Method and system for drug delivery

Abstract

There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a device and a method for controlled extraction of at least one active substance from at least one type of plant matter by application of heat, the device comprising: a heating element adapted to apply heat to an area of the plant matter to extract the substance; and a mechanism adapted for moving the plant matter relative to the heating element. Optionally, the active substance is a restricted substance. There is also provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of monitoring and controlling inhalation of a restricted substance. There is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of manufacturing a tape of plant matter comprising an active substance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge comprising:
 a stack of layered drug dose structures for use with an inhaler device, wherein each drug dose structure comprises:
 a layer of plant material from which at least one active substance is released for delivery by vaporization; 
 a first air permeable layer which comprises an electrically resistive material which, when contacted by electrodes, acts as a thermal emitter that generates and emits heat, said air permeable layer being in contact with said layer of plant material; 
   wherein an amount of said plant material in each drug dose structure is sufficient, upon vaporization, for a single treatment dose.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said drug dose structure further comprises a second air permeable layer, wherein said layer of plant material is sandwiched between said first and said second air permeable layers. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically resistive material is dimensioned and configured to heat a volume of said plant material when activated, so as to vaporize said at least one active substance from said plant material; 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said layer of plant material is between 0.2 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein said second air permeable layer comprises an electrically resistive material. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrically resistive material is in the form of a wire mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said first air permeable layer comprises apertures which are large enough to let gas escape and small enough to contain residue of heated plant material. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge according to  claim 7 , wherein said apertures are between 25 μm to 500 μm in size. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge according to  claim 7 , wherein said apertures are 50 μm or less in size. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of plant material comprises  cannabis.    
     
     
         11 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of plant material comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said amount is from which at least one 2 mg treatment dose of active substance can be extracted. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein different areas of said layer of plant material comprise different active substances. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer of plant material is processed by grinding and sieving plant material to obtain said particles. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant material is compressed to a density between 10-30% which leaves enough air spaces to allow for vapors to escape. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant material is compressed to a density of about 20%. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge according to  claim 2 , wherein said structure is air-permeable in its entirety such that air flows traverses said air permeable layer comprising an electrically resistive material, through said layer of plant material, and through said additional air permeable layer. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrically resistive material is at least partially formed of steel. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said active substance is a therapeutic drug substance. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface area of said electrically resistive material is sized and positioned to heat a surface area of a heated volume of said layer of plant material. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant material layer is heated in response to activation of said electrically resistive material by the electrodes. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said stack of layered drug dose structures comprises a plurality of vertically stacked layered drug dose structure. 
     
     
         23 . A method of vaporizing a dose of active substance comprising moving a single dose structure comprised in the cartridge of  claim 1  towards a heating element, thereby vaporizing the dose of active substance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said heating element comprises electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each of said layered dose structures of said cartridge moves as an individual element towards said heating element.