Digital prescription of a miniaturized meridian regulation robot for tension-type headache

To provide precise treatment protocols for tension-type headaches (TTH) and to establish a transferable methodological framework for the digitization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Literature was retrieved from seven electronic databases using MeSH terms and relevant keywords to identify clinical studies on TCM external treatment methods with acupoint prescriptions. Descriptive statistics of acupoint usage frequency and meridian attribution were analyzed using Excel. Association rules of acupoints were identified using the Apriori algorithm. Association networks were visualized, and systematic cluster analysis was performed. Equipment testing was conducted according to standards YY 9706.102-2021 and GB/T 25000.51-2016 to confirm the stability and safety parameters of the Shangyi-4 (SY-4) miniaturized meridian regulation robot miniaturized meridian regulation robot.

A total of 126 studies were analyzed, comprising 102 acupoints used 843 times. The most frequently used acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), and Taichong (LR 3). At the meridian level, the bladder, gallbladder, and Governor Vessel had the highest acupoint representation. Acupoints were predominantly located in the head and neck regions (62.75%). Association rule analysis identified “GV 20 to GB 20” with the highest support (67.46%) and “GB 20 to Touwei (ST 8)” with the highest confidence (94.29%). System clustering categorized the 102 acupoints into four major groups. The SY-4 met all requirements for electromagnetic compatibility and software quality. The safety parameters included a magnetic field strength of 50–150 Gs, force control of 0.5–6 N, and vibration frequency of 50–70 Hz.

This study defines a quantitative digital prescription for robotic treatment of TTH, identifying a core therapeutic regimen that targets the Governor Vessel, gallbladder meridian, and bladder meridian, principally GV 20, EX-HN 5, ST8, and GB 20, and specifying execution parameters of 50–150 Gs magnetic field intensity, 0.5–6 N force control, and 50–70 Hz vibration frequency.