Inhalant dispensing system and apparatus with binary dosing

Abstract

Embodiments include an inhalant dispensing system comprising a substance delivery component coupled to an electronic inhalation device, wherein the system is configured to provide at least two user-selectable modes of operation: a beginner mode configured to control, monitor, measure, and/or track dosing for more inexperienced users, and an expert or professional mode configured to allow substantially uninhibited use for more experienced users. In some embodiments, a desired mode of operation may be selectively activated using the substance delivery component, such as, for example, based on how the component is attached to the inhalation device. In other embodiments, a desired mode of operation may be selectively activated using the inhalation device, such as, for example, via an input selection device included on the inhalation device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inhalant dispensing system comprising:
 a substance delivery component comprising a substance to be vaporized;   a housing configured to be electrically coupled to the substance delivery component and comprising a power source configured to deliver power to the substance delivery component; and   a control system in communication with the power source and configured to implement a user-selected one of a plurality of operating modes,   wherein a first one of the operating modes permits uninhibited usage of the substance delivery component, and a second one of the operating modes controls dosage during use of the substance delivery component.   
     
     
         2 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second operating mode controls dosage by stopping the delivery of power to the substance delivery component upon dispensing a threshold number of doses within a preset time period. 
     
     
         3 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mode selection system configured to enable user selection of one of the plurality of operating modes and to send, to the control system, a signal indicating the user-selected mode. 
     
     
         4 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 3 , wherein the mode selection system is configured to determine the user-selected mode based on an orientation of the substance delivery component relative to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the mode selection system comprises a first component disposed in the substance delivery component and a second component disposed in the housing, the mode selection system determining the orientation of the substance delivery component based on an arrangement of the first component relative to the second component. 
     
     
         6 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the first component and the second component are configured to form an electrical connection when placed in contact with each other, and the mode selection system is configured to determine a first orientation for the substance delivery component upon detecting said electrical connection. 
     
     
         7 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the second component comprises at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of the first component when the first component is within a close proximity of the second component, the mode selection system determining a first orientation for the substance delivery component upon detecting said presence. 
     
     
         8 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the substance delivery component further comprises a heating element configured to heat a selected amount of the substance into a vapor while receiving the power from the power source. 
     
     
         9 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the second operating mode controls dosage by activating the heating element for a preset length of time corresponding to a single dose. 
     
     
         10 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the second operating mode controls dosage by de-activating the heating element upon dispensing a threshold number of doses. 
     
     
         11 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the housing further comprises an indicator system configured to deliver a notification to the user upon completion of the single dose when the second operating mode is selected. 
     
     
         12 . The inhalant dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the substance delivery component further comprises a mouthpiece for dispensing the vaporized substance to the user. 
     
     
         13 . An electronic inhalation device comprising:
 a housing with a receptacle configured to receive a substance delivery component, the substance delivery component comprising a substance to be vaporized;   a power source disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the receptacle for delivering power to the substance delivery component; and   a processor disposed within the housing and in communication with the power source, the processor being configured to implement a user-selected one of a plurality of operating modes,   wherein a first one of the operating modes permits uninhibited usage of the substance delivery component, and a second one of the operating modes controls dosage during use of the substance delivery component.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 13 , wherein the second operating mode controls dosage by stopping delivery of power to the receptacle once a threshold number of doses has been dispensed within a preset time period. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 13 , wherein the second operating mode controls dosage by delivering power to the receptacle for a preset length of time corresponding to a single dose. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises an indicator system configured to deliver a first notification to the user upon completion of the single dose, when the second operating mode is selected. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 16 , wherein the indicator system is further configured to deliver a second notification during user intake of the single dose, when the first operating mode is selected. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a mode selector configured to receive user selection of one of the plurality of operating modes and to send to the processor a signal indicating the user-selected mode. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 18 , wherein the mode selector comprises at least one sensor disposed in the receptacle and configured to detect an orientation of the substance delivery component relative to the receptacle, the detected orientation indicating the user-selected mode. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic inhalation device of  claim 18 , wherein the mode selector comprises a first contact component disposed in the receptacle and configured for electrical connection to a second contact component disposed in the substance delivery component when said substance delivery component is arranged in a first orientation within the receptacle, said electrical connection indicating the user-selected mode.