# US 10,245,211 B2 · Porous acupuncture needle and method for manufacturing same

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- Number: US 10,245,211 B2
- Document ID: US10245211B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/120,633
- Filed: 2014-07-17
- Published: 2017-01-12
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-26
- Assignees: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
- Applicants: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
- Inventors: Su Il In; Hye Rim Kim; Abdul Razzq
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245211B2

## CPC

- A61H 39/086: {Acupuncture needles}
- A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body}
- C25D 11/005: {Apparatus specially adapted for electrolytic conversion coating (apparatus in general for electrolytic coating C25D17/00)}
- C25D 11/34: of metals or alloys not provided for in groups C25D11/04 - C25D11/32
- A61H 2201/105: with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
- A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a porous acupuncture needle and a method for manufacturing the same and, more specifically, to a porous acupuncture needle, which has micro-sized or nano-sized holes formed on the surface thereof to maximize the specific surface thereof, and a method for manufacturing the same.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A porous acupuncture needle having an interior and a surface both comprising iron (Fe) at 45% to 46%, chromium (Cr) at 17% to 19%, carbon (C) at 30% to 34%, nickel (Ni) at 2% to 3%, and aluminum (Al) at 1.5% to 2%, when measure by an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), wherein no layer is formed between the surface and the interior, wherein the surface forms 5 to 20 holes per 100 μm2 of the surface area, and wherein the surface area of the porous acupuncture needle is 0.0150 to 0.0350 m2/g as calculated by measuring methylene blue solution staining of the surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The porous acupuncture needle of claim 1, wherein each hole has an average diameter in a range of 0.05 to 3 μm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The porous acupuncture needle of claim 1, wherein each hole has an average depth in a range of 1 to 3 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The porous acupuncture needle of claim 1, wherein each hole is loaded with a drug.

### Claim 5

A method of preparing a porous acupuncture needle having an interior and a surface, the method comprising forming a porous structure on the needle surface by performing an anodizing process in an electrolyte containing the needle and a carbon electrode,
the needle is used as a positive electrode and the carbon electrode is used as a negative electrode, and
the anodizing process is performed by applying a direct current voltage of 20 to 38V for 30 minutes to 2 hours,
wherein the surface and interior both comprise iron (Fe) at 45% to 46%, chromium (Cr) at 17% to 19%, carbon (C) at 30% to 34%, nickel (Ni) at 2% to 3%, and aluminum (Al) at 1.5% to 2%, when measure by an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), wherein no layer is formed between the surface and the interior, and wherein the surface forms 5 to 20 holes per 100 μm2 of the surface area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte includes one or more selected from an ethylene glycol aqueous solution and a glycerol aqueous solution.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte is an ethylene glycol aqueous solution including ammonium fluoride at 0.1 to 0.5 parts by weight and water at 1 to 5 parts by weight.