US3905375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acupuncture needle
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-23
•
Granted: 1975-09-16
•
Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An acupuncture needle having a shank portion for insertion through the skin and a handle portion or gripping portion is provided with a shield which prevents contact of the shank portion by the person providing treatment. The needle is held in fixed relation with the shield by cooperation between a membrane positioned at the end of the shield and a plunger which fits over the handle portion and into telescoping engagement with the shield. To insert the needle beneath the skin, the plunger is depressed, forcing the handle portion through the membrane and the shank portion to project beyond the shield and into the skin. In order to determine the depth to which the shank portion is inserted beneath the skin, the shield is made of a transparent material and has a linear gauge marked thereon. To preserve the sanitary state of the acupuncture needles for their use, they are conveniently packaged in a conventional air-tight container.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip M Toyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H39/00; A61H39/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for practicing acupuncture wherein needles are utilized to penetrate beneath the skin comprising: a needle having a shank for insertion through the skin and a handle which remains exposed after the shank is inserted, a shield for protecting the shank from tactile contact prior to inserting the shank, and means for releasably securing the needle to the shield with the shank disposed completely within the shield wherein said releasable securing means includes plunger means which engages both the handle and the shield and which projects said shank from said shield as said needle is inserted beneath the skin and is released from the shield.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A device for practicing acupuncture wherein needles are utilized to penetrate beneath the skin comprising: a needle having a shank for insertion through the skin and a handle which remains exposed after the shank is inserted, a shield for protecting the shank from tactile contact prior to inserting the shank, and means for releasably securing the needle to the shield with the shank disposed completely within the shield wherein said releasable securing means includes plunger means which engages both the handle and the shield and which projects said shank from said shield as said needle is inserted beneath the skin and is released from the shield.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the handle of the needle has a substantially greater diameter than the shank and wherein the means for releasably securing the needle to the shield includes a holding member at one end of said shield through which the shank projects and upon which the handle rests.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the means for projecting said shank engages both said handle and said shield to normally retain the shield and needle in rigid relation but is slidable relative to the shield to release the needle from the holding means and to project the shank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said holding means is a rupturable membrane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 3 wherein plunger means and the shield telescope relative to one another to release the needle and project the shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 3 wherein both the shield and plunger means are cylindrical in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the plunger means slides over the shield as the plunger means and shield telescope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the shield and plunger means are made of tubular plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the handle of the needle is made of plastic.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
118 words
A device for practicing acupuncture wherein needles are utilized to penetrate beneath the skin comprising: a needle having a shank for insertion through the skin and an enlarged handle which remains exposed after the shank is inserted, a shield for surrounding the shank prior to inserting the shank, a membrane extending across the shield through which the shank projects and upon which the handle rests, and a plunger engaging the end of the handle and fitting in sliding relationship with said shield to hold the handle in engagement with the membrane until the plunger is pushed relative to the shield to telescope relative thereto and project said handle through said membrane and said shank out of said shield.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
118 words
A device for practicing acupuncture wherein needles are utilized to penetrate beneath the skin comprising: a needle having a shank for insertion through the skin and an enlarged handle which remains exposed after the shank is inserted, a shield for surrounding the shank prior to inserting the shank, a membrane extending across the shield through which the shank projects and upon which the handle rests, and a plunger engaging the end of the handle and fitting in sliding relationship with said shield to hold the handle in engagement with the membrane until the plunger is pushed relative to the shield to telescope relative thereto and project said handle through said membrane and said shank out of said shield.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the handle, the shield and the plunger are made of plastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 11 wherein the coefficient of friction between the shank and the subject into which it is inserted is greater than the coefficient of friction between the ruptured membrane and the handle so that the shield and plunger may be easily removed from the needle after the needle is inserted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the shield is made of a transparent material and wherein the shield has indicia thereon to indicate the depth to which the needle has been inserted beneath the skin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1934046A
Cited
US2674246A
Cited
US2694398A
Cited
US3030959A
Cited
US3612051A
Cited
US3797491A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-15 | 1979-03-17 | 1979-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-15 | 1983-03-17 | 1983-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-15 | 1987-03-17 | 1987-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |