System and method for controlling the iontophoretic delivery of therapeutic agents based on user inhalation

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods for transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents for treatment of addictive cravings e.g., from nicotine. Embodiment of a method for such delivery comprises positioning at least one electrode assembly in electrical communication with a patient's skin. The assembly includes a solution comprising a therapeutic agent which passively diffuses into skin. A dose of agent is delivered from the assembly into skin during a first period using a first current having a characteristic e.g., polarity and magnitude, to repel agent out of the assembly. During a second period, a second current having a characteristic to attract agent is used to retain agent in the assembly such that delivery of agent into skin is minimized. In particular embodiments, a dose of agent may be delivered on-demand using an input from the patient using an inhalation sensing device which mimics an inhaled form of tobacco.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transdermal iontophoretic delivery of a therapeutic agent to reduce nicotine cravings in a user from an inhaled form of tobacco use, the method comprising:
 positioning at least one electrode assembly in electrical communication with the skin of the user, the at least one electrode assembly including a skin contacting layer and a medium comprising the therapeutic agent, wherein the therapeutic agent passively diffuses into the skin without application of an external force;   inhaling from a sensing device in the user's mouth, the sensing device mimicking an inhaled form of tobacco and configured to sense an inhalation characteristic and signal the inhalation characteristic to the electrode assembly;   delivering a dose of therapeutic agent from the at least one electrode assembly into the skin during a first period in response to (i) the sensed inhalation characteristic using a first current having a polarity and magnitude to repel the therapeutic agent out of the electrode assembly, and (ii) a therapeutic agent delivery profile for the first period;   retaining the therapeutic agent in the at least one electrode assembly during a second period using a second current having a polarity and magnitude to retain the therapeutic agent in the electrode assembly such that delivery of the therapeutic agent into the skin during the second period is minimized, wherein the first period comprises a delivery period and the second period comprises a non-delivery period, which together comprise a delivery cycle; and   delivering subsequent doses of therapeutic agent over subsequent delivery cycles.