Looking for the ActivaDose II manual or an explanation of an alert? Start with the iontophoresis instructions for your exact controller, then identify whether the issue concerns setup, an interrupted electrode circuit, resistance, or battery power.
Our ActivaDose II Iontophoresis Dose Controller is the reusable controller identified as model 001-48 and ordering item NC89186. This guide focuses on operating questions after the equipment and treatment plan have been selected. It is not a medication, electrode placement, or tDCS protocol.
For clinician-directed use. This is a prescription device. The treating professional determines medication, polarity, current, electrical dose, electrode selection, and monitoring. Follow the supplied device and electrode instructions. If burning or significant pain occurs, pause delivery and have the clinician assess the patient and setup before deciding whether treatment can continue.
The manufacturer's contraindications include electrically sensitive support systems such as pacemakers, sensitivity to the administered drug, damaged skin or recent scar tissue, and specified temporal or orbital applications. This is not the complete screening checklist; consult the full instructions and medication labeling.
Manual edition and alternative access
This manufacturer-authored copy is hosted by Caputron and identifies order number 001-48, A/W 001-116 Rev B, and P/N 001-49 Rev B. Match that information to the unit and instructions supplied with it; a document found online is not automatically the applicable revision for every shipment.
Alternative access: North Coast Medical links a product manual from its ActivaDose II product page. Caputron also separates the iontophoresis document from other ActivaDose-related documents in its manuals directory. Select the iontophoresis instructions, not a head-stimulation guide.
Controls
Setup and start
Pause and restart.
Display alerts.
Battery
Get support.
Identify the controls before changing a setting.
ActivaDose II uses two multifunction controls. Pressing a knob and turning it are not interchangeable actions. In particular, the start action in the operating instructions, Section VIII, is a clockwise turn of ON/DOSE/START, not an instruction to press it during an active session.
Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens.
| Control or reading | Function | Avoid this assumption. |
|---|---|---|
| ON/DOSE/START | Power, dose selection, and the start action depend on the operating stage. | Pressing it is always the way to start or resume. |
| CURRENT | Adjusts current; pressing it initiates a ramp-down into pause. | The current and total electrical dose are the same setting. |
| DOSE during delivery | Accumulated electrical dose, in mA·min. | It is a direct measurement of milligrams of medication delivered. |
| TIME | Calculated time remaining. | It is a fixed countdown that cannot change. |
| CURRENT display | Actual delivered current, in mA. | It must instantly equal the selected value during ramp-up. |
Keep the units attached when reporting a reading: mA describes current, while mA·min describes accumulated electrical charge. A number without its display label can lead to the wrong support question.
Setup and start: follow the approved treatment plan.
Before operating the controller, the clinician should verify the order, patient suitability, intact treatment sites, and the exact electrode kit. Our iontophoresis electrode directions-for-use guide covers preparation and polarity questions; the kit's own instructions control fill volume, placement, and permitted electrical limits.
- Check equipment with output off. Inspect the controller, specified lead set, and electrode packaging. Connect only the confirmed combination; do not proceed with damaged equipment.
- Turn on and verify the selected dose. Press or turn ON/DOSE/START clockwise, allow the system check, and use the treatment order rather than automatically accepting the startup value.
- Set the permitted current. Turn CURRENT clockwise after dose selection. The manual notes a two-second delay before the current selection is available.
- Start and monitor. Turn ON/DOSE/START clockwise with one click. Observe the ramp and readings while monitoring the patient; completing these button actions does not replace clinical supervision.
The device's 40.0 mA·min startup value, 80 mA·min dose ceiling, and 4.0 mA current ceiling are not recommended settings for every treatment. The prescribed plan and electrode instructions may require less. This guide does not provide a default drug dose or current.
Pause, resume, and completion are different events.
To pause: press CURRENT for automatic ramp-down, or turn it counterclockwise to 0.0 mA. Confirm zero current before touching connections or removing electrodes. The manual's pause instructions state that the dose already delivered is retained during the pause.
To resume after the clinician has resolved the reason for pausing: select the required current again, then turn ON/DOSE/START clockwise. The controller recalculates time and ramps up. A pause is not permission to reuse a removed single-use electrode; follow the electrode's replacement instructions.
At normal completion, the unit ramps down and signals the end of treatment. Confirm zero current, turn the controller off, and then disconnect. The clinician should document the completed or interrupted session before preparing another treatment.
Do not confuse pause memory with a power-loss recovery guarantee. The reviewed manual explains retention during pause but does not establish that the delivered-dose record survives battery removal. Record the delivered dose when possible. After battery replacement or unexpected power loss, the treating clinician must determine whether and how to continue; do not automatically repeat the original full dose.
ActivaDose II alerts: identify the message and when it appeared.
A beep alone is not enough to diagnose a fault. Note the exact words, the BAT or REJ indicator, and whether the event happened during setup, ramp-up, delivery, or completion. The table below summarizes Sections V, VI, and X of the manufacturer manual.
Scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Message or event | Documented behavior | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRODE REJECT / REJ | Output stops after a circuit problem is detected. | Enter pause, confirm zero output, and investigate before restarting. |
| RESISTANCE LIMIT | The unit may deliver less than the selected current and adjust time. | Review actual current and patient comfort; unexpected behavior needs assessment. |
| Dose or current LIMIT | A controller setting ceiling has been reached. | Return to the authorized settings; do not try to bypass the limit. |
| PAUSE | Delivery has been paused. | Resolve the reason for the interruption before using the resume sequence. |
| BAT during treatment | The battery is weakening; delivery may continue. | Monitor the session and replace the battery afterward. |
| LOW BATTERY at startup | Battery power is insufficient to begin. | Replace the battery before treatment. A very weak battery may show only BAT. |
| LOW BATT REJECT | The controller ramps down before the planned dose is complete. | Record the interruption, replace the battery with output off, and obtain a continuation decision. |
| Alert after planned completion | The completed dose triggers ramp-down and an end signal. | Verify the readings rather than assuming every sound indicates a fault. |
What should be checked after an electrode reject?
With output at zero, the clinician should review the complete circuit rather than replacing the controller immediately: connections, electrode contact, preparation, hydration, and the prescribed solution. Do not squeeze a lifting pad against the skin or repeatedly restart without resolving the cause. A warning is not proof that any particular component has failed.
If the issue began after changing supplies, use our iontophoresis electrode compatibility guide to check the controller, cable, and electrode references together. Do not test improvised connections on a patient.
Why does the remaining time increase?
ActivaDose II calculates and recalculates time from dose and current. Lower delivered current can require longer delivery for the remaining electrical dose. A longer displayed time is therefore not, by itself, a reason to reset the device or increase the dose.
When reporting the change, include the selected current, displayed current, accumulated dose, and any warning. Those details help distinguish a planned adjustment from an unexpected operation.
Battery replacement and a blank display
Use the specified 9V alkaline battery, not a rechargeable substitute. Turn the unit off before replacement. Match the compartment polarity, insert the battery flat, and use the removal strap rather than prying against the contacts. Close the battery door before treatment.
If a fresh, correctly installed battery does not restore normal operation, stop using the unit and request support. Note whether the problem was present before the battery change. Do not bend the contacts, open the housing, or connect an external power source as a workaround.
Controller, wired electrode kit, or self-powered patch?
Similar product names can send an owner to the wrong instructions. This comparison identifies each item's role; it is not a recommendation to change a prescribed treatment.
| Product | Role in the system | Instructions to consult |
|---|---|---|
| ActivaDose II | Reusable, single-channel external controller. | Device manual for controls, power, and alerts. |
| Trivarion delivery kits | Disposable active and return electrodes; ActivaTek identifies ActivaDose II compatibility. | The exact kit's filling, application, and electrical-limit instructions, alongside the controller manual. |
| ACTIVApatch | A self-powered iontophoresis patch, not an external-controller electrode pair. | Instructions for the selected patch model, not this controller's knob sequence. |
Two lead clips do not mean two independently adjustable treatment channels. Likewise, physical connector fit alone does not authorize substituting another electrode. Start with the documented system rather than selecting supplies solely by appearance.
After use: separate cleaning from service
The manufacturer's care instructions specify an alcohol-moistened cloth for the case and lead-clip wires and prohibit immersion. Follow the supplied instructions for handling the battery when the unit is not in use. Do not assume a cleaning direction validates every disinfectant or immersion process.
After a spill, damaged connection, or unexplained malfunction, keep the unit out of patient use until the appropriate service advice is obtained. Ask for current return authorization and shipping instructions instead of sending equipment to an address copied from an older manual.
Common manual questions
Is the startup dose a treatment recommendation?
No. A stored starting value is not a prescription. Confirm the planned electrical dose and the electrode's limits each time.
Does the dose display measure how much medication entered the body?
No. It reports electrical dose, not drug mass. Do not convert the displayed number into a medication amount or use it to select a concentration.
Can a patient use this guide to choose a dose at home?
No. This article explains equipment operation; it does not establish whether home treatment is appropriate or supply a treatment order. Ask the treating professional about supervision and any prescribed home-use plan.
Can I use a tDCS tutorial with this iontophoresis setup?
Do not substitute instructions for a different intended application. The manufacturer manual linked here is specifically for iontophoresis and includes application restrictions. No head-stimulation setup is provided in this guide.
Send a useful support request.
Our product-support form accepts identifying information such as the order number, model, and SKU. Add the exact alert, when it occurred, the displayed readings, battery type, and the electrode and lead references. A photograph of the device label or display may help; exclude patient-identifying information.
Suggested message: We use ActivaDose II model 001-48. The message appeared during [setup, ramp-up, delivery, or completion]. Our selected and displayed current, displayed dose, electrode reference, lead reference, and battery type are listed below. Please help identify the applicable instructions and the next equipment-support step.
Product support can help identify equipment and documentation. Patient symptoms, medication suitability, and decisions about completing an interrupted dose belong with the treating professional. Do not resume solely to reproduce an error for a photograph.
For current controller options, see our ActivaDose II product page. For broader treatment terminology, visit our iontophoresis FAQ guides.
Copyright © Balego Inc. All rights reserved.
Original educational guide. Linked manufacturer documents remain the property of their respective owners.
