System and method for a vaporizer

• US 10,506,829 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freelander Innovations USA, LLC
• Original Assignee: Freelander Innovations USA, LLC
• Inventors: Freelander, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Travis S
• Application Number:
  US15/438,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20170245550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 131328, 131329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/30 Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0051 the dosages being arranged on a tape, e.g. strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 : Packaging for specific medical equipment

Abstract

A method for controlling a vaporizer device may include determining a first temperature, vaporizing an inhalable substance at the first temperature, raising the first temperature by a temperature quantity, wherein a second temperature is a sum of the temperature quantity and the first temperature; and vaporizing the inhalable substance at the second temperature, wherein the temperature quantity is less than 3° C.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vaporizer device comprising:

determining a first temperature;

vaporizing an inhalable substance at the first temperature during a first inhale by a user until airflow during the first inhale ceases;

raising the first temperature by a temperature quantity, wherein a second temperature is a sum of the temperature quantity and the first temperature; and

vaporizing the inhalable substance at the second temperature during a second inhale by the user,

wherein the temperature quantity is greater than 0.4°

C. and less than 3°

C.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature quantity is received through a user input on the vaporizer device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

raising the second temperature by the temperature quantity, wherein a third temperature is a sum of the temperature quantity and the second temperature; and

vaporizing the inhalable substance at the third temperature during a third inhale by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

raising the second temperature by a second temperature quantity, wherein a third temperature is a sum of the second temperature quantity and the second temperature; and

vaporizing the inhalable substance at the third temperature during a third inhale by the user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature quantity is between 1.5°

C. and 2°

C.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein vaporizing the inhalable substance at the first temperature during the first inhale by the user or vaporizing the inhalable substance at the second temperature during the second inhale by the user comprises:

determining whether the user is pressing an activation button;

the activation button generating a signal indicating that the user is attempting to inhale the inhalable substance when the activation button is pressed;

transmitting the signal to a processor of the vaporizer device; and

the processor activating a heating unit in response to the signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first temperature is received through a user input on the vaporizer device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user input is a switch having a plurality of settings.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the inhalable substance is disposed within a first cartridge of a plurality of cartridges disposed on a substrate.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising activating a motor to turn a conveyor belt that moves the substrate such that a second cartridge of the plurality of cartridges is positioned adjacent a heater.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether any inhalable substance remains in the first cartridge before raising the first temperature by the temperature quantity; and

raising the first temperature by the temperature quantity when the first cartridge comprises inhalable substance after vaporizing the first cartridge at the first temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether any inhalable substance remains in the first cartridge comprises:

storing a maximum hits-per-cartridge value in a memory of the vaporizer device;

indexing an actual hits-per-cartridge value by one after vaporizing the first cartridge at the first temperature during the first inhale by the user;

comparing the actual hits-per-cartridge number to the maximum hits-per-cartridge value;

raising the first temperature by the temperature quantity when the actual hits-per-cartridge number is less than the maximum hits-per-cartridge value; and

indexing the actual hits-per-cartridge value by one after vaporizing the first cartridge at the second temperature during the second inhale by the user.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether any inhalable substance remains in the first cartridge comprises a sensor determining whether any inhalable substance remains in the first cartridge.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein vaporizing the inhalable substance at the first temperature during the first inhale by the user or vaporizing the inhalable substance at the second temperature during the second inhale by the user comprises:

determining whether air is flowing at a predetermined rate through airflow tubing of the vaporizer device using an airflow sensor;

the airflow sensor generating a signal indicating that the user is attempting to inhale the inhalable substance when the airflow sensor detects air flowing at the predetermined rate through the airflow tubing;

transmitting the signal to a processor of the vaporizer device; and

the processor activating a heating unit in response to the signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the processor activates the heating unit for a predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the processor activates the heating unit for a first time period substantially equivalent to a second time period that the airflow sensor generates the signal.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the inhalable substance is as a continuous strip on a substrate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether any inhalable substance remains at a portion of the continuous strip before raising the first temperature by the temperature quantity; and

raising the first temperature by the temperature quantity when the portion of the continuous strip comprises inhalable substance after vaporizing the portion of the continuous strip at the first temperature.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a length of the portion of the continuous strip is substantially equivalent to a width of a heating unit of the vaporizer device.

20. A vaporizer device comprising:

a processor configured to (1) determine a first temperature, (2) generate an activate first temperature command, (3) determine a second temperature by adding a temperature quantity to the first temperature, and (4) generate an activate second temperature command; and

a heating unit configured to apply heat to an inhalable substance at the first temperature during a first inhale by a user and in response to the first temperature command until airflow during the first inhale ceases and apply heat to the inhalable substance at the second temperature during a second inhale by the user in response to the second temperature command, thereby vaporizing the inhalable substance at the first temperature and the second temperature,

wherein the temperature quantity is greater than 0.4°

C. and less than 3°

C.

21. The vaporizer device of claim 20 further comprising an organic super capacitor that provides electrical power to the processor and the heating unit.