U.S. patent application number 17/351155 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-07 for vaporizer profile management system and methods for managing vaporizer profiles.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Green Labs Group Inc.. Invention is credited to Kyle Patrick Crane Rodrigues, Steven L. Hecker, Aric Jennings.
Application Number | 20210311921 17/351155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005719732 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210311921 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jennings; Aric ; et
al. |
October 7, 2021 |
VAPORIZER PROFILE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR MANAGING
VAPORIZER PROFILES
Abstract
A vaporizer profile management system (VPMS) includes a
vaporizer device with an electronic memory to store vapor
production data (VPD) from a vape session, a communications
interface to transmit the VPD to a computing platform, a vapor
analyzing device to generate vapor content data (VCD) derived from
vapor collected during the vape session from an exhaust port of the
vaporizer device, and a computing platform that receives and
processes the VPD and the VCD. A method for generating a vaporizer
profile includes storing VPD from a vape session, transmitting the
stored VPD to a computing platform, generating VCD derived from
vapor collected during the vape session from an exhaust port of the
vaporizer device, receiving the VPD and the VCD by the computing
platform, and processing at the computing platform the VPD and the
VCD to analyze and correlate the VCD with the VPD.
Inventors: |
Jennings; Aric; (Los
Angeles, CA) ; Hecker; Steven L.; (Los Angeles,
CA) ; Crane Rodrigues; Kyle Patrick; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Green Labs Group Inc. |
Los Angeles |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005719732 |
Appl. No.: |
17/351155 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/US2021/022787 |
Mar 17, 2021 |
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17351155 |
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62990769 |
Mar 17, 2020 |
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62993211 |
Mar 23, 2020 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/10 20130101;
G06F 16/2455 20190101; G06N 20/00 20190101; G06F 16/22
20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 16/22 20060101
G06F016/22; G06N 20/00 20060101 G06N020/00; G06F 16/2455 20060101
G06F016/2455 |
Claims
1. A vaporizer profile management system comprising: a vaporizer
device comprising: an electronic memory configured to store vapor
production data from a vape session for a sample material having an
active ingredient, the vapor production data including a sample
identifier and vapor production parameters including at least one
of the active ingredient, crucible temperature, air flow rate,
pressure differential, and duration of flow; a communications
interface configured to transmit the stored vapor production data
to a computing platform; a vapor analyzing device configured to
generate vapor content data derived from vapor collected during the
vape session from an exhaust port of the vaporizer device, the
vapor content data further including the sample identifier and data
including amount of the active ingredient collected from the vapor;
and a computing platform comprising a processor configured to
receive and process the vapor production data and the vapor content
data.
2. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
processor of the computing platform is further configured to
analyze and correlate the vapor content data with the vapor
production parameters.
3. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
computing platform is further configured to analyze and correlate
the vapor content data with the vapor production data to generate a
correlation relationship.
4. The vaporizer management system of claim 3, wherein the
correlation relationship of the vapor content data with the vapor
production data is represented by a polynomial equation.
5. The vaporizer management system of claim 3, wherein the
correlation relationship of the vapor content data with the vapor
production data is stored in a look-up table that stores
information correlating a desired dose of the active ingredient
with at least one vapor production parameter.
6. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
computing platform comprises a machine-learning module configured
to analyze relationships between the vapor production data and the
vapor content data, and further configured to generate a vaping
profile for the vaporizer device.
7. The vaporizer management system of claim 6, wherein the vaping
profile comprises data including the sample identifier and a dosing
relationship between the active ingredient and at least one of
crucible temperature, air flow rate, pressure differential, and
duration of flow.
8. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
computing platform comprises a machine-learning module configured
to analyze relationships between the vapor production data and the
vapor content data and is further configured to generate a vaping
profile for the sample material.
9. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
computing platform comprises a machine-learning module configured
to analyze relationships between the vapor production data and the
vapor content data and is further configured to generate a vaping
profile for the sample material and the vaporizer device.
10. The vaporizer management system of claim 8, wherein the
computing platform is further configured to: receive a request from
a vaporizer user's vaporizer device for vaporizer parameters to
provide a desired dose of active ingredient; query a database
containing the vaping profile; and determine the vaporizer
parameters to provide the desired dose of active ingredient; and
provide the vaporizer parameters to the vaporizer device of the
vaporizer user.
11. The vaporizer management system of claim 1, wherein the
computing platform is a remote cloud computing platform.
12. A method for generating a vaporizer profile comprising: storing
vapor production data from a vape session in a memory of a
vaporizer device, the vapor production data being associated with a
sample material having an active ingredient, the vapor production
data including a sample identifier, and vapor production parameters
including at least one of an active ingredient, crucible
temperature, air flow rate, material age, pressure differential,
and duration of flow; transmitting the stored vapor production data
to a computing platform; generating vapor content data derived from
vapor collected during the vape session from an exhaust port of the
vaporizer device, the vapor content data including the sample
identifier and data including amount of the active ingredient
collected from the vapor; receiving the vapor production data and
the vapor content data by the computing platform; processing at the
computing platform the vapor production data and the vapor content
data to analyze and correlate the vapor content data with the vapor
production data.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating vapor
production data by: providing the sample material having the active
ingredient to a receptacle of the vaporizer device; heating air as
it flows to the receptacle containing the sample material; and
receiving vapor production information from sensors inside the
vaporizer device.
14. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a
correlation relationship between the vapor content data and the
vapor production data.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlation relationship of
the vapor content data with the vapor production data is
represented by a polynomial equation.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlation relationship of
the vapor content data with the vapor production data is stored in
a look-up table that stores information correlating a desired dose
of the active ingredient with at least one vapor production
parameter.
17. The method of claim 12, further comprising: analyzing
relationships between the vapor production data and the vapor
content data with a machine learning algorithm.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the vaping profile comprises
data including the sample identifier and a dosing relationship
between the active ingredient and at least one of crucible
temperature, air flow rate, pressure differential, and duration of
flow.
19. The method of claim 12, further comprising: receiving a request
from a vaporizer user's vaporizer device for vaporizer parameters
to provide a desired dose of active ingredient; querying a database
containing the vaping profile; and determining the vaporizer
parameters to provide the desired dose of active ingredient; and
providing the vaporizer parameters to the vaporizer device of the
vaporizer user.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the computing platform is a
remote cloud computing platform.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to: PCT Patent Application
No. PCT/US2021/022787, entitled "Accurate Dosing of Vaporizer
Content," filed Mar. 17, 2021, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/990,769, entitled "System for
the capturing and quantification of vapor content," filed Mar. 17,
2020, and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/993,211, entitled "System for the use of
polynomial driven vapor dosage calculations," filed Mar. 23, 2020,
all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to controlling
doses of active ingredients from vaporizers, and more specifically
relates to quantifying the dose of active ingredients in relation
to vaporizer operating parameters.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A vaporizer is a device used to extract the active
ingredients of a material, typically plant material such as herbs
or herbal blends, for inhalation by a user. Vaporization involves
heating the material to extract its active compounds as a vapor. In
contrast, smoking involves the release of active compounds through
combustion, typically with other particulate matter, noxious
gasses, and possible carcinogens. Interest in vaporizers for both
recreational and medical use has increased recently, in part from
the reduced risks compared to smoking.
[0004] In comparison to other drug delivery methods, such as
ingestion, vaporization has a more rapid onset of pharmacological
effect, direct delivery into the bloodstream via the lungs, and
more precise titration such that the desired level is reached and
not exceeded, enabling consistent and appropriate dosage.
[0005] Vaporizers utilizing convection-based heating methods employ
the use of a heating element. Air is drawn into the vaporizer,
heated by the heating element, and then passes across the material
to extract its active ingredients as a vapor. The heated air and
vaporized active ingredients are then delivered to the user via a
mouthpiece. The air temperature needed to extract active
ingredients from an herbal material varies depending on the herbal
material, but generally ranges from 180 to 360.degree. C.
[0006] When a user inhales too much vapor from the vaporizer
device, the user may experience an undesirable amount of the
effects of the active ingredients.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] Controlling the amount of active ingredient(s) or dose in
vapor being drawn, or informing the user as to the amount of vapor
and active ingredient(s) being drawn, or available to be drawn can
allow the user to better control the resulting effects. Thus, it is
preferable to provide a vaporizer device that is capable of
monitoring and/or controlling the mass flow rate within the
vaporizer device to regulate the dosage of active ingredients being
inhaled by the user. Correlating the vaporizer device parameters
with a particular sample, and providing a desired dose based on a
predicted dosing calculation allows the device to deliver specified
quantity or dose of active ingredients.
[0008] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices,
vapor management systems and methods that can capture, quantify,
analyze, and correlate data from vaporizer devices and the
vaporized product, and provide suggested vaping profiles to
vaporizer devices for desired dosing.
[0009] In one aspect of the disclosure, a vaporizer device includes
a receptacle for holding material having an active ingredient, a
heating element for heating the receptacle or for heating air as it
flows to the receptacle, a controller configured to receive vapor
production information from sensors inside the vaporizer device.
The controller is also configured to generate vapor production data
including a sample identifier associated with the material and at
least one of the following: crucible temperature, vapor
temperature, vapor flow rate, vapor pressure, vapor flow duration,
vapor density, heating duration, material pack density, and heating
power. The vaporizer device also includes an electronic memory
configured to store the vapor production data. In some embodiments,
various sensors may be used, such as, a crucible temperature
sensor, a vapor temperature sensor, a vapor flow rate sensor, a
vapor pressure sensor, a vapor flow duration sensor, a pressure
differential sensor, and a vapor density sensor.
[0010] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of
using a vaporizer device includes providing material having an
active ingredient and heating the receptacle or heating air as it
flows to a receptacle containing the material. Vapor production
information is received from sensors inside the vaporizer device,
and vapor production data is generated that includes a sample
identifier associated with the material and at least one parameter,
selected from the following: crucible temperature, vapor
temperature, vapor flow rate, vapor pressure, vapor flow duration,
vapor density, heating duration, material pack density, pressure
differential, material age, and heating power. The method also
stores the vapor production data. In an embodiment, vapor
production data over a communications network to a vapor profile
management system.
[0011] According to another embodiment of the disclosure, a
vaporizer profile management system (VPMS) includes a vaporizer
device that has an electronic memory configured to store vapor
production data for a sample material having an active ingredient.
The vapor production data includes a sample identifier, and data
concerning at least one of the following: an active ingredient,
crucible temperature, air flow rate, and duration of flow. The
vaporizer device also has a communications interface configured to
transmit the stored vapor production data to a computing platform.
The VPMS also includes a vapor analyzing device that is configured
to generate vapor content data derived from vapor collected from an
exhaust port of the vaporizer device. The vapor content data
includes the sample identifier and data including concentration of
the active ingredient. The VPMS also includes a computing platform
configured to receive and process the vapor production data and the
vapor content data.
[0012] Yet another embodiment of the disclosure includes providing
a vapor data repository. This may include electronic storage for
vapor production data from a vaporizer device, in which the vapor
production data includes a sample identifier associated with
material having an active ingredient and vaping parameters. The
vaping parameters may include at least one of the following:
crucible temperature, vapor temperature, vapor flow rate, vapor
pressure, vapor flow duration, vapor density, heating duration,
vapor pressure differential, material age, and heating power. The
vapor data repository may also have electronic storage for vapor
content data that includes concentration of active ingredient data
captured by a vapor sample collection apparatus.
[0013] In still another embodiment, a vapor sample collection
apparatus may include a connection port adapted to connect a first
end of a tube to an exhaust port of a vaporizer device, a vacuum
pump connected to a second end of the tube, a manifold connected to
the vacuum pump, and a vapor containment vessel for collecting
vapor samples. The vacuum pump is configured to draw a
predetermined pressure on the tube.
[0014] In still another embodiment, a vaporizer device has a
receptacle for holding material having an active ingredient. The
vaporizer device also has a heating element for heating air as it
flows to the receptacle, as well as an electronic storage memory
for storing vapor correlation data. The device also has a
controller configured to control at least one vaporizer parameter
according to instructions in the vapor correlation data and a
requested dose of active ingredient, such that at least one
vaporizer parameter includes at least one of temperature, air flow
rate, and duration per use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a diagram of an embodiment of a vaporizer in
accordance with the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 1B is a sectioned diagram of an embodiment of a
vaporizer in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 1C is an exploded diagram of an embodiment of a
vaporizer in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a
vaporizer device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vapor sample collection
apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example process for capturing
and quantification of vapor content according to the preset
disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 5A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer profile
management system in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram of a vapor production
data dataset in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram of a vapor content data
dataset in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an exemplary graph showing measured amount of
active ingredient(s) extracted in a vaporizer device 100 against
crucible heating time for various different temperature profiles in
accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0025] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a process for using a vaporizer
profile management system to provide a selected dose of active
ingredient in a vaporizer device in accordance with the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Example embodiments will now be described hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof,
and which illustrate example embodiments which may be practiced. As
used in the disclosures and the appended claims, the terms
"embodiment", "example embodiment", and "exemplary embodiment" do
not necessarily refer to a single embodiment, although they may,
and various example embodiments may be readily combined and
interchanged, without departing from the scope or spirit of example
embodiments.
[0027] Furthermore, the terminology as used herein is for the
purpose of describing example embodiments only and is not intended
to be limitations. In this respect, as used herein, the term "in"
may include "in" and "on", and the terms "a," "an" and "the" may
include singular and plural references. Furthermore, as used
herein, the term "by" may also mean "from", depending on the
context. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "if" may also mean
"when" or "upon," depending on the context. Furthermore, as used
herein, the words "and/or" may refer to and encompass any and all
possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied in other
specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential
character thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are
therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not
restrictive.
[0028] FIG. 1A is a perspective diagram, FIG. 1B is a
cross-sectional diagram, and FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective
diagram of an embodiment of a vaporizer device 100.
[0029] Vaporizer device 100 has a body 110 with an outer case 112.
The body 110 is of a size and shape to allow the vaporizer device
100 to be comfortably held in a user's hand. A mouthpiece 114 is
provided at an exhaust port 116 at one end of the body 112, from
which heated air and active ingredient(s) exit the vaporizer device
100. A user may inhale on the mouthpiece 114 to receive the heated
air and active ingredients. The outer case 112 has an opening 118
proximate to the exhaust port 116. The opening 118 defines an inlet
120 to the vaporizer device 100. Air is drawn into the vaporizer
device 100 at the inlet 120 as the user inhales on the mouthpiece
114.
[0030] Depending on the material containing active ingredient(s)
used with the vaporizer device 100, the temperature of the heated
air or the temperature of the crucible required to extract the
material's active ingredients may be too high for a user to
comfortably inhale. In some embodiments, the active material may be
in a liquid or a wax form and put in a crucible that is heated to
release the active material as vapor. In other embodiments, the
active material may be in a solid, semi-solid, crystalline,
crushed, shredded, or powder form (or the like) in which it is
placed in a crucible that receives heated air over or through it in
order to release the active ingredient as vapor. The vaporizer
device 10 may include a heatsink 122 that absorbs heat from the
heated air and active ingredient(s) prior to entering the
mouthpiece 114, cooling the air and active ingredient(s) inhaled by
the user. The inlet 120 is provided adjacent the heatsink 122.
Locating the inlet 120 near the heatsink 122 allows air being drawn
into the inlet 120 to be warmed by the heatsink 122.
[0031] The vaporizer device 100 includes a receptacle 126 into
which material containing active ingredient(s) may be placed by the
user. A door 124 may be hinged to the body 110 to provide the user
with access to the receptacle 126 in order to add material to or
remove spent material from the receptacle 126.
[0032] In use, in an embodiment, air flows into the vaporizer
device 100, to a heating device 127 where it is heated, across the
material in the receptacle 126 where active ingredient(s) are
extracted by the heat into the air and delivered to the user. As
mentioned above, in another embodiment, the crucible may be heated
directly to release the active ingredient as vapor. In each
embodiment, it should be apparent to the person of ordinary skill
that heat transfer by conductive, convective, or radiative
techniques may be used to extract the active ingredient as vapor.
The temperature can be adjustable by the user via controls on the
device or via a vaporizer application 182 or app on a
communicatively coupled handheld electronic device 180. The path of
the airflow from inlet 120 to exhaust at mouthpiece 114 is shown by
flow pathway 164.
[0033] The vaporizer device 100 can include a power source, for
example a battery 128. As used here, the term battery means a
single battery or several batteries connected to provide a portable
power source, preferably integrated within the body 110 of
vaporizer device 100, although in some embodiments, an external
battery or power source may be connected to provide primary or
supplementary power to vaporizer device 100. Any desired type of
battery 128 can be used depending on design parameters such as
power requirements and size and weight restrictions. Batteries can
be removable or fixed and can be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.
With use of a rechargeable battery, charge circuitry and power
management circuitry may be utilized in the vaporizer device 100 to
optimize recharging, charge storage, discharge management, and
provide charge status to display 138 or application 182. Battery
128 may be charged via a power cord physically connected to
vaporizer device 100, via physical electrical contacts on a charge
port 132 with a charge cradle connected to a power supply (not
shown), via a communications port 134 (e.g., a USB port), or via
wireless inductive charge techniques, for example, Qi, which is an
open interface standard that defines wireless power transfer using
inductive charging.
[0034] The vaporizer device 100 can further include controller 130
for allowing the user to control parameters of the vaporizer
device, for example the temperature, air flow rate, and/or duration
per use. For example, duration can be controlled by the controller
130 by controlling the delivery of power and heating time of the
heating element. The controller 130 can be analogue or digital
discrete circuitry and can include a central processing unit
("CPU"), microprocessor, system on a chip ("SOC"), an application
specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), an embedded controller, Field
Programmable Gate Array ("FPGA"), or other appropriate controller
devices, and any combination thereof.
[0035] The controller 130 can also include memory 133 or other data
storage 135. The controller 130 can store vapor production data 190
as well as vaporizer profiles associated with a medium described
herein as vapor correlation data 550. Creation and use of such
vaporizer profiles/vapor correlation data 550 is discussed in more
detail in the foregoing specification. The controller 130 can also
store historic data, such as duration of use, temperature profile,
and vapor mass flow, among others. The controller 130 can also
store a unique identifier for the vaporizer device 100 that allows
it to be identified and associated with a user when the VPMS 300
remotely connects to or receives data from it.
[0036] The vaporizer profiles may be programmed manually or
provided via communications network 170, and the controller 130 may
include communications interface circuitry 140. In an embodiment,
the mobile device 180 may receive the vaporizer profile from VPMS
300 via the network 170 and in turn provide it to the controller
130 of the vaporizing device 100 in real time, on demand, or during
periodic data downloads. The network 170 may include different
channels of communication and may include local networks therein.
For example, the network 170 may include wireless communication
through cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any
combination thereof, as well as physical connections via a cable,
for example, a Universal Serial Bus ("USB") port 134 or the like.
Additionally, the vaporizer device 100 may be connected to
communications network 170 via a wired or wireless local
communication connection through mobile device 180 that may have a
vaporizer application 182 installed thereon.
[0037] The network 170 may include one or more switches and/or
routers, including wireless routers that connect the wireless
communication channels with other wired networks (e.g., the
Internet). A local network may exist that connects locally to the
VPMS 300 or the vaporizer device 100. For example, the local
network may be established by a local router or a local switch.
[0038] In some embodiments, the VPMS 300 can communicate with a
mobile device 180, for example a smartphone, tablet, or Internet of
Things (IoT) device. In such embodiments, VPMS 300 may communicate
with a solution-specific application 182 installed on the mobile
device 180. The application can include a user interface to allow a
user to read, interact, and respond to information from the VPMS
300. The VPMS 300 can be configured to communicate to the mobile
device 180 any of the information discussed herein as being
communicated with the vaporizer device 100. In some embodiments,
the mobile device 180 can be configured to communicate any, or
none, of the information with the vaporizer device 100.
[0039] Some embodiments of vaporizer device 100 can include user
input controls 136, such as buttons or switches. The vaporizer
device 100 can provide feedback to the user by means of a display
138. Some display embodiments can include a plurality of
light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs may be activated
individually or together, may be configured to flash at one or more
speeds or may be on continuously, and may each be a single color or
multi-color, or combinations of these to provide a range of
indications to the user. Such indications may include charge status
of the battery, an `on` state of the device 100, and whether the
vaporizer device 100 is ready for use. Display 138 may also be an
LCD, or OLED display, or other known addressable display technology
for interfacing with and presenting information to a user. Display
138 may also have a touch-sensitive user interface instead of or in
addition to user input controls 136 for the purpose of operating
and interacting with vaporizer device 100.
[0040] Controller 130 may receive sensor information from different
sensors 150 within the vaporizer device 100. For example, the
controller 130 may collect data from a thermocouple(s) 152 that may
measure crucible temperature, air flow rate sensor(s) 154, pressure
sensor(s) 156, vapor density sensor(s) 158, mass flow rate
analyzer(s) 160. It is to be understood that the individual
measuring or sensor devices within the vaporizer device 100 are in
electrical communication with the controller 130.
[0041] A mass flow rate analyzer 160 may be a miniature mass
spectrometer for in situ analysis, a photodiode with a
phototransistor array, a particle counter or smoke detector, or any
other suitable device for measuring mass flow rate within the
vaporizer device 100. In an embodiment, at least one photodiode
with a phototransistor array is disposed within a sensor ring. The
sensor ring of photodiodes may circumscribe a mouthpiece of the
vaporizer device with a phototransistor array including a set of
emitting diodes disposed on opposite sides of the mouthpiece.
Alternatively, the sensor ring may be disposed within a cavity
formed below the mouthpiece. In one embodiment, the sensor ring may
be disposed above the crucible. The attenuation of light signal
from photodiode to phototransistor sensor may provide optical
transmission data that can indicate vapor density. Using
photodiodes of different wavelengths and/or wavelength tunable
photodiodes in the phototransistor array many provide various data
related to particulates in the vapor.
[0042] Air flow rate sensor 154 may be provided in the air
passageway within vaporizer device 100 and may provide the rate of
flow. An exemplary flow rate sensor 154 may be provided by an
impellor-driven generator, or a solid-state sensor that can measure
flow rate.
[0043] A pair of pressure sensors 156 may be used to measure flow
rate, each pressure sensor being located at different places in the
air passageway, for example in an embodiment, a first sensor
located after the crucible and another downstream before the
mouthpiece. The differential in pressure may be used to calculate a
flow rate.
[0044] Vapor density within the vaporizer device 100 may also be
calculated based on the volume of the air passageway and the mass
of the vapor.
[0045] Another input that may be received by the controller 130 is
the age of the material, since the material may have a shelf life
that is directly related to the yield of the material when
vaporized.
[0046] Yet another input that may be received by the controller 130
is previous vaporizing history of the material, in that it may have
been used in previous vaporizing sessions, and the sensors have
recorded parameters regarding those sessions. These recorded
parameters may be used to calculate used active ingredient for a
dosage history and/or provide remaining active ingredient,
remaining potency, or remaining dose information for subsequent
vaporizer activations.
[0047] In some embodiments, the vaporizing medium can be detected
by the vaporizing device 100 by use of an optical sensor on the
vaporizer device itself or the connected application 182 on mobile
device 180, for scanning barcodes on capsules or packages of the
herbal medium that identify the contents. As will be appreciated by
a person of ordinary skill, there are many ways of calculating flow
rate, temperature, vapor density, and so on. The present teachings
give some examples of data that may be collected and used to
determine such variables.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vaporizer device in
accordance with the present disclosure. As described in FIG. 1, the
various components are communicatively coupled or electrically
coupled as shown in the figure. As may be appreciated by a skilled
artisan, there may be interface devices between the various
schematic functional blocks.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a vapor sample collection
apparatus 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. The vapor
sample collection apparatus 200 includes a connection port 202
adapted to connect a first end of a tube 204 to an exhaust port 116
of a vaporizer device 100. Exhaust port 116 may be accessed by
removing mouthpiece 114 so that connection port 202 can be
connected thereto. Exhaust port 116 preferably has a similar fit to
mouthpiece 114 that is sufficiently snug so that there is minimal
loss of vapor at the connection port 202 to the outside world. A
vacuum pump 206 may be connected to a second end of the tube 204,
and a manifold 208 may be connected to the vacuum pump 206. Vapor
containment vessels 210a-210n may be used for collecting vapor
samples 212a-212n, where n is the number of vapor samples collected
216.
[0050] The vacuum pump 206 may be configured to draw a
predetermined pressure on the tube 204 and may be metered to draw
off the vaporized active compounds of a material for collection
from vaporizer device 100. Vacuum pump 204 may be connected to a
controller 214 to control the filling of vapor into collection
vessels 210a-210n (where n is the number of vessels). Controller
214 controls vapor collection parameters such as vacuum pressure,
flow rate and time of capture, and may also control manifold 208 to
selectively allow capture in a single or multiple vapor containment
vessels 210a-210n.
[0051] Vapor contained in vessels 210a-210n may be collected and
analyzed by a laboratory 216. Analysis by a laboratory 216 may be
performed using mass spectrometry or other laboratory techniques
for quantifying and thus provide detailed information of the
composition of contents of the captured vapor in vapor content data
240.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an example process for capturing
and quantification of vapor content 400 according to the present
disclosure. Some steps shown in FIG. 4 may be performed by any
suitable computer-executable code and/or computing system,
including Vapor Profile Management System 500 in FIG. 5. Some of
the steps shown in FIG. 4 may represent an algorithm whose
structure includes and/or can be is represented by multiple
sub-steps, examples of which will be provided in greater detail
below.
[0053] The process 400 begins with initiation of a sample
collection at step 402. Next, vaporizer device 100 is connected to
sample collection apparatus 200 in step 404. Sample material
containing an active ingredient is loaded into receptacle 126 on
vaporizer device 100 at step 406. Next, a sample identifier is
entered or captured that is associated with the sample material
(e.g., QR code, barcode, serial number, etc.), at step 408. The
process continues by setting the vaporizer parameters on the
vaporizer device 100, at step 410. In sequence, the vaporizer
process on device 100 is started and vapor is collected using
sample collection apparatus 200, at step 412. Various vaporizer
operating parameters and data from sensors 150 from vaporizer
device 100 concerning the vapor production are recorded at step
414. The sample from vaporizer device 100 is drawn using the vapor
sample collection apparatus 200 and stored in a vapor containment
vessel(s) 210a-210n, to be analyzed by laboratory in step 416. A
laboratory analyzes composition of the sample from vaporizer device
100 in step 418. Various vapor production data 190 from vaporizer
device 100, sample collection apparatus 200 and various vapor
content data 240 from the laboratory analysis may be transmitted
over communications network 170 and stored in a dataset 600 in
vaporizer profile management system 500, at step 420.
[0054] Determining the amounts of active ingredients extracted
through the vaporizing process and present in the vapor in the most
accurate way possible and informing the user and/or device of these
amounts allows the device to deliver specified and tightly
controlled quantity of active ingredients. Such is highly desirable
to deliver accurate doses to users of vaporizer device 100.
[0055] FIG. 5A is a schematic block diagram of a vaporizer profile
management system ("VPMS") 500 in accordance with the present
disclosure. VPMS 500 may include a computing platform 510 with a
communications interface 512 to receive vapor production data 190
from vaporizer device 100, and to receive vapor content data 240
from a laboratory. Communications interface 512 may also have
provision for receiving data imports from data storage means such
as DVD, Blu-ray disks, flash memory, hard drives or any other
physical data storage device.
[0056] Vapor data repository 520 stores vapor production data 190
and vapor content data 240 in a dataset 600.
[0057] FIG. 5B is a schematic block diagram of an example vapor
production data dataset 190. Examples of vapor production data 190
may be data that is entered or captured by vaporizer device 100
(and/or connected mobile device application 182), as shown in data
group 192. Examples of such data include capture date 602, sample
identifier 604, sample manufacturer 606, vapor device ID 608,
sample type 610, previous vape info 612, intended dose 614, sample
quantity 616, sample pack density 618, active ingredient quantity
620, sample active ingredients 622, and Crucible type 624.
[0058] Data group 194 includes information that is captured by
sensors during the production of vapor and may include Crucible
temperature 640, Crucible heating time 642, Crucible heating power
644, vapor temperature 646, vapor flow rate 648, vapor light
transmission 650, vapor density 652, vapor volume 654.
[0059] FIG. 5C is a schematic block diagram of an example vapor
content data dataset 240, which contains data that is received from
a laboratory that analyzes the collected vapor sample. Data 242
includes parameters associated with the sample identification and
other related metadata, while data group 244 includes data from the
laboratory analysis. Data set 242 may include capture date 602,
sample identifier 604, laboratory analysis date 672, laboratory
analysis method 674, analysis lab ID 676, analysis technician ID
678. In general, it may be seen that these date fields may be
helpful for an audit trail. Data set 244 may include measurement
data of the sample(s) and will provide identified active
ingredients and quantities for active ingredients a through n,
where n is the number of active ingredients.
[0060] Referring back to FIG. 5A, vapor correlation engine 530
analyzes the dataset 600 and correlates vapor content data 240 and
actual measured active ingredients measured in samples with vapor
production data 190. Such correlation may be performed with machine
learning module 540, which may use predictive analysis techniques,
using vapor content data 240 and vapor production data 190 as input
training data. Vapor correlation data 550 is generated, providing
temperature-dependent extraction curves for each specific compound
in a type of consumable material, associated with a sample
identifier, along with production variables specific to use of
vaporizer device 100 as measured by sensors 150 or input into vapor
production data 190, such as draw speed, pack density of material,
ambient temperature, and so on.
[0061] As used here, vapor correlation data 550 provides
information that correlates dosage for active ingredient(s) in a
particular material with operating parameters (e.g., heating
element temperature and duration) for a vaporizer device. As more
vapor correlation data 550 generated from the collected vapor
production data 190 and vapor content data 240 is collected and
analyzed as training data by machine learning module 540, this
provides more accuracy in determining the temperature-dependent
extraction curves described above. With increased collection and
analysis of data, the curves become more accurate and can be
represented in higher resolution, for example, by polynomial
equations created from curve fitting the data to polynomial
functions. The polynomial functions will be representative of
extraction and dosing predictions across variables considered in
the available data and will be able to correlate the vapor being
produced to the specific compounds extracted from the consumable
across relevant variables. Machine learning module 540 may use
pattern recognition, extrapolation techniques, and probability
predictions to match desired dose parameters for extracted chemical
compounds with production parameters to be used on vaporizer device
100 to deliver such desired dose. A data set of vapor correlation
data 550 is created, providing a database that may be queried for
vaporizer production parameters to be used for a desired dose.
[0062] The data set of vapor correlation data 550 may be stored in
the cloud and queried over communications network 170 on an
as-needed basis or it may be downloaded and stored in a vaporizer
profile on the vaporizer device 100 or mobile device application
182. The data set of vapor correlation data 550 (in whole or in
part) may be updated and transmitted to device 100 or mobile
application 182 in periodic or ad-hoc updates. Such updates may be
for requested materials with active ingredient(s), or may provide a
library of materials with active ingredient(s). A user of vaporizer
device 100 may subscribe to a service that provides such vapor
correlation data 550 updates, or may receive the relevant vapor
correlation data 550 download upon entering or scanning a code on
the packaging of material with active ingredient.
[0063] FIG. 6 is an exemplary graph showing measured amount of
active ingredient(s) extracted in a vaporizer device 100 against
crucible heating time for various different temperature profiles.
Such vapor content data 240 may be captured using the apparatus and
capture method in the present disclosure, with the measured amount
of active ingredient being analyzed by a laboratory. Other graphs
may be plotted that showed the measured amount of active ingredient
against other parameters, and the graph here is merely an example.
Various different temperature profiles for different temperatures
in the crucible may be plotted against time that the crucible is
heated. As may be seen, the warmer the temperature, the more active
ingredient of a particular type that may be released. However over
time, the active ingredient is drawn out of the crucible and there
is less concentration after a given time so the active ingredient
yield curve flattens over time. Also plotted against crucible
heating time and crucible heating temperature and captured in the
dataset are the vapor production data 190. Vapor correlation data
550 may be determined using machine learning module 540 analyzing
the correlation between training data that includes the measured
amount of active ingredient(s) captured (from the vapor content
data 240) and the vapor production data 190.
[0064] It should be noted that different active ingredients may
have different optimum vaporizer extraction temperature/time
combinations. Further, a partially-used or an aged sample of
material may have a different extraction profile than a fresh
sample. Vapor correlation data 550 may consider such different
variables such as sample age and previous extraction cycles to
determine optimum extraction parameters for vaporizer device 100.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a process for using a vaporizer device
100 with a vaporizer profile management system ("VPMS") 500, in
accordance with the present disclosure. In step 702, dose
information is entered into vaporizer device 100. This may be
entered via a user interface on the device, or via application 182
running on mobile device 180, or through another connected
interface device such as an internet browser interface, or a
voice-controlled internet device running a compatible application
e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Hub, Apple Siri, etcetera. In step 704,
the material is identified, and the material identifier is entered
into vaporizer device 100. Again, this may be entered via any of
the user interfaces or via camera recognition, barcode, QR code, or
any other machine-identifiable code. In step 706, the vaporizer
device parameters are determined to satisfy the dose request for
the material. This may be a look up in memory on vaporizing device
100 itself, a look up stored on the app 182, or a look up stored in
the cloud (e.g., a request to VPMS 300). In each case, the
information is returned back to vaporizer device 100 to configure
it to satisfy the dose request for the specified material. Next,
the dose is dispensed in step 708 using the vaporizer production
parameters selected to deliver the requested dose.
[0065] Various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the
illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be
construed as limiting of the present invention as defined in the
appended claims. It is to be understood that individual features
shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with
individual features shown or described for another embodiment.
[0066] All numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, "first",
"second", "third", or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms,
should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's
understanding of the various embodiments, variations, components,
and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and are not
intended to create any limitations, particularly as to the order,
or preference, of any embodiment, variation, component and/or
modification relative to, or over, another embodiment, variation,
component and/or modification.
* * * * *