Robot-Controlled Acupuncture-An Innovative Step towards Modernization of the Ancient Traditional Medical Treatment Method.

Kun-Chan Lan,Gerhard Litscher

doi:10.3390/medicines6030087

Kun-Chan Lan, Gerhard Litscher

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines6030087

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Abstract

Background: For several years now, research teams worldwide have been conducting high-tech research on the development of acupuncture robots. In this article, the design of such an acupuncture robot is presented. Methods: Robot-controlled acupuncture (RCA) equipment consists of three components: (a) Acupuncture point localization, (b) acupuncture point stimulation through a robotic arm, and (c) automated detection of a deqi event for the efficacy of acupuncture point stimulation. Results: This system is under development at the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan. Acupuncture point localization and acupuncture point stimulation through a robotic arm works well; however, automated detection of a deqi sensation is still under development. Conclusions: RCA has become a reality and is no longer a distant vision.

Highlights

Robots are an indispensable part of healthcare today
Medical surgical systems can be more flexible than a human and can have more than two arms that are moved by a console controlled by the physician
Face detection is performed on the input image, and landmark detection is applied to the face region to extract facial landmark points

Summary

Introduction

Robots are an indispensable part of healthcare today They perform services silently and in the background, transporting medical equipment and material or laundry, and shaking test tubes or filling in samples. The use of robots in the operating room, does not exclude the experienced physician; on the contrary, robots are ideal at supporting them at work. A robot cannot and should not replace a doctor, but can be an important asset Like other tools, it can have a variety of shapes. The various robots in medicine are special tools that can support the services of the doctor and ensure better results. Research teams worldwide have been conducting high-tech research on the development of acupuncture robots. Acupuncture point localization and acupuncture point stimulation through a robotic arm works well; automated detection of a deqi sensation is still under development. Conclusions: RCA has become a reality and is no longer a distant vision

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