Methods and architecture for power optimization of iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an architecture, system and methods for optimizing power utilization for transdermal iontophoretic drug delivery which maintain a iontophoretic driving voltage at a reduced or even minimum value to support an iontophoretic delivery current. The reduced voltage reduces the power requirements for a transdermal iontophoretic delivery system during a period of drug delivery. Embodiments of an architecture for implementing this approach can utilize a controller which compares the desired current to the actual current and adjusts the voltage to reduce the amount of power used for iontophoretic drug delivery. The controller can comprise a state machine or microprocessor. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for extending the battery life of transdermal iontophoretic drug delivery systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A architecture for optimizing power for the iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof, the architecture comprising:
 a first and second electrode, at least one of the electrodes operably coupled to a iontophoretic transdermal patch for delivering the therapeutic agent to the patient;   a power source operably coupled with the first and second electrodes, the power source comprising a voltage source and a voltage converter operably coupled to the voltage source;   a current source operably coupled to at least one of the first and second electrodes;   a measurement device operably coupled to the current source; and   a controller operably coupled to the measurement device and the voltage converter, the controller including logic for utilizing an input from the measurement device to generate an output sent to the voltage converter so as to maintain current from the current source above a threshold level while minimizing power drawn from the power source.