Methods and architecture for power optimization of iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery

Inventors

Imran, Mir A. • Andersen, Dean P. • Malhotra, Vikram • Mangogna, George Andrew

Assignees

Incube Laboratories LLC

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.

Core Innovation

The document describes iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent in which power delivered from a power source is optimized by controlling an iontophoretic driving voltage. The approach maintains the delivery driving voltage at a minimum level needed to support a desired delivery current for the iontophoretic transdermal delivery. This is accomplished by using a controller that compares a desired current to a measured current and adjusts a voltage converter output accordingly.

The controller includes logic to keep the desired current while minimizing power delivered from the power source. Decreases in the voltage are made after a wait period when it is determined that the desired current is achieved, so the system achieves and maintains the desired current using the lowest driving voltage. The document also includes optional evaluation of tissue or load impedance so that maintaining the delivery current can account for impedance.

The architecture includes a first electrode and a second electrode operably coupled to an iontophoretic transdermal patch, a power source that comprises a voltage source and a voltage converter, a current source, a measurement device, and the controller. The measurement device is operably coupled to the current source, and the controller is operably coupled to the measurement device and the voltage converter to perform the comparison and voltage adjustment. The document further provides example implementations of the controller logic, including a state machine or microprocessor with optional P/PI/PID algorithms.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides one independent claim, with additional dependent refinements listed in the family summary. The independent claim covers an electrode-and-patch iontophoretic architecture that measures current and adjusts a voltage converter while minimizing power, including a wait period before decreasing voltage once the desired current is achieved.

Across the independent claim, the core inventive coverage is the combination of an iontophoretic transdermal electrode architecture with a power source, a current source, a measurement device, and controller logic that compares measured current to desired current and adjusts voltage with a wait period before decreasing voltage, maintaining the desired current while minimizing power delivered from the power source.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications