Simple Acupuncture Point Locator Circuit

A device called an Acupuncture Point Locator Circuit helps find special points on your body.

Acupuncture is a traditional medicine where thin needles are used in certain spots to help heal pain.

These special points are called acupuncture points, or acupoints for short.

They are believed to be connected to energy flow in your body.

The Acupuncture Point Locator Circuit uses electronics to find these points.

One way it works is by checking your skins resistance.

Acupuncture points often have lower resistance than nearby skin.

This circuit usually has a sensor that touches your skin, a part that reads the signal and something like a speaker or light to show when a point is found.

Circuit Working:

Parts List:

The highlighted electronic acupuncture point locator circuit utilizes a PLL IC CD 4046, a CMOS IC featuring an integrated voltage controlled oscillator VCO suitable for this application.

The VCOs frequency range is determined by the RC circuit R3 and C1, which is also influenced by a control voltage.

This control voltage is derived from a voltage divider circuit comprising skin resistance in conjunction with R1 and P1.

As skin resistance decreases both the control voltage and frequency increase producing an audible signal through the speaker.

Transistor T1 is responsible for providing sufficient power to drive the speaker.

Formula:

Phase locked loop PLL integrated circuits, such as the IC 4046, are useful for a number of tasks, such as frequency synthesizers and FM demodulation circuits.

The IC 4046 is usually used in a particular configuration by an Acupuncture Point Locator to identify variations in skin resistance or impedance at acupuncture sites.

Measuring the frequency output of the VCO, which fluctuates depending on the impedance or resistance of the skin at acupuncture sites, is the fundamental function of an Acupuncture Point Locator that uses the IC 4046.

The following formula may be used to determine the relationship between the skin impedance and the frequency VCO f out:

f_out​ = f_0​ + k * R

where:

• f_out is the output frequency of the VCO.
• f₀​ is the base frequency of the VCO.
• k is a constant that depends on the circuit configuration and the IC 4046.
• R is the skin impedance.

Example Application:

setup: attach the probes electrodes to the acupuncture sites.

Measurement: Use a frequency counter to find the frequency f_out of the VCO output.

Interpretation: Variations in skin impedance at acupuncture sites correlate to variations in f_out, signifying the existence of the acupuncture point.

With its PLL capabilities, the IC 4046 offers a flexible foundation to create an Acupuncture Point Locator by detecting variations in skin impedance at certain body sites.

The precise specifications and intended application of the Acupuncture Point Locator gadget will determine the circuit design and calibration techniques.

How to Build:

Building an electronic acupuncture point locator circuit involves several steps and requires some basic electronic components.

• Connect the CD 4046 IC to the breadboard.
• Connect pins 5 and 8 of CD 4046 to the ground.
• Connect pin 13,14 and 16 of CD 4046 to the positive supply.
• Connect pins 6 and7 to the 560pF capacitor.
• Connect pin 4 of CD 4046 to the base of transistor 2N2222
• Connect emitter of transistor 2N2222 to speaker through a potentiometer.
• Connect a 4.7μF capacitor across the supply.
• Connect 2 potentiometer in series between the probe and the positive line.

Testing:

• Apply power to the circuit and adjust P1 until you hear a sound from the speaker.
• This indicates that the circuit is detecting changes in skin resistance.
• Experiment with different skin resistance values by suitably adjusting the P1 and P2 potentiometer, and observe the changes in the frequency of the sound.

Note:

Keep in mind that this is a simplified guide, and you should refer to the datasheets of the components for more detailed information.

Additionally, take precautions when working with electronic circuits and ensure proper connections to avoid damage to the components.

Conclusion:

It is important to note that while electronic acupuncture point locators can be used as tools to assist acupuncture practitioners they do not replace the skill and knowledge of trained acupuncture professionals.

Acupuncture is a complex medical practice and the effectiveness of treatment depends on various factors, including the skill of the practitioner and the specific needs of the individual receiving treatment.

References

Schematic diagram and map of acupuncture