Comparative Study on Cupping Apparatuses for Medical Use by Mechanical Stability and Functional Test

수동식 부항기의 기계적 안정성과 성능의 실험적 비교연구

Objectives : It is sure that standardization of medical instruments is very important and necessary. Cupping therapy is one of the traditional oriental medical method, and it is necessary to set up a standard of cupping therapy and instruments. Methods : We select 3 major cupping instrument makers according to a questionnaire survey of 2001 oriental medical doctors. Dae Gun is A maker, Han Sol is B maker, Dong Bang is C maker. And with these air pumps we make experiments on stability by an inner impact test and a falling test. With these cups we check stability by an inner impact test and a disinfection test. And to know function of these instruments we test a negative pressure and maintain attached cups until 5 to 10minutes. Results : All results of experiments(impacted test, disinfection test, falling test) on stability of cups and air pumps are suitable for medical instrument. And the efficiency of 3 major makers shows various results. Negative pressure of B group is the highest, C group is the second, A group is the lowest. Pressure maintenance test shows A and C group is comparatively up to the experimental standard(<10%), B group is comparatively below the experimental standard(<10%). Conclusions : Results show stability of cups and air pumps is suitable for medical instruments. And negative pressure of cupping and maintenance of pressure show various results. So it is necessary to set up a standard negative pressure of cupping and maintenance of pressure.