Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Various Disposable Acupuncture Needles Used in South Korea

Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Various Disposable Acupuncture Needles Used in South Korea

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Objectives: The Korean Industrial Standard (KS) for sterile acupuncture needles was established in 2009 based on research on the quality HIGH DHA 1:5 control of acupuncture needles.We aimed to determine the quality of acupuncture needles available in South Korea in 2021 by examining their surface condition and chemical composition using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).Methods: In South Korea, there are 23 brands of acupuncture needles, and we examined 10-15 needles from each brand, resulting in a total of 285 needles.The microstructures of the needles were assessed by SEM.Using SEM images, we evaluated the acupuncture needle tips for the following defects/aspects: scratches, lumps, detached coating, bent tip, and tip sharpness.

EDS was used to determine the chemical composition of the selected acupuncture needles.Results: Overall, 88.4% of 285 needles were found to have at least one type of abnormality.The most frequently observed abnormalities were scratches and dents on the surface (68.1%), followed by detached coating (63.

2%), and lumps (61.8%); Equine Grooming blunt tips were observed in about 24% of them.Of 252 needles with at least one defect, 86.9% had two or more types of defects.The ratio of the number of needles with any defect to that of needles without any defect varied among brands, ranging from 50% to 100%.

Regarding foreign materials, higher proportions of Si and O were observed on the needles, indicating incomplete or detached silicone coating.Conclusion: The quality of acupuncture needles varied among brands, suggesting that further improvements can be made through various inspection methods.