Floating Needle Buying Guide

I. Device Introduction

1. Device Overview: Floating needle is a medical device specifically designed for floating needle therapy, belonging to single-use sterile needles. It aims to release fascial lesions and improve local blood circulation by stimulating the subcutaneous loose connective tissue, thereby achieving the purpose of pain relief and treatment of related diseases. As a minimally invasive, safe, and effective modern acupuncture technique, floating needle therapy is widely used in the treatment of various soft tissue pains and related functional disorders. Its core lies in using the floating needle for specific manipulation techniques such as "sweeping and dispersing" in the subcutaneous tissue, rather than traditional acupuncture that penetrates deep into muscles or acupoints.

2. Device Type Introduction: Floating needles are generally not classified complexly by model; their core structure and function remain consistent. They are mainly composed of the following key components:

   • Needle Core: This is the metal part at the very front of the floating needle, usually a slender solid needle, used to puncture the skin and enter the subcutaneous tissue. Its diameter and length are optimized to ensure precise and safe penetration.
   • Needle Hub: As the part held by the operator, it usually adopts an ergonomic design for easy gripping and control. It connects to the soft tube and serves as the fulcrum for manipulation.
   • Soft Tube: This is the unique feature of the floating needle, connecting the needle core and the needle hub. The presence of the soft tube allows the needle core to perform multi-directional sweeping, lifting and thrusting, twisting, and other manipulation techniques in the subcutaneous tissue without repeated skin punctures, greatly reducing patient pain and tissue damage.
   • Protective Cap: Within the product packaging, the protective cap is used to protect the sterility and integrity of the needle core, ensuring it is not contaminated before use.

3. Device Function Introduction: As an innovative needle, the floating needle possesses the following key functions and technical characteristics:

   • Precise Subcutaneous Operation: Its unique soft tube design allows the needle core to perform precise sweeping and loosening operations in the subcutaneous loose connective tissue layer, effectively avoiding nerves, blood vessels, and important organs, thereby improving treatment safety.
   • Minimally Invasive: Compared to traditional acupuncture, floating needles have fewer puncture points and operate only subcutaneously, causing minimal tissue damage. Patients experience better comfort and faster post-treatment recovery.
   • Single-Use and Sterility: All floating needle products are packaged sterile for single use, ensuring hygienic safety during treatment and effectively avoiding the risk of cross-infection.
   • Strong Adaptability: Suitable for treatment of various body types and areas, its flexible soft tube design allows for more flexible operation, enabling effective intervention for different lesions.

II. Scope of Application

1. Application Scenarios: Floating needle therapy is mainly applied in the following medical scenarios:

   • Outpatient Clinics: Especially in pain clinics, rehabilitation departments, traditional Chinese medicine departments, orthopedics, physical therapy departments, etc., it is a common method for treating various soft tissue pains.
   • Community Health Service Centers: As a characteristic diagnostic and treatment item in grassroots medical institutions, it facilitates residents to receive treatment nearby.
   • Sports Medicine Clinics: Used for treating athletes' chronic strains, sports injuries, etc.
   • Private Clinics or Studios: Physicians who have undergone professional training can carry out the therapy in qualified premises.

2. Applicable Diseases and Symptoms: Floating needle therapy primarily targets pain and functional disorders caused by soft tissue lesions, including but not limited to:

   • Neck, Shoulder, Waist, and Leg Pain: Such as neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis, stiff neck, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injury, lumbar muscle strain, low back pain caused by lumbar disc herniation, knee osteoarthritis, heel pain, etc.
   • Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Especially for patients with "muscle knots" (trigger points).
   • Certain Internal Medicine Diseases: Such as tension headaches, migraines, gastrointestinal dysfunction (related to somatic tension), and some neuropathic pains.
   • Postoperative Pain and Functional Disorders: Such as pain management during the rehabilitation period after joint replacement surgery.
   • Soft Tissue Injuries: Such as acute and chronic sprains, contusions, etc., during the recovery period.

3. Contraindicated Populations: To ensure patient safety, floating needle therapy is contraindicated for the following populations or conditions:

   • Individuals with infection, ulceration, tumors, open wounds, keloids, or severe skin diseases at the treatment site.
   • Individuals with severe bleeding tendencies or coagulation disorders (e.g., hemophilia, those taking anticoagulant medications).
   • Individuals with severe heart, liver, or kidney dysfunction, or other severe systemic diseases, or those who are extremely weak.
   • Pregnant women (especially in the abdominal and lumbosacral regions).
   • Patients with mental abnormalities or those who are uncooperative with treatment.
   • Individuals with a history of allergy to needle materials.
   • Children and infants are not recommended for use, or require careful evaluation under the guidance of an experienced physician.

III. Usage Guidelines and Precautions

1. Method/Steps of Use or Operation:

   • Preparation: The practitioner washes hands, wears sterile gloves, prepares a sterile operating table, and selects an appropriate floating needle.
   • Positioning and Disinfection: The patient assumes a comfortable position, fully exposing the treatment area, and the treatment area is strictly disinfected with povidone-iodine or alcohol.
   • Needle Insertion: The practitioner tightens or pinches the skin with the thumb and forefinger, inserts the floating needle core into the skin at a 15-30 degree angle, and after the needle tip enters the subcutaneous loose connective tissue layer, flattens the needle body so that the needle core is parallel to the skin surface.
   • Sweeping Manipulation: After confirming the needle core is subcutaneous, the practitioner manipulates the needle hub and soft tube to perform "sweeping" or "scraping" and other specific techniques with the needle core subcutaneously, searching for and releasing "muscle knots" or painful sensitive points. The manipulation should be gentle and even, avoiding forceful operation.
   • Needle Withdrawal: After the treatment, slowly withdraw the floating needle along the original insertion direction.
   • Pressure and Bandaging: Quickly press the needle hole with a sterile cotton swab for 1-2 minutes to prevent bleeding or subcutaneous hematoma, and bandage locally if necessary.
   • Waste Disposal: Immediately place the used floating needle into a sharps container for safe disposal.

2. Common Error Reminders:

   • Needle Insertion Too Deep: If the needle core enters the muscle layer, it may cause muscle damage or increased pain, losing the advantage of floating needle therapy operating only subcutaneously.
   • Improper Needle Insertion Angle: An angle that is too large can cause pain, while an angle that is too small may prevent smooth entry into the subcutaneous layer.
   • Excessive or Forceful Manipulation: May lead to subcutaneous bleeding, bruising, tissue damage, and even cause patient discomfort or needle fainting.
   • Inadequate Disinfection: Incomplete skin disinfection before needle insertion is a common cause of infection.
   • Failure to Accurately Identify "Muscle Knots": Affects treatment efficacy and prevents optimal release.
   • Ignoring Patient Feelings: During the operation, closely monitor the patient's reactions. If severe pain, dizziness, nausea, or other discomfort occurs, immediately stop the operation and address the issue.
   • Reusing Needles: Floating needles are single-use sterile products; reuse is strictly prohibited, as it poses a serious risk of infection.
   • Failure to Apply Pressure Immediately After Needle Withdrawal: Easily leads to subcutaneous hematoma.
   • Insufficient Assessment of Contraindications: Using the therapy on unsuitable patients may lead to serious adverse consequences.
   • Operation by Non-Professionals: Floating needle therapy requires operation by professionally trained physicians; operation by non-professionals may cause harm.