Robotic transcranial Doppler sonography probes and acupuncture.

The present study shows with a sophisticated quantitative method a change in blood flow velocity in a cerebral artery in response to acupuncture. Monitoring of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) was examined in 12 healthy volunteers (mean age: 35.2+/-4.4 years; 26-41 years; 4 female, 8 male) before, during and after acupuncture. In all persons the same unspecific scheme of acupuncture with a "general increase of Qi-energy" was used. The measurements were performed with new robotic TCD-probes allowing three-dimensional imaging by using multi-scan methods. The results showed a significant (p < 0.01; ANOVA; Tukey test) increase in mean blood flow velocity, which was measured at different depths of the right middle cerebral artery. Quantitative determination of the physiological effects during acupuncture can lead to a better acceptance of this unconventional complementary medical method.

Effects of acupuncture on the oxygenation of cerebral tissue.

Monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (r. cereb. O2 satn.) was carried out continuously in 12 healthy subjects (mean age 35.2 +/- 4.4 years; range 26-41 years; 4 women, 8 men), prior to, during and following acupuncture. Measurements were obtained with the INVOS 3100 cerebral oximeter (Somanetics Corp., Troy, USA). In addition new robotic transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) probes enabling three-dimensional imaging of the middle cerebral artery by the use of multi-scan techniques were used simultaneously. The results showed small increases in r. cereb. O2 satn. mean values (69.9% before, 70.3% during and 70.2% after acupuncture) and a significant (p < 0.01; ANOVA, Tukey test) increase in mean bloodflow velocity during acupuncture measured simultaneously at different depths within the right middle cerebral artery. There are reports in the literature about the effects of acupuncture on the oxygenation of cerebral tissue in a study with animals. An increase in the cerebral oxygen saturation could be registered with the help of microelectrodes in the cortex. This is parallel evidence to the present results with near infrared spectroscopy and transcranial Doppler sonography. Quantifiable changes in the physiological effects of acupuncture may contribute to improved acceptance of this unconventional complementary medical procedure.

[Transcranial Doppler ultrasound--robotics-controlled transducers for quantifying the effect of acupuncture]. / Transkranielle Doppler-Sonographie--Robotergesteuerte Sonden zur Quantifizierung des Einflusses der Akupunktur.

Transcranial Doppler Sonography (TCD) monitoring was carried out in 12 healthy subjects (mean age: 35.2 +/- 4.4 years; range: 26-41 years; 4 women, 8 men), prior to, during and following acupuncture. In all subjects an identical acupuncture scheme with a "general increase in Qi energy" setting was employed. Measurements were obtained with new robotic TCD probes enabling three-dimensional imaging of the middle cerebral artery by the use of the multi-scan technique. The results showed a significant (p < 0.01; ANOVA; Tukey test) increase in mean bloodflow velocity measured simultaneously at different depths within the right middle cerebral artery. Quantifiable changes in the physiological effects of acupuncture may contribute to improved acceptance of this unconventional complementary medical procedure.