Stimulation Parameters of Manual Acupuncture and Their Measurement

Table 2

The comprehensive comparison of different measurement technologies.

Measurement technologies	Measurable parameters		Advantages	Disadvantages
	Kinematic parameters	Kinetic parameters
Sensors attached on needle (needle body modification)	Yes (motion sensor)	Yes (mechanical sensor)	(1) Real-time parameter acquisition	(1) Increasing the weight and volume of the needle
			(2) Measurable kinematics and kinetic parameters	(2) Affect the finger sensation.
Sensors surrounds needle (operating environment modification)	Yes	No	(1) Real-time parameter acquisition	(1) Performed on machine instead of human body
			(2) Maintain the naturalness of finger sensation	(2) No kinetic parameters
Motion-tracking technology	Yes	No	(1) Real-time acquisition of more parameters	(1) No kinetic parameters
			(2) Maintain the naturalness of tester’s movement	(2) Easy to generate measurement errors
			(3) Performed on human body
Virtual technology	Yes	No	(1) Full digitalization and real-time parameter acquisition	The virtual sensation is quite different from the actual operation
			(2) Realistic haptic feedback