Patent ID: 6916329
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: A61H,A61N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An optical/electrical transmission type acupuncture needle comprising: an elongated slender needle body having a needle point at a first end portion thereof configured for penetration into selected body tissue and a needle holder provided at a second end portion of said needle body; said needle body having a substantially uniform cross section over a substantially entire length thereof and being formed of a central optical transmission core, an intermediate opaque non-conductive clad layer positioned directly atop said core and an outer conductive layer positioned directly atop said clad layer, all of which are substantially coextensive one to another; said needle point formed by tapering, sharpening and highly polishing said first end portion so that said first end portion of said core is sharpened sufficiently for body tissue penetration; said core carrying light from a light source applied directly against a highly polished end surface of a second end of said core whereby light from the light source is transmitted through said core and emanates into body tissue from the tapered first end portion of said core.