Methods and architecture for power optimization of iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery

A method for optimizing power for iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:

• applying a patch to the skin of the patient, the patch comprising a therapeutic agent and at least one electrode;
• coupling the at least one electrode to a power source;
• delivering a selected current to the skin from the patch to transport the therapeutic agent into the skin;
• measuring an electrical impedance of the patient;
• comparing the measured impedance to a desired impedance;
• and
• adjusting a voltage responsive to the comparison, wherein decreases in the voltage are made after a wait period to determine if the desired impedance is achieved and wherein the voltage is adjusted to maintain the selected current while minimizing power delivered from the power source.

A method for optimizing power for iontophoretic transdermal delivery of a therapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:

• applying a patch to the skin of the patient, the patch comprising a therapeutic agent and at least one electrode;
• coupling the at least one electrode to a power source;
• delivering a current to the skin from the patch to transport the therapeutic agent into the skin;
• measuring a delivered current and another electrical property in a circuit comprising the patient and the power source;
• comparing the measured current to a desired current;
• and
• adjusting a voltage responsive to the comparison and the other electrical property, wherein decreases in the voltage are made after a wait period to determine if the desired current is achieved, and wherein the voltage is adjusted to achieve and maintain the desired current while minimizing power delivered from the power source.