OBJECTIVETo promote a new kind of alternative needle of filiform-fire needle with fire needle.

METHODSThe common three-headed fire needle, thick fire needle, less-thick fire needle, fine fire needle, single-filiform needle and three-filiform-needle were used by 20 medical staffs, and the time of heating needles was recorded. The advantages of using filiform needles compared with common fire needles were evaluated.

RESULTSThe time of heating single and three-filiform needles was shorter than the other four common fire needles (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFiliform needle is better than the common fire needle in terms of production process,materials, and heating time, etc. Therefore, filiform needles can replace common fire needles for pricking.