Iontophoresis is the process by which drugs, usually dexamethasone and lidocaine, are introduced into a joint or small body part via electrical current.

Iontophoresis is commonly used by physical therapists for the application of anti-inflammatory medications. Common diagnoses treated with Iontophoresis include plantar fasciitis, bursitis and hyperhidrosis.

Dual Channel

Detects skin impedance changes and compensates

Single or dual phase polarity(no lead wire change)

Ramp-up adjustable to patient tolerance

Memory save last parameters

Low power consumption

Compact 4.5″ x 2.7″, 3.6oz.

Iontophoresis Definition:
Iontophoresis is the process by which drugs, usually dexamethasone and lidocaine, are introduced into a joint or small body part via electrical current. It is non-invasive, painless and it eliminates potential side effects and adverse reactions which can occur with medications delivered orally or by injection.

Clinical trivia: ionto provides more local concentrations than medications taken by mouth, but less than injected medications.

Basic process:

• Like electrical charges repel each other; current is used to repel like electrically charged ions (medication) to penetrate skin and underlying soft tissues.
• Dc generator (id3) provides an electrically charged field for medication movement into tissues.
• Dexamethasone carries a negative charge when dissolved in a solution so it will always be applied with a negative polarity.
• Medication is delivered to local area via active (delivery) electrode and current returns to unit via dispersive (return) electrode.

3 Basic Components:

1. id3 (Dc generator) provides direct current
   Typically treatment time: 4mA over 10 minutes or 40mA
   Contols and regulates treatment peramiters wich includes time dosage and mA (current)
2. Active (delivery electrode)
   3 Layers
   Fiber reservoir pad: absorbs solution to be delivered
   Polyester coated w/ silver/silver chloride: provides ph balanced current evenly across the reservoir
   Soft, flexible foam coated with a medical grade adhesive
3. Dispersive (return electrode)
   3 Layers

Self-adhering buffered conductive gel:

Conductive (carbon) film: evenly distributes current across the electrode

White non-conductive vinyl-like material

Dual Channel

Detects skin impedance changes and compensates

Single or dual phase polarity(no lead wire change)

Ramp-up adjustable to patient tolerance

Memory save last parameters

Iontophoresis—an overview

Definition
Iontophoresis is the process by which drugs, usually dexamethasone and lidocaine, are introduced into a joint or small body part via electrical current. It is non-invasive, painless and it eliminates potential side effects and adverse reactions which can occur with medications delivered orally or by injection.

Clinical trivia: ionto provides more local concentrations than medications taken by mouth, but less than injected medications.

Basic process
Like electrical charges repel each other; current is used to repel like electrically charged ions (medication) to penetrate skin and underlying soft tissues. Dc generator provides electrically charged field for medication movement into tissues. Dexamethasone carries a negative charge when dissolved in a solution so it will always be applied to the cathode (negative/delivery) electrode for delivery. Medication is delivered to local area via cathode or active (delivery) electrode and current returns to unit via anode or dispersive (return) electrode.

Facts About Iontophoresis:
Adhesion is the most important factor; better contact equals better conduction/maximum drug delivery with least chance for burns/hot spots.

• All manufacturers use buffering gels on the return electrodes.
• Some Manufacturers use buffering agents on delivery electrodes when carbon film is used in place of silver/silver chloride (carbon film does not provide a stabile conductive environment).
• In orthopedic rehab, 99.9% therapy is to deliver dexamethasone (anti-inflammatory drug).
• Current used: direct (galvanic) current only; provides uni-directional electrostatically charged field from active to return electrode.
• Since dexamethasone is typically used in orthopedic rehab we will assume all statements regarding ionto relate to this medication.

Important note regarding electrophysiology at both electrode sites Even in the absence of medication, an alkaline reaction occurs at the cathode due to the formation of sodium hydroxide while an acidic reaction occurs at the anode due to formation of hydrochloric acid. Important for pad properties to have a stabilizing mechanism in place to prevent this shift (acidic and basic ph shifts can cause burns). Silver/silver chloride provides this aditional stabilization.