An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane having a first side for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, the membrane having a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane in an extension direction from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole having along its extension direction a smallest diameter, a larger diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, wherein the ratio of the total length of each through hole in the extension direction to the length of a respective one of said nozzle portions in the extension direction is at least 4, preferably at least 4.5 and most preferred equal to or larger than 5.

Apparatus and methods are described for use with a portion of plant material that includes at least one active ingredient. A vaporizing unit includes a heating element configured to heat the plant material, and a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit. Control circuitry is configured to receive an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit, and, in response thereto, to determine a smoking profile that is desired by the user. The control circuitry drives the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile. The control circuitry dynamically updates the smoking profile in response to changes in airflow rate over the course of a smoking session. Other applications are also described.

Apparatus and methods are described for use with a portion of plant material that includes at least one active ingredient. A vaporizing unit includes a heating element configured to heat the plant material, and a sensor configured to detect an indication of airflow rate through the vaporizing unit. Control circuitry is configured to receive an indication of the airflow rate through the vaporizing unit, and, in response thereto, to determine a smoking profile that is desired by the user. The control circuitry drives the heating element to vaporize the active ingredient of the plant material by heating the plant material according to the determined smoking profile. The control circuitry dynamically updates the smoking profile in response to changes in airflow rate over the course of a smoking session. Other applications are also described.

An apparatus and method for providing a nebula or aerosol to a patient is described. In one aspect, the nebulizer is composed of a minimum number of parts to reduce complexity for automated or human assembly. The nebulizer may include an inhalation valve, exhalation valve and biasing member integrated into a single diaphragm structure that may be connected with an actuator and inserted into a housing for controlling nebulization of a medicine to a patient in response to the patient's breathing or in a continuous nebulization mode.

A nosepiece for delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the nosepiece comprising a body part which comprises a base portion which defines a flow passage therethrough, and a projection at a distal end of the base portion which at least in part provides a tip of the nosepiece and confers a rigidity in the sagittal direction, which enables the tip to open fleshy tissue at an upper region of the nasal valve and thereby expand an open area of the nasal valve, and a flexibility in a lateral direction, orthogonal to the sagittal plane, which facilitates insertion of the tip into the nasal valve.

Various embodiments of a metered dose inhaler that includes a metering valve are disclosed. The inhaler includes a reservoir containing a pressurized formulation of medicament and carbon dioxide. The metering valve includes a metering chamber, a metering valve stem, and a metering valve stem seal having an opening through which the metering valve stem passes to form a dynamic seal between the metering valve stem and outside atmosphere. The metering valve stem seal has a Shore D hardness of 45 to 80 and its opening is adapted to be stretched wider by the metering valve stem passing through it than it would be absent the valve stem.

An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Described herein are an interactive apparatus and methods for sensing and measuring real-time characteristic patterns of a subject's use of a dry powder inhalation system. The inhaler device can be used in a wireless communication mode to communicate with a display to assess the subject's usage of the inhalation system concurrently as the inhalation is performed and thus the subject's inhalation can be evaluated as well as the performance of the inhalation system. The system can also detect the identity of the medicament, its dosage, lot, expiration, etc. and the characteristics profile of a dry powder formulation emitted from the inhalation system in use.

A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled.