Iontophoresis is a method of inducing ionic drug solutions to pass into the skin by using a small electrical current. Normally non-lipophylic drugs, e.g. acetylcholine chloride, would remain on the skin surface and very little would diffuse into the skin. By applying a low voltage to a drug solution, the ions of the drug conduct electricity as they pass into the skin.

Percutaneous Drug Response Monitoring by Iontophoresis and laser Doppler monitoring / imaging.

Assess microvascular blood flow responses to vasoactive drugs by combining the laser Doppler technique with Iontophoresis. Moor Instruments manufacture a range of systems for clinical and research applications. The benefits include:

* No injection trauma - Ionic drug solutions pass through the skin with the passage of a low electric current. Doses can be controlled and quantified;
* Choice of laser Doppler systems - Quantify blood flow changes either as a trace or as a colour image;
* Unique protocol software - used to set and control drug delivery and automatically analyse blood flow changes;
* Print option - for report generation. Data transfer to PC for further analysis;
* Applications include testing of:

endothelial function;
smooth muscle function;
axon reflex (in autonomic neuropathy);
responses to histamine and other vasoactive drugs.