阅读说明：本技术 针灸针及针灸针的形成方法 (Acupuncture needle and method for forming acupuncture needle ) 是由 中野亮一 金子雄哉 谷口昇平 小林拓哉 于 2020-12-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的提供使用便利性良好的针灸针及针灸针的形成方法。在针灸针的形成方法中,针灸针(1)具有：针身(2),其在前端形成有针尖部(2a)；针柄(3),其安装于该针身(2)的基端部,其中,在针灸针(1)的针柄(3)的长度方向的中途将针灸针(1)的针柄(3)的长度方向横截的截面形状为椭圆,沿着针柄(3)的外周设置有槽部(4),在作为长的针柄的针灸针(1)进行使用的情况下,不将槽部(4)断开而直接使用,在作为短的针柄的针灸针(1)进行使用的情况下,使弯曲的载荷方向为所述截面形状的椭圆的短轴方向进行折弯,将槽部(4)断开而形成为与断开前的针柄(3)相比针柄(3)的长度方向的长度较短的针灸针(1)。(The invention provides an acupuncture needle with good use convenience and a method for forming the acupuncture needle. In a method for forming an acupuncture needle, the acupuncture needle (1) comprises: a needle body (2) having a needle tip portion (2a) formed at the tip end thereof; and a handle (3) attached to the proximal end of the body (2), wherein the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the handle (3) of the acupuncture needle (1) is elliptical in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the handle (3), a groove (4) is provided along the outer periphery of the handle (3), the handle is used as it is without breaking the groove (4) when the long handle acupuncture needle (1) is used, and the handle is bent in the direction of the minor axis of the elliptical cross-sectional shape when the short handle acupuncture needle (1) is used, and the groove (4) is broken to form the acupuncture needle (1) having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle (3) than the handle (3) before breaking.)

1. A method of forming an acupuncture needle, the acupuncture needle comprising: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft attached to the proximal end of the needle body,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a cross-sectional shape of the needle handle of the needle, which is a cross-section of the needle handle in the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse,

a groove portion is provided along the outer circumference of the needle handle,

when the acupuncture needle is used as a long handle, the needle can be used without breaking the groove,

when the needle is used as a short handle, the needle is formed by bending the needle in the direction of the minor axis of the ellipse having the cross-sectional shape in the direction of the bending load, and breaking the groove to form a needle having a length in the longitudinal direction of the handle shorter than that of the handle before the breaking.

2. A method of forming an acupuncture needle, the acupuncture needle comprising: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; a needle handle attached to the proximal end of the needle body,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a cross-sectional shape of the needle handle of the needle, which is a cross-section of the needle handle in the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse,

a groove is provided along the major axis direction of the ellipse on the outer periphery of the needle shaft,

when the acupuncture needle is used as a long handle, the needle can be used without breaking the groove,

when the needle is used as a short handle, the needle is formed by bending the needle in the direction of the minor axis of the ellipse having the cross-sectional shape in the direction of the bending load, and breaking the groove to form a needle having a length in the longitudinal direction of the handle shorter than that of the handle before the breaking.

3. A method of forming an acupuncture needle, the acupuncture needle comprising: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft attached to the proximal end of the needle body,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the outer peripheral edge of a cross section of the needle shaft, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft, is defined as ABCDA in the clockwise direction, A and D are in a symmetrical positional relationship, B and C are in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to a neutral axis of the cross section,

a maximum distance H of the distances between the opposite peripheral edges AB and CD, and a maximum distance H of the distances between the opposite peripheral edges AD and BC, wherein H > H,

a recessed portion of a groove portion is provided in the outer periphery AB and/or the outer periphery CD,

when the acupuncture needle is used as a long needle handle, the acupuncture needle can be used without breaking the concave part of the groove part,

when the acupuncture needle is used as a short needle handle, the acupuncture needle is bent with the recessed portion of the groove portion as a fulcrum, that is, the acupuncture needle is bent in a direction of a bending load in a direction of a distance h, and the recessed portion of the groove portion is broken to form an acupuncture needle having a length in a longitudinal direction of the needle handle shorter than that of the needle handle before the breaking.

4. The method of forming an acupuncture needle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the needle handle has a 1 st needle handle and a 2 nd needle handle with a groove part therebetween, and the needle body, the 1 st needle handle, the groove part and the 2 nd needle handle are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the acupuncture needle,

the groove portion has a 1 st taper portion which is located at a central portion of the needle shaft which is transverse to the longitudinal direction and which expands from the central portion toward the outside, and has an end portion from the 1 st taper portion toward the outside,

the 1 st taper part has a 1 st inclined surface and a 1 st' inclined surface,

the end portion has a 1 st end portion and a 1 st' end portion,

the 2 nd needle shaft is bent toward the 1 st needle shaft, the 1 st inclined surface is brought into contact with the 1 st 'inclined surface, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st end portion beyond the outermost portion of the 1 st inclined surface and the outermost portion of the 1 st' inclined surface, the groove portion is broken, and the needle shaft is separated into the 1 st needle shaft and the 2 nd needle shaft.

5. An acupuncture needle, comprising: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft attached to the proximal end of the needle body,

the acupuncture needle is characterized in that,

a cross-section of the needle shaft of the needle, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse at a midpoint of the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft,

a groove portion is provided along the outer periphery of the ellipse or the major axis direction of the ellipse.

6. An acupuncture needle, comprising: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft attached to the proximal end of the needle body,

the acupuncture needle is characterized in that,

the outer periphery of a cross section of the needle bar, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the needle bar, is defined as ABCDA in the clockwise direction, A and D are in a symmetrical positional relationship, B and C are in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to a neutral axis of the cross section,

the maximum distance between the opposing perimeter AB and the perimeter CD is H, and the maximum distance between the opposing perimeter AD and the perimeter BC is H, where H > H,

the periphery AB and/or the periphery CD is provided with a groove portion.

7. The needle of claim 5 or 6, wherein,

the needle handle has a 1 st needle handle and a 2 nd needle handle with a groove part therebetween, and the needle body, the 1 st needle handle, the groove part and the 2 nd needle handle are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the acupuncture needle,

the groove portion has a 1 st taper portion which is located at a central portion of the needle shaft which is transverse to the longitudinal direction and which expands from the central portion toward the outside, and has an end portion from the 1 st taper portion toward the outside,

the 1 st taper part has a 1 st inclined surface and a 1 st' inclined surface,

the end portion has a 1 st end portion and a 1 st' end portion,

the 2 nd needle shaft is bent toward the 1 st needle shaft, the 1 st inclined surface is brought into contact with the 1 st 'inclined surface, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st end portion beyond the outermost portion of the 1 st inclined surface and the outermost portion of the 1 st' inclined surface, the groove portion is broken, and the needle shaft is separated into the 1 st needle shaft and the 2 nd needle shaft.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an acupuncture needle and a method of forming an acupuncture needle, and more particularly, to an acupuncture needle and a method of forming an acupuncture needle which are easy to use.

Background

Conventionally, there is an acupuncture needle having a body with a tip portion formed at a tip end thereof and a shank attached to a proximal end portion of the body (patent document 1).

When the acupuncture needle is used for treatment such as pain relief, shoulder soreness alleviation, and lumbago alleviation by orthogonally puncturing the body and applying stimulation, there is no problem.

On the other hand, there is an intradermal needle, which is an acupuncture needle horizontally inserted into the skin independently of the skin (patent document 2).

The intradermal needle described in patent document 2 includes a pintle and a needle body, and an extension portion is integrally formed on the pintle, and is a special needle in which a notch portion is provided at a boundary between the pintle and the extension portion, and the extension portion is removed by cutting at the notch portion. Since the intradermal needle described in patent document 2 is only considered to be used as an intradermal needle, the filiform needle, which is a normal needle, cannot be secured in strength if the extension portion is used as it is, and is not suitable for use.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2019-136385

Patent document 2: japanese Kokoku publication Sho-51-2473

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Therefore, the above-mentioned needles have a problem that the manufacturers must form needles for intradermal needles which are horizontally inserted into the skin independently.

Even if the needle itself is used as an intradermal needle inserted horizontally into the skin, the following cases may occur: the weight of the needle shaft is heavy, and the needle for intradermal needle inserted into the skin comes off by the weight of the needle shaft, and pain and inflammation are generated, which is not suitable for use.

The present invention provides an acupuncture needle and a method of forming an acupuncture needle, which have been made in consideration of the above-described problems.

Means for solving the problems

The method of forming an acupuncture needle according to claim 1, wherein the acupuncture needle comprises: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a handle attached to a proximal end portion of the body, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle of the acupuncture needle, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse in a middle of the longitudinal direction of the handle, a groove portion is provided along an outer periphery of the handle, and when the acupuncture needle is used as a long handle, the groove portion is not cut and used as it is, and when the acupuncture needle is used as a short handle, a load direction of bending is bent in a short axis direction of the ellipse of the cross-sectional shape, and the groove portion is cut to form an acupuncture needle having a shorter length of the handle in the longitudinal direction than the handle before cutting.

In addition, in the method of forming an acupuncture needle according to claim 2, the acupuncture needle includes: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a handle attached to a proximal end portion of the body, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the handle of the acupuncture needle, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse in a middle of the longitudinal direction of the handle, a groove is provided along a major axis direction of the ellipse on an outer periphery of the handle, and when the handle is used as a long handle, the handle is used without being cut, and when the handle is used as a short handle, the handle is bent in a minor axis direction of the ellipse having the cross-sectional shape in a bending load direction, and the groove is cut to form a shorter length of the handle than the handle before the cutting.

In addition, in the method of forming an acupuncture needle according to claim 3, the acupuncture needle includes: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a handle attached to a proximal end portion of the body, wherein an outer peripheral edge of a cross section of the handle of the acupuncture needle, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is defined as ABCDA in the clockwise direction, A and D are in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to a neutral axis of the cross section, B and C are in a symmetrical positional relationship, a maximum distance among distances between an opposing outer peripheral edge AB and an outer peripheral edge CD is defined as H, and a maximum distance among distances between the opposing outer peripheral edge AD and the outer peripheral edge BC is defined as H, wherein H > H is provided, a recessed portion of a groove portion is provided in the outer peripheral edge AB and/or the outer peripheral edge CD, and when the acupuncture needle is used as a long handle, the acupuncture needle is used as it is without being cut off in the recessed portion of the groove portion, and when the acupuncture needle is used as a short handle, the acupuncture needle is formed by bending the needle around the recessed portion of the groove portion as a fulcrum, that is, bending the needle in a direction of a bending load in a direction of a distance h, and breaking the recessed portion of the groove portion to make the length of the needle shank in the longitudinal direction shorter than that of the needle shank before breaking.

The method of forming an acupuncture needle according to claim 4 is the method of forming an acupuncture needle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shank includes a 1 st shank and a 2 nd shank with a groove portion therebetween, the shank, the 1 st shank, the groove portion, and the 2 nd shank are arranged in this order in a longitudinal direction of the acupuncture needle, the groove portion includes a 1 st tapered portion which is located at a central portion of the shank that is transverse to the longitudinal direction and which extends outward from the central portion, the groove portion includes an end portion from the 1 st tapered portion toward the outer side, the 1 st tapered portion includes a 1 st inclined surface and a 1 st 'inclined surface, the end portion includes a 1 st end portion and a 1 st' end portion, the 2 nd shank is bent toward the 1 st shank so that the 1 st inclined surface abuts against the 1 st inclined surface, further, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st end portion beyond the outermost portion of the 1 st inclined surface and the outermost portion of the 1 st' inclined surface, the groove portion is broken, and the needle shaft is separated into the 1 st needle shaft and the 2 nd needle shaft.

Further, the acupuncture needle according to claim 5 includes: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a shaft attached to a proximal end portion of the body, wherein a cross section of the acupuncture needle, which is a cross section of the acupuncture needle that intersects the longitudinal direction of the shaft, is an ellipse in a middle of the longitudinal direction of the shaft, and a groove is provided along an outer periphery of the ellipse or a major axis direction of the ellipse.

Further, the acupuncture needle according to claim 6 includes: a needle body having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a shaft attached to a proximal end portion of the body, wherein an outer circumference of a cross section of the shaft of the acupuncture needle, which cross section is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is defined as ABCDA in a clockwise direction, A and D are in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to a neutral axis of the cross section, B and C are in a symmetrical positional relationship, a maximum distance among distances between an opposing periphery AB and a periphery CD is defined as H, and a maximum distance among distances between an opposing periphery AD and a periphery BC is defined as H, wherein H > H, and a groove portion is provided in the periphery AB and/or the periphery CD.

An acupuncture needle according to claim 7 is the acupuncture needle according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the shank includes a 1 st shank and a 2 nd shank with a groove therebetween, the body, the 1 st shank, the groove, and the 2 nd shank are arranged in this order in a longitudinal direction of the acupuncture needle, the groove includes a 1 st tapered portion, the 1 st tapered portion is located at a central portion of the shank that is transverse to the longitudinal direction and extends outward from the central portion, the groove includes an end portion extending outward from the 1 st tapered portion, the 1 st tapered portion includes a 1 st inclined surface and a 1 st 'inclined surface, the end portion includes a 1 st end portion and a 1 st' end portion, the 2 nd shank is bent toward the 1 st shank such that the 1 st inclined surface and the 1 st 'inclined surface abut against each other further than the 1 st inclined surface and the 1 st' inclined surface, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st' end portion to break the groove portion, and the needle shaft is separated into the 1 st needle shaft and the 2 nd needle shaft.

Effects of the invention

According to the method of forming an acupuncture needle described in claim 1, since the ellipse has a stronger strength against a load in the major axis direction than a load in the minor axis direction, the handle having the elliptical cross-sectional shape can secure the strength of an acupuncture needle as a long handle which is generally used, and the handle having the curved load in the minor axis direction is bent to easily break the groove portion to form an acupuncture needle having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle than the handle before breaking.

That is, depending on whether or not the groove portion is broken, a single needle and a needle having a short shank, which are generally used, can be easily formed.

In addition, according to the method of forming an acupuncture needle described in claim 2, since the strength of the ellipse against the load in the major axis direction is stronger than the load in the minor axis direction, the needle shank having the elliptical cross-sectional shape secures the strength of the acupuncture needle as a long needle shank which is generally used, and the groove portion is provided along the major axis direction of the ellipse in the outer periphery of the needle shank, so that if the groove portion is bent with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, that is, the bending load direction is the minor axis direction of the elliptical cross-section, the groove portion can be easily broken to form an acupuncture needle having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the needle shank than the needle shank before the breaking.

That is, depending on whether or not the groove portion is broken, a single needle and a needle having a short shank, which are generally used, can be easily formed.

Further, according to the method of forming an acupuncture needle described in claim 3, since the handle is stronger against the load in the H direction than the load in the H direction, the strength of the acupuncture needle as a long handle which is generally used is ensured, and the recessed portion of the groove portion is provided in the outer peripheral edge AB and/or the outer peripheral edge CD, so that when the handle is bent with the recessed portion of the groove portion as a fulcrum, that is, the bent load direction is the H direction, the recessed portion of the groove portion can be broken to form an acupuncture needle having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle than the handle before the breaking.

That is, one needle and a short needle with a shank, which are generally used, can be easily formed depending on whether or not the recessed portion of the groove portion is broken.

In addition, according to the method of forming an acupuncture needle of claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claims 1 to 3, if the 2 nd shaft is bent toward the 1 st shaft and only the 1 st inclined surface is brought into contact with the 1 st 'inclined surface, the separation cannot be made, and when a force is further applied, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st end portion beyond the outermost portion of the 1 st inclined surface and the outermost portion of the 1 st' inclined surface, and the groove portion is broken by the principle of leverage with the contact portion as a fulcrum, and the shaft is separated into the 1 st shaft and the 2 nd shaft.

That is, when the needle shaft is to be separated, the needle shaft is separated under the consciousness, and the inadvertent separation of the needle shaft can be avoided. The 1 st end and the 1 st' end may be not tapered portions, may be corners, or may be rounded surfaces.

Further, according to the needle of claim 5, since the bending strength in the minor axis direction of the ellipse is stronger than the bending strength in the major axis direction of the ellipse, the strength of the needle as a long handle which is generally used is ensured, and the groove portion is provided in the major axis direction of the ellipse, the needle can be easily separated and a short handle can be obtained by bending in the major axis direction of the ellipse. That is, it is possible to easily form an acupuncture needle for hypodermic needles by using a short-handled acupuncture needle from one needle that is generally used.

Further, according to the needle of claim 6, the bending strength in the direction of the maximum distance H (H > H) is stronger than the bending strength in the direction of the maximum distance H, and the strength of the needle as a long handle which is generally used is ensured, and the easy-to-separate portion is provided in the periphery AB and/or the periphery CD. That is, a short needle handle can be easily formed from a single needle that is generally used.

In addition, according to the acupuncture needle of claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 5 or claim 6, when the 2 nd shaft is bent toward the 1 st shaft and only the 1 st inclined surface is brought into contact with the 1 st 'inclined surface, the separation is not possible, and when a force is further applied, the 1 st end portion is brought into contact with the 1 st end portion beyond the outermost portion of the 1 st inclined surface and the outermost portion of the 1 st' inclined surface, and the groove portion is broken and the shaft is separated into the 1 st shaft and the 2 nd shaft. That is, when the needle shaft is to be separated, the needle shaft is separated under the consciousness, and the inadvertent separation of the needle shaft can be avoided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 (a) is a schematic view of an acupuncture needle according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 1 (b) is a schematic view of a state in which a middle portion of the needle shaft of fig. 1 (a) is bent, and fig. 1 (c) is a schematic view of a state in which a middle portion of the needle shaft of fig. 1 (b) is further bent.

Fig. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of E in fig. 1 (a) enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of F in fig. 1 (b) enlarged.

Fig. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of G in fig. 1 (c) enlarged.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the acupuncture needle with the needle shaft of FIG. 1 (a) broken away.

Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along line 5-5 of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 (a) is a schematic perspective view of an acupuncture needle of another embodiment different from the acupuncture needle of fig. 1, fig. 7 (b) is a schematic plan view of fig. 7 (a), fig. 7 (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of fig. 7 (b), fig. 7 (d) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 7 '-7' of fig. 7 (b), fig. 7 (e) is a schematic front view of fig. 7 (b), fig. 7 (f) is a schematic left side view of fig. 7 (e), and fig. 7 (g) is a schematic right side view of fig. 7 (e).

Fig. 8 (a) is a schematic perspective view of a needle of still another embodiment different from the needle of fig. 7, fig. 8 (b) is a schematic plan view of fig. 8 (a), fig. 8 (c) is a schematic front view of fig. 8 (b), fig. 8 (d) is a schematic left side view of fig. 8 (c), fig. 8 (e) is a schematic right side view of fig. 8 (c), fig. 8 (f) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of fig. 8 (c) (a schematic cross-sectional view of a concave portion of a groove portion in which a longitudinal direction of a shank of the needle is intersected), and fig. 8 (g) is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 8 '-8' of fig. 8 (c) (a schematic cross-sectional view of a convex portion of a groove portion in which a longitudinal direction of a shank of the needle is intersected).

Description of reference numerals:

1 acupuncture needle

2 needle body

2a needle tip

3 needle handle

31 st needle handle

32 nd 2 nd needle handle

4 readily separable part (groove part)

51 st taper part

51 st inclined surface

52 st 1' inclined plane

53 1 st end

54 1 st' end.

Detailed Description

An acupuncture needle and a method of forming an acupuncture needle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5. A reference numeral 1 shown in fig. 1 denotes a needle, and the needle 1 includes: a needle body 2 having a needle tip portion 2a formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft 3 attached to the proximal end of the needle body 2. The needle body 2 is a linear body made of metal such as stainless steel, and has a needle tip portion 2a formed at the tip. The needle body 2 has a suitable thickness and length according to the purpose of treatment, handedness, etc. The needle body 2 has a thickness (wire diameter) of, for example, 0.10mm to 0.35mm and a length of, for example, 15mm to 150 mm. The needle shaft 3 is made of plastic, stainless steel, or other metal, and in the present embodiment, plastic is used.

Further, an easily separable portion (specifically, a groove portion) 4 is provided midway in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 3 of the needle 1 along a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the shaft 3 of the needle 1. Further, a cross section of the needle handle 3 of the needle 1, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof, is an ellipse (see fig. 6) at a middle of the longitudinal direction of the needle handle 3 of the needle 1, and the groove portion 4 is provided so as to extend along the major axis direction of the ellipse.

Since the groove 4 is configured such that the needle shaft 3 is separated when the groove is gradually bent by hand and exceeds a predetermined angle, the groove 4 is cut by hand to form the acupuncture needle 1 having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft 3 than the needle shaft 3 before cutting. When the needle is used as a long handle, the groove 4 is not cut and the needle is used as it is [ the needle 1 shown in fig. 1 (a) ], and when the needle is used as a short handle, the load direction of bending is set to the minor axis direction of the ellipse of the cross-sectional shape and the groove is cut to form a needle having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle than the handle before cutting. According to the above-described method of forming an acupuncture needle (the acupuncture needle 1), since the strength against the load in the major axis direction is stronger in the ellipse than the load in the minor axis direction, the handle 3 having an elliptical cross-sectional shape can secure the strength of an acupuncture needle [ the acupuncture needle 1 shown in fig. 1 (a) ] which is a long handle that is generally used, and the groove portion is easily broken by bending the handle in the minor axis direction of the ellipse having a cross-sectional shape in the bending load direction to form an acupuncture needle having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle than the handle before the breakage [ the acupuncture needle 1 shown in fig. 5 ].

That is, depending on whether or not the groove portion 4 is broken, one needle and a needle having a short shank, which are generally used, can be easily formed.

Thus, one needle 1 can be adapted to the purpose of the operator. The needle 1 having the short shaft 3 can be used as an intradermal needle, for example.

The shaft 3 has a 1 st shaft 31 and a 2 nd shaft 32 with the groove 4 therebetween, and the body 2, the 1 st shaft 31, the groove 4, and the 2 nd shaft 32 are arranged in this order in the longitudinal direction of the needle 1.

The groove 4 is formed by breaking the groove 4, which is a thin connecting portion, by a thin connecting portion provided at a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft 3, and the needle shaft 3 is separated into the 1 st needle shaft 31 and the 2 nd needle shaft 32, or (preferably) the groove 4 has a 1 st tapered portion (angle P of 45 °, for example) 5, the 1 st tapered portion 5 is located at a central portion of the needle shaft 3 that intersects the longitudinal direction and extends outward from the central portion, the groove 4 has end portions from the 1 st tapered portion 5 toward the outer side, the 1 st tapered portion 5 has a 1 st inclined surface 51 and a 1 st' inclined surface 52, and the end portions have a 1 st end portion 53 and a 1 st end portion 54.

As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the 2 nd needle shaft 32 is bent toward the 1 st needle shaft 31, and when the angle formed by the 1 st inclined surface 51 and the 1 st' inclined surface 52 is less than 45 degrees, no interference occurs.

When the angle formed by the 1 st inclined surface 51 and the 1 st ' inclined surface 52 is further bent to exceed 45 °, the 1 st inclined surface 51 and the 1 st ' inclined surface 52 come into contact with each other, and as shown in fig. 1 (c), the 1 st end 53 and the 1 st end 54 come into contact with each other beyond the outermost portions of the 1 st inclined surface 51 and the 1 st ' inclined surface 52, and the groove portion 4 is broken, whereby the needle shaft 3 is separated into the 1 st needle shaft 31 and the 2 nd needle shaft 32 (see fig. 4 and 5).

The groove portion 4 is not limited to the thin connecting portion provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft 3 shown in fig. 2, and may be formed such that the 1 st inclined surface 51 and the 1 st' inclined surface 52 are parallel to each other, rather than providing a tapered portion that expands outward from the center portion as shown in fig. 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the groove portion 4 is provided along the outer periphery of the needle shaft 3 (the groove portion 4 is provided along the entire outer periphery of the needle shaft 3, for example), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the groove portion 4 may be provided along the major axis direction of the ellipse (the groove portion 4 is provided along the major axis direction of the ellipse, for example, and is not provided in the minor axis direction of the ellipse) as described in (a) to (g) of fig. 7, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the section of the shaft 3 of the needle 1, which is transverse in the longitudinal direction, is formed in an ellipse (see fig. 6), but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the section of the shaft 3 of the needle 1, which is transverse in the longitudinal direction, may be as shown in fig. 8 (a) to (g).

That is, the acupuncture needle has, similarly to the above-described acupuncture needle 1: a needle body 2 having a needle tip portion formed at a front end thereof; and a needle shaft 3 attached to the proximal end of the needle body 2.

Fig. 8 (f) shows the recess shape of ABCD of the groove 4 in the cross section of the shaft 3 of the needle 1 taken along the longitudinal direction, and fig. 8 (g) shows the bulge shape of ABCD of the groove 4 in the cross section of the shaft 3 of the needle 1 taken along the longitudinal direction.

Further, the outer peripheral edge of a cross section of the needle shaft 3, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft 3, is ABCDA in the clockwise direction at a midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the needle shaft 3, a and D are in a symmetrical positional relationship with respect to a neutral axis X of the cross section, and B and C are in a symmetrical positional relationship.

Further, the maximum distance between the opposed outer peripheral edge AB and the outer peripheral edge CD is H, and the maximum distance between the opposed outer peripheral edge AD and the outer peripheral edge BC is H (H > H), and the outer peripheral edge AB and/or the outer peripheral edge CD is provided with a recessed portion of a groove portion, and when the acupuncture needle 1 as a long handle is used, the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 is used without being broken, and when the acupuncture needle 1 as a short handle is used, the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 is bent (the bending is performed with the load direction of bending being H direction) with the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 as a fulcrum, and the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 is broken to form the acupuncture needle 1 having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle 3 than the handle 3 before the breaking.

According to the acupuncture needle 1 (the method of forming an acupuncture needle), the handle 3 can be formed into an acupuncture needle 1 having a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the handle 1 than the handle 3 before disconnection by breaking the recessed portion of the groove portion 4, because the handle 3 can cope with the load in the H direction more strongly than the load in the H direction, and therefore the strength of the acupuncture needle 1 as a long handle 3 which is generally used is ensured, and the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 is provided in the outer peripheral edge AB and/or the outer peripheral edge CD, and therefore, when the bending is performed with the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 as a fulcrum, that is, the bending is performed with the load direction of bending in the H direction.

That is, depending on whether or not the recessed portion of the groove portion 4 is broken, one needle 1 and a needle 1 having a short shank, which are generally used, can be easily formed.

The shape of ABCDA formed by clockwise along the outer peripheral edge of the cross section of the needle shaft 3, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction, is not limited to the rectangle shown in fig. 8, and may be a rectangle with rounded corners, or may be an ellipse.