Inhalation device including substance usage controls

• US 8,550,069 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logic Technology Developement LLC (Japan Tobacco Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eli Alelov
• Inventors: Alelov, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/215,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.12, 128/203.27, 128/202.21, 128/203.15, 131/329, 131/330, 131/187, 131/273, 131/904
• US Class Current: 128/202.21
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0085 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• 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 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated

Abstract

An apparatus including a first cartridge, a sensor, and a controller. The first cartridge can include a first release device configured to release a first substance into a housing. The controller can be configured to receive data from the sensor. The controller can determine an amount of first substance released by the first cartridge based on the data. The first release device can be controlled based on the determined amount of first substance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first cartridge comprising a first release device configured to release a first substance into a housing at a release rate; and

a sensor;

a controller configured to;

receive data from the sensor;

determine an amount of first substance released by the first cartridge based on the data; and

modify the release rate of the first substance based on the determined amount of first substance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to enable a user to inhale the first substance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

and wherein the first release device comprises at least one of a heating element, a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first substance comprises nicotine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first release device is configured to vaporize or gasify the first substance associated with the first cartridge.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second cartridge comprising a second release device configured to release a second substance into the housing, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an amount of second substance released by the second cartridge based on the data; and

control the second release device based on the determined amount of second substance.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the determined amount of first substance to a predetermined limit; and

control the first release device based on the comparison.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the predetermined limit is associated with at least one of an amount of first substance released over a period, a number of puffs detected over a period, or a duration between activations of the first cartridge.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a communications device configured to:

provide information regarding a status of the first cartridge; and

receive an input;

wherein the controller is further configured to change the predetermined limit based on the input.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an electronic cigarette configured to simulate a cigarette or a cigar without use of the cigarette or the cigar.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release rate comprises a released amount of the first substance per use.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release rate comprises an amount of the first substance released over a given period of time.

10. A method for metering an inhalation device comprising:

receiving data from a sensor;

determining an amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge based on the data, wherein the first cartridge comprises a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing at a release rate; and

modifying the release rate of the first substance based on the determined amount of first substance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing is configured to enable a user to inhale the first substance, and the first release device is configured to vaporize or gasify the first substance associated with the first cartridge.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

and wherein the first release device comprises at least one of a heating element, a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first substance comprises nicotine.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining an amount of a second substance released by a second cartridge based on the data, wherein the second cartridge comprises a second release device configured to release the second substance into the housing; and

controlling the second release device based on the determined amount of second substance.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving data from a sensor;

determining an amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge based on the data, wherein the first cartridge comprises a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing at a release rate; and

modifying the release rate of the first substance based on the determined amount of first substance.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured to enable a user to inhale the first substance, and the first release device is configured to vaporize or gasify the first substance associated with the first cartridge.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

and wherein the first release device comprises at least one of a heating element, a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first substance comprises nicotine.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprising:

determining an amount of a second substance released by a second cartridge based on the data, wherein the second cartridge comprises a second release device configured to release the second substance into the housing; and

controlling the second release device based on the determined amount of second substance.

20. An electronic cigarette configured to simulate a cigarette or a cigar without use of the cigarette or the cigar, the electronic cigarette comprising:

a first cartridge comprising a first release device configured to release a first substance into a housing at a release rate; and

a sensor;

a controller configured to;

receive data from the sensor;

determine an amount of first substance released by the first cartridge based on the data;

modify the release rate of the first substance based on determined amount of first substance; and

estimate a remaining amount of first substance in the first cartridge based on the determined amount of first substance.

21. The electronic cigarette of claim 20, further comprising a display, wherein the controller is further configured to:

estimate at least one of;

a number of puffs remaining,

a number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or

a number of cigar equivalents remaining

based on the estimated remaining amount of first substance;

wherein the display is configured to display an indication of at least one of the number of puffs remaining, the number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or the number of cigar equivalents remaining.

22. The electronic cigarette of claim 21, wherein:

the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

the first release device comprises at least one of a heating element, a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer; and

the display comprises at least one of a row of light emitting diodes, an alphanumeric display, a seven-segment display, or a pixelated display.

33. The electronic cigarette of claim 20, wherein the first cartridge comprises an absorbent material configured to absorb the first substance.

23. A method for providing inhalation device information comprising:

receiving data from a sensor of an electronic cigarette configured to simulate a cigarette or a cigar without use of the cigarette or the cigar;

determining an amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge of the electronic cigarette based on the data, wherein the first cartridge comprises a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing at a release rate;

modifying the release rate of the first substance based on the determined amount of first substance; and

estimating a remaining amount of first substance in the first cartridge based on the determined amount of first substance.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

estimating at least one of;

a number of puffs remaining,

a number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or

a number of cigar equivalents remaining

based on the estimated remaining amount of first substance;

displaying an indication of at least one of the number of puffs remaining, the number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or the number of cigar equivalents remaining.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

the first release device comprises at least one of a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer; and

displaying an indication comprises controlling at least one of a row of light emitting diodes, an alphanumeric display, a seven-segment display, or a pixelated display.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the housing completely encloses the first cartridge.

34. The method of claim 23, wherein the first cartridge is not a cigarette.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving data from a sensor of an electronic cigarette configured to simulate a cigarette or a cigar without use of the cigarette or the cigar;

determining an amount of a first substance released by a first cartridge of the electronic cigarette based on the data, wherein the first cartridge comprises a first release device configured to release the first substance into a housing at a release rate;

modifying the release rate of the first substance based on the determined amount of first substance; and

estimating a remaining amount of first substance in the first cartridge based on the determined amount of first substance.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

estimating at least one of;

a number of puffs remaining,

a number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or

a number of cigar equivalents remaining

based on the estimated remaining amount of first substance;

displaying an indication of at least one of the number of puffs remaining, the number of cigarette equivalents remaining, or the number of cigar equivalents remaining.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein:

the sensor comprises at least one of a flow sensor, a thermocouple, a pressure sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a light sensor;

the first release device comprises at least one of a heating element, a vibration generator, an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, and an atomizer; and

displaying an indication comprises controlling at least one of a row of light emitting diodes, an alphanumeric display, a seven-segment display, or a pixelated display.