the misalignment of specimen and the magnitude of resisting force. The diameter of the needle used in the test was $250\;{\mu}m$ and the length of it was 40 mm.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.16-25
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• 2008

The micro needle means the ultrafine probe of 'Probe Card'. The size of micro needle is so minute that it is difficult to minute that it is difficult to inspect it with eyes. On the other hand it is very critical if there is a defect in micro needle of probe card. In this study, we developed an automatic visual inspection system for finding defect status in probe angle, tip length and diameter. Through the experimental results, we could find that our proposed method is better than human-eyes inspection method in accuracy and inspection speed, and also in robustness to lighting circumstances.