Vapor dosing platform for vaporization cartridges

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a method for vaporizing a product of a plurality of different products including receiving, by a processor of a vaporizing device, a desired dosage amount that is indicative of an amount of a compound to release during one or more inhalation events. The method includes determining, by the processor, an occurrence of a current inhalation event and during the current inhalation event determining, by the processor, an inhalation pressure being applied to a container that contains the product; determining, by the processor, a predicted dosage that is indicative of a predicted amount of the compound that has been released in the vapor during the current inhalation event based on the inhalation pressure; and selectively adjusting, by the processor, a vaporizing temperature being applied to the product by the vaporizer based on the desired dosage and the predicted dosage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for vaporizing a product of a plurality of different products comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a vaporizing device, a desired dosage amount that is indicative of an amount of a compound to release during one or more inhalation events, wherein the compound is released from the product into vapor when the product is vaporized;   determining, by the processor, an occurrence of a current inhalation event;   during the current inhalation event:
 determining, by the processor, an inhalation pressure being applied to a container that contains the product; 
 determining, by the processor, a predicted dosage that is indicative of a predicted amount of the compound that has been released in the vapor during the current inhalation event based on the inhalation pressure; and 
 selectively adjusting, by the processor, a vaporizing temperature being applied to the product by the vaporizer based on the desired dosage and the predicted dosage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a dosage model corresponding to the product, wherein the dosage model receives respective sets of inhalation pressure values and, for each input set of inhalation pressure values, outputs predicted dosages of the compound based on the respective set of inhalation pressure values. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the predicted dosage is further based on the dosage model corresponding to the product. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dosage model further receives sets of vaporization parameters as input and outputs, for each input set of vaporization parameters a respective predicted dosage of the compound in the vapor during a respective inhalation event based on the input set of vaporization parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a coil resistance of a coil that heats the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of power being delivered to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a voltage being applied to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of product remaining in the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of remaining charge in a battery of the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dosage model is provided by an application via a user device that is in communication with the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the dosage model is selected from a plurality of dosage models, wherein each of the plurality of dosage models corresponds to a respective product of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system using results from a puff simulator that simulates inhalation events to vaporize samples of the respective product that corresponds to the dosage model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system based on one or more product properties of the respective product. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes adjusting a voltage being applied to a coil that heats the container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein heating the container includes heating a wick of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes stopping a vaporizing voltage from being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the predicted dosage is greater than or equal to the desired dosage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes increasing a vaporizing voltage that is being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the desired dosage is unlikely to be reached during the current inhalation event given the predicted dosage. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes decreasing a vaporizing voltage that is being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the desired dosage is likely to be reached before the current inhalation event is complete given the predicted dosage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inhalation pressure includes a series of inhalation pressure values measured during the current inhalation event. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is an eliquid and the container is a removable pod that contains the eliquid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is an eliquid and the container is a removable 510 thread cartridge that contains the eliquid. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a dried plant material and the container is a receptacle that contains the dried plant material. 
     
     
         23 . A vaporizer device comprising:
 a communication unit that effectuates communication with a user device via a network;   one or more sensor devices, wherein each respective sensor device monitors a condition relating to the vaporizer device and/or an environment thereof;   a battery;   a voltage controller that applies a variable voltage to a heating element of a container that contains a product to be vaporized;   a microprocessor that executes processor-executable instructions that cause the microprocessor to:
 receive a target dosage that is indicative of an amount of a compound to release during an inhalation event, wherein the compound is released from the product into vapor when the product is vaporized; 
 receive a dosage model corresponding to the product, wherein the dosage model receives sets of vaporization parameters as input that include respective predicted dosages indicating an amount of the compound in the vapor during a respective inhalation event based on the input sets of vaporization parameters; 
 detect commencement of a current inhalation event; and 
 during the current inhalation event:
 determine one or more vaporization parameters based on sensor data received from the one or more sensors, wherein each vaporization parameter defines a condition relating to the current inhalation event; 
 determine a predicted dosage that is indicative of a predicted amount of the compound that has been released in the vapor during the current inhalation event based on the vaporization parameters and the dosing model; and 
 selectively adjust a vaporizing temperature being applied to the product by the vaporizer based on the target dosage and the predicted dosage. 
 
   
     
     
         24 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an inhalation pressure that is applied by the user during the current inhalation event. 
     
     
         25 . The vaporizer device of  claim 24 , wherein the inhalation pressure includes a series of inhalation pressure values measured during the current inhalation event 
     
     
         26 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a coil resistance of a coil that heats the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         27 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of power being delivered to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         28 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a voltage being applied to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         29 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of product remaining in the cartridge. 
     
     
         30 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of remaining charge in a battery of the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         31 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the dosage model is provided by an application via the user device that is in communication with the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         32 . The vaporizer device of  claim 31 , wherein the dosage model is selected from a plurality of dosage models, wherein each of the plurality of dosage models corresponds to a respective product of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         33 . The vaporizer device of  claim 32 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system using results from a puff simulator that simulates inhalation events to vaporize samples of the respective product that corresponds to the dosage model. 
     
     
         34 . The vaporizer device of  claim 32 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system based on one or more product properties of the respective product. 
     
     
         35 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes adjusting a voltage being applied to a coil that heats the container. 
     
     
         36 . The vaporizer device of  claim 35 , wherein heating the container includes heating a wick of the container. 
     
     
         37 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes stopping a vaporizing voltage from being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the predicted dosage is greater than or equal to the desired dosage. 
     
     
         38 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes increasing a vaporizing voltage that is being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the desired dosage is unlikely to be reached during the current inhalation event given the predicted dosage. 
     
     
         39 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes decreasing a vaporizing voltage that is being applied to a coil of the container in response to determining that the desired dosage is likely to be reached before the current inhalation event is complete given the predicted dosage. 
     
     
         40 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the vaporization parameters includes a series of sensor values measured during the current inhalation event. 
     
     
         41 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the product is an eliquid and the container is a removable pod that contains the eliquid. 
     
     
         42 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the product is an eliquid and the container is a removable 510 thread cartridge that contains the eliquid. 
     
     
         43 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the product is a dried plant material and the container is a receptacle that contains the dried plant material. 
     
     
         44 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the network is a personal area network. 
     
     
         45 . The vaporizer device of  claim 23 , wherein the network is a Bluetooth low energy network. 
     
     
         46 . A method for generating a dosing model corresponding to a respective product using a puff simulation system that performs simulated inhalation event on a vaporizer device that vaporizes one or more instances of the respective product, the method comprising:
 for each instance of the product:
 obtaining one or more inhalation profiles, wherein each inhalation profile defines inhalation pressures over a duration of a respective simulated event 
 performing a plurality of simulated inhalation events on the instance of the product using one or more inhalation profiles; 
 for each simulated inhalation event:
 recording an inhalation profile of the one or more inhalation profiles used to perform the simulated inhalation event; 
 determining a set of one or more vaporization parameters relating to the simulated inhalation event; 
 determining an amount of an active compound in vapor resulting from the simulated inhalation event; and 
 training the dosing model based on the inhalation profile, the set of one or more vaporization parameters, and the amount of active compound in the vapor; and 
 
 storing the dosing model in a dosing model data store that stores a plurality of different dosing models, wherein each dosing model of the plurality of dosing model corresponds to a respective product of a plurality of different products. 
   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a coil resistance of a coil that heats the container during the respective simulated inhalation event. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of power being delivered to a heating element of the container during the respective simulated inhalation event. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a voltage being applied to a heating element of the container during the respective simulated inhalation event. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of product remaining in the cartridge. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of remaining charge in a battery of the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an inhalation pressure measured by the vaporizer device during the simulated inhalation event. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the one or more inhalation profiles are determined by:
 for each of a plurality of test subjects:
 measuring an inhalation pressure exerted by the test subject on a mouthpiece of a respective test vaporizer devices during one or more test inhalation events; 
 for each test inhalation event, generating a test inhalation pressure curve corresponding to the test inhalation event; and 
 determining the one or more inhalation profiles based on the test inhalation pressure curves. 
   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the one or more inhalation profiles are determined by:
 for each of a plurality of vaporizer devices:
 receiving a measured inhalation pressure exerted by a user of the vaporizer device to a mouthpiece of the vaporizer device during a historical inhalation event; 
 for each test inhalation event, generating an inhalation pressure curve corresponding to the historical inhalation event; and 
 determining the one or more inhalation profiles based on the inhalation pressure curves. 
   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising:
 generating a product record corresponding to the product; 
 relating the dosing model to the product record; 
 storing the product record in a product database that stores a plurality of product records, wherein each product record corresponds to a different product. 
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from a companion application that is associated with a remote vaporizer device, the request indicating a product identifier of a product to be vaporized;   retrieving the product record of the product to be vaporized from the product database based on the product identifier;   identifying a requested dosing model based on the product record;   retrieving the requested dosing model from the dosing model data store; and   providing the requested dosing model to the companion application, wherein the companion application provides the dosing application to the remote vaporizer device.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein each dosing model is configured to receive a set of vaporization parameters corresponding to a current inhalation event and to output a predicted dosage based on the vaporization parameters corresponding to the current inhalation event. 
     
     
         58 . A vaporizer device comprising:
 a communication unit that effectuates communication with a user device via a network;   one or more sensor devices, wherein each respective sensor device monitors a condition relating to the vaporizer device and/or an environment thereof;   a battery;   a voltage controller that applies a variable voltage to a heating element of a container that contains a product to be vaporized;   a microprocessor that executes processor-executable instructions that cause the microprocessor to:
 receive a dosage model corresponding to the product, wherein the dosage model receives sets of vaporization parameters as input and outputs, for each input set of vaporization parameters, a respective predicted dosage indicating an amount of the compound in the vapor during a respective inhalation event based on the input set of vaporization parameters; 
 receive a product profile corresponding to the product, the product profile indicating one or more properties of a container that contains the product, the product, and/or the user; 
 detect commencement of a current inhalation event; and 
 during the current inhalation event:
 determine one or more vaporization parameters based on sensor data received form the one or more sensors, wherein each vaporization parameter defines a condition relating to the current inhalation event; 
 determine a predicted dosage that is indicative of a predicted amount of the compound that has been released in the vapor during the current inhalation event based on the vaporization parameters and the dosing model; and 
 selectively adjust one or more vaporizer settings based on the predicted dosage and the product profile. 
 
   
     
     
         59 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the microprocessor performs a feedback loop when selectively adjusting the dosage delivered based on the predicted dosage and the product profile. 
     
     
         60 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein selectively adjusting the one or more vaporizer settings includes adjusting an amount of power being delivered to the heating element to affect a viscosity of the product. 
     
     
         61 . The vaporizer device of  claim 60 , wherein the product profile defines viscosity data relating to the product. 
     
     
         62 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the instructions further cause the microprocessor to:
 receive a dosing plan that indicates a total dosage amount over a period of time;   wherein the microprocessor selectively adjusts the one or more vaporizer settings further based on the dosing plan.   
     
     
         63 . The vaporizer device of  claim 62 , wherein the dosing plan is a nicotine cessation plan and the product profile indicates an amount of nicotine in the product. 
     
     
         64 . The vaporizer device of  claim 62 , wherein the dosing plan is a cessation of vaporizable compounds plan wherein the product profile indicates an amount of vaporizable compounds in the product. 
     
     
         65 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an inhalation pressure that is applied by the user during the current inhalation event. 
     
     
         66 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the inhalation pressure includes a series of inhalation pressure values measured during the current inhalation event 
     
     
         67 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a coil resistance of a coil that heats the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         68 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of power being delivered to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         69 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include a voltage being applied to a heating element of the container during the respective inhalation event. 
     
     
         70 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of product remaining in the cartridge. 
     
     
         71 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the vaporization parameters include an amount of remaining charge in a battery of the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         72 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the dosage model is provided by an application via the user device that is in communication with the vaporizer device. 
     
     
         73 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the dosage model is selected from a plurality of dosage models, wherein each of the plurality of dosage models corresponds to a respective product of the plurality of products. 
     
     
         74 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system using results from a puff simulator that simulates inhalation events to vaporize samples of the respective product that corresponds to the dosage model. 
     
     
         75 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein each dosage model of the plurality of dosage models is configured by a backend system based on one or more product properties of the respective product. 
     
     
         76 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein selectively adjusting the vaporizing temperature includes adjusting a voltage being applied to a coil that heats the container. 
     
     
         77 . The vaporizer device of  claim 58 , wherein the network is a Bluetooth low energy network. 
     
     
         78 . A method for accurately dosing vapor to a user of a selected one of any of a plurality of electric vapor cartridges interchangeably attachable to a controllable power source, each of the plurality of cartridges containing a heating coil having a coil resistance, the method comprising:
 identifying the coil resistance of the selected cartridge;   sensing the user's inhaling pressure on the cartridge, when the selected cartridge is attached to the power source; and   adjusting, in real time, the dosing voltage output supplied by the source to the cartridge based (at least) on the sensed inhaling pressure and the coil resistance.   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the resistance is identified based on user identification of the cartridge model attached to the power source. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 stopping the voltage output supplied by the power source when a preset dose of vapor has been delivered to the user.   
     
     
         81 . A platform for dosing vapor to a user of a selected one of any of a plurality of electric vapor cartridges each containing product and interchangeably attachable to a controllable power source, the platform comprising:
 storing a library of cartridge characteristic for each of the plurality of vapor cartridges; wherein the cartridge characteristics comprise cartridge identification and associated lab-tested values;   using one or more characteristics of the selected cartridge as one or more input variables to a real-time dosing formula to control the dose supplied to the user of the cartridge when attached to the controllable power source.   
     
     
         82 . The platform of  claim 81 , wherein the dosing formula is provided by an application via a user device that is in communication with a vaporizer device connected to the cartridge. 
     
     
         83 . The platform of  claim 81 , wherein the dosing formula is selected from a plurality of dosage formulae, wherein each of the plurality of dosage formulas corresponds to a respective product of a plurality of products. 
     
     
         84 . The platform device of  claim 83 , wherein each dosage formula of the plurality of dosing formulae is configured by a backend system using results from a puff simulator that simulates inhalation events to vaporize samples of the respective product that corresponds to the dosage model. 
     
     
         85 . The platform of  claim 84 , wherein each dosing formula of the plurality of dosage formulae is configured by the backend system based on one or more product properties of the respective product. 
     
     
         86 . A platform for dosing vapor to a user of a selected one of any of a plurality of electric vapor cartridges having product and interchangeably attachable to a controllable power source, comprising:
 storing a library of cartridge characteristic for each of the plurality of vapor cartridges; wherein the cartridge characteristics comprise cartridge identification and associated lab-tested values; and   using one or more electrical, mechanical or thermodynamic characteristics of the selected cartridge as one or more input variables to a dosing formula to control the dose supplied to the user of the cartridge when attached to the controllable power source.   
     
     
         87 . The platform of  claim 86 , wherein the dosing formula is provided by an application via a user device that is in communication with a vaporizer device connected to the cartridge. 
     
     
         88 . The platform of  claim 86 , wherein the dosing formula is selected from a plurality of dosage formulae, wherein each of the plurality of dosage formulas corresponds to a respective product of a plurality of products. 
     
     
         89 . The platform device of  claim 88 , wherein each dosage formula of the plurality of dosing formulae is configured by a backend system using results from a puff simulator that simulates inhalation events to vaporize samples of the respective product that corresponds to the dosage model. 
     
     
         90 . The platform of  claim 89 , wherein each dosing formula of the plurality of dosage formulae is configured by the backend system based on one or more product properties of the respective product. 
     
     
         91 . A method for accurately dosing vapor to a user of a selected one of any of a plurality of electric vapor cartridges interchangeably attachable to a controllable power source, each of the plurality of cartridges containing a heating coil having a coil resistance, the method comprising:
 identifying the coil resistance of the selected cartridge;   identifying the value of an additional variable of the selected cartridge selected from any one or more of electrical, mechanical, and thermodynamic characteristics;   sensing the user's inhaling pressure on the cartridge, when the selected cartridge is attached to the power source; and   adjusting, in real time, the dosing voltage output supplied by the source to the cartridge based at least in part on the sensed inhaling pressure, the coil resistance and the value of the additional one or more variables of the selected cartridge selected from any one or more of the electrical, mechanical, and thermodynamic characteristics.