title: [Study on the angle and depth of needle insertion at Huantiao (GB 30) by three-dimensional reconstruction].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the anatomic structure of Huantiao (GB 30) visually, to imitate the inserting process of the needle to explore the safty of needle insertion and improve the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combined with anatomic structure of acupoint, muscles and other tissues related with Huantiao (GB 30) were interactively segmented in VOXEL-MAN with the computer graphics technology. Nerves and blood vessels were reconstructed by establishing mathematic model, and the needle-inserting animation of Huantiso (GB 30) was obtained by running script file.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of Huantiao (GB 30) on needle-inserting animation was accomplished, the spatial location and expression of Huantiao (GB 30) in the digitized virtual human body were observed, the virtual inserting process was imitated realistically, and the 3-D animation of needle insertion at Huantiao (GB 30) was created.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Building mathematic model is favorable for expressing the anatomic structure of Huantiao (GB 30) in 3-D space, imitating the process of needle insertion realistically and observing the spatial structure of the point and the around tissues, which can provide a solid foundation for the safety of needle insertion of acupoints and improve therapeutic effect of acupuncture in clinic.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin University of TCM, Tianjin 300193, China. Lyx393@163.com
authors.forename: Yan-Xiang
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhen-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Tian-Ge
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Shui-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D003196:Computer Graphics; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional