Therapeutic and diagnostic needling device and method
AssigneeUniversity of Vermont
InventorsDavid L. Churchill, Helene M. Langevin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a needling device for mechanically effecting needling procedures according to predetermined parameters and/or measuring the physical and/or electrical characteristics of such needling procedures. The invention also relates to methods of using the invention for mechanically effecting needling procedures according to predetermined parameters and/or measuring the physical and/or electrical characteristics of such needling procedures.
Claims39
A needling device comprising:
- (a) an elongated encasement;
- (b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement and adapted to receive and hold a needle;
- and
- (c) at least one mounted rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.
A method of using a needling device, comprising:
- (a) providing a needling device;
- and
- (b) using the needling device to complete at least one step selected from the group consisting of (i) inserting a needle into a subject, (ii) manipulating the needle, and (iii) withdrawing the needle;
- wherein said needling device includes a shaft, a needle grip mounted at an end of said shaft, a needle mounted in said needle grip and adapted for in vivo use in an animal or a human, and at least one mechanism selected from the group consisting of (i) mechanism for providing an output indicative of retraction force coupled to said shaft or said needle grip and (ii) mechanism for providing an output indicative of torque caused by rotation of said needle coupled to said shaft or said needle grip.
A method of using a needling device, comprising:
- (a) providing a needling device;
- and
- (b) using the needling device to complete at least one step selected from the group consisting of (i) inserting a needle into a subject, (ii) manipulating the needle, and (iii) withdrawing the needle;
- wherein said needling device includes a shaft, a needle grip mounted at an end of said shaft, a needle mounted in said needle grip and adapted for in vivo use in an animal or a human, and a force indicator coupled to said shaft or said needle grip.
A needling device comprising:
- (a) an elongated encasement;
- (b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement and adapted to receive and hold a needle;
- (c) at least one linear actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart linear motion to said needle mount;
- and
- (d) at least one rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.
A needling device comprising:
- (a) an elongated encasement;
- (b) a needle mount slidingly mounted within said elongated encasement, said needle mount adapted to receive and hold a needle and adapted to establish electrical continuity with the needle held by said needle mount such that EMG signals may be detected using the needle as an EMG probe;
- (c) a switch configured to establish and break the electrical continuity between said needle mount and the needle;
- and
- (d) at least one actuator selected from the group consisting of (i) a linear actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart linear motion to said needle mount and (ii) a rotary actuator mounted within said encasement and adapted to impart rotational motion to said needle mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.