A Basic Study About Multi Channel Measurement of Skin Impedance Vector Loci on the Acupuncture Points
Abstract
Acupuncture points have been found to be points of low electrical resistance compared to surrounding tissue. The significance and detail of the singular electrical properties of acupuncture points are uncertain at present. In this study the authors measured the absolute value and the phase of skin impedance on an acupuncture point and non-acupuncture point at many frequencies and current values. Absolute value, phase, and vector loci of skin impedance showed dependencies on the amplitude of applied current. So, the authors examined how those current dependencies changed according to test subject and measuring points. The experiment was performed on 6 healthy human subjects, all men, aged 22 to 26 years. The measurement locations were at an acupuncture point called "Quchi (LI(11))" on the left arm and the other was a non-acupuncture point 20 millimeters away from Quchi. Pre-gelled Ag-AgCl electrodes were used with a 3-electrode technique. The measurement of impedance was done using a constant-current method with a sinusoidal current. To obtain reliable measurements of skin impedance vector loci, the authors found that the suitable frequency range of applied current was 10 to 400 Hz. The authors also applied these results to 4-channel measurements of skin impedance vector loci in a 23-year-old man. The measurement locations were Quchi and three non-acupuncture points. In this case, room temperature and humidity were kept constant to prevent them from affecting skin impedance. (1 table, 4 figures, 13 refs.)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA412389
Entities
People
- Haruo Tanaka
- Nozomu Hoshimiya
- Ryoko Futami
- Shigeo Ohba
- Takenori Fukumoto