How the Iontopatch Works
The Innovative IontoPatch™ System
The IontoPatch™ is a single-use, disposable device designed for the non-invasive delivery of medication. It utilizes an innovative, self-contained battery to produce the electric current needed to carry drug molecules across the skin and into underlying tissue. View Iontopatch Family of products
Key Operational Features
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Self-Contained and Convenient: The IontoPatch™ does not require an external power source, batteries, or wires. This allows patients to return to their daily activities while wearing the patch and receiving time-released iontophoresis.
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Automatic Shut-Off: Drug delivery is controlled by specialized electrode coatings. As the patch operates, these coatings are gradually consumed. Once they are depleted, the current flow is automatically suspended, ensuring the prescribed dosage is accurately administered. Precise, known amounts of coatings are applied during manufacturing to guarantee dosage control.
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Dual-Chamber Delivery: The IontoPatch™ contains both negative and positive chambers. This design allows it to simultaneously deliver both negatively and positively charged compounds by placing each medication in the relevant chamber.
Preparation and activation.
The IontoPatch™ does not contain any drug or active ingredient when packaged. The medication is applied to the patch at the time of use:
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Medication Application: The prescribed medication is applied to the chamber that corresponds to its charge (e.g., a positively charged drug goes into the positive chamber).
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Activation: Saline, which contains no active molecules, is often supplied by the manufacturer as a convenience. It is applied to the opposite chamber to activate the patch upon administration.
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Initiating Delivery: Current flow is induced once the patch (with both chambers moistened) is securely applied to the body.
The IontoPatch™ Delivery Method
The IontoPatch™ is designed for the precise, non-invasive delivery of medication. It uses a low electric current to gently guide drug molecules through the skin (including hair follicles and sebaceous glands) directly into the underlying tissue.
How Drug Delivery Works: "Like Repels Like"
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Preparation: The prescribed medication is applied to the electrode pad that carries a similar electrical charge to the drug. Saline is applied to the opposite pad to complete the circuit.
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Activation: Once the patch is applied to the skin, the circuit is completed, and drug delivery begins.
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Delivery Principle: Following the principle of “like repels like,” the electrically charged medication is repelled away from the similarly charged pad and driven into the skin and toward the target tissue.
| Example Drug | Charge | Condition Treated |
| Dexamethasone | Negative (-) | Inflammation (e.g., tendonitis/bursitis) |
Key Advantages
The IontoPatch™ utilizes a low current and longer-duration delivery to maximize therapeutic benefit while minimizing risk:
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Enhanced Penetration: More of the applied drug is able to penetrate the skin barrier effectively.
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Targeted Treatment: The medication remains localized to the treatment area, maximizing efficacy.
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Safety Profile: Effective treatment is delivered with a low incidence of side effects.
Simple and Controlled
The IontoPatch™ is precisely designed to deliver a specific, preset dosage over a prescribed time. Applying the patch is both quick and pain-free. Once the full medication dosage is delivered, the patch automatically stops working and can then be removed.