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.

The present disclosure concerns an aerosol generation device comprising a wicking element, a heating assembly configured to heat the wicking element, a removable capsule configured to contain a vaporizable material and having an aperture through which the vaporizable material can flow. The device comprises a valve arranged on the removable capsule, the valve having a closed position in which the aperture is closed to retain the vaporizable material in the removable capsule and an open position in which the aperture is open to release the vaporizable material from the removable capsule toward the wicking element. The heating assembly is configured to operate a drying cycle of the wicking element upon detection of a valve position by a valve detector.

Phyto material tablets, tablet vaporizers, methods and apparatus for forming phyto material tablets. The tablets are formed to increase vaporization efficiency. Tablets can include break regions to facilitate fracturing into multiple pieces for vaporization. The tablets can also include multiple layers of different phyto material mixtures. Compression molds are used to shape the tablets. The compression molds can be provided on a rotational assembly to facilitate rapid manufacturing of multiple tablets. The vaporizers include heating chambers that are configured to increase the surface area of the tablets exposed for vaporization. The heating chambers include compression or fracture members that compress and/or encourage fracturing of the tablets to assist vaporization.

Cartridges for vaporizer devices are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the cartridge can include a reservoir housing, an airflow tube that extends through the reservoir housing, and a folded mesh that is disposed within the airflow tube and includes a plurality of folds. The airflow tube defines a passageway extending therethrough and at least a portion of the airflow tube is permeable to the vaporizable material, in which the permeable portion of the airflow tube is configured to draw vaporizable material from the reservoir housing into the airflow tube for vaporization. The folded mesh is configured to change from a deactivated state to an activated state in response to receiving an electric current, and when in the activated state, the folded mesh is configured to generate an amount of heat that is sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the vaporizable material drawn from the reservoir housing. Vaporizer devices are also provided.

Phyto material tablets, tablet vaporizers, methods and apparatus for forming phyto material tablets. The tablets are formed to increase vaporization efficiency. Tablets can include break regions to facilitate fracturing into multiple pieces for vaporization. The tablets can also include multiple layers of different phyto material mixtures. Compression molds are used to shape the tablets. The compression molds can be provided on a rotational assembly to facilitate rapid manufacturing of multiple tablets. The vaporizers include heating chambers that are configured to increase the surface area of the tablets exposed for vaporization. The heating chambers include compression or fracture members that compress and/or encourage fracturing of the tablets to assist vaporization.

A stable-foam inhalation-device cartridge for a stable-foam inhalation device which dispenses a stable foam to be consumed by a user. The cartridge is devoid of an electrical energisation component. The cartridge includes a flexible mixing chamber, first and second foam-generation elements, an expansion chamber, a partitioning element having one or more mixing members for agitating a consumable foam and a discharge element. The discharge element has an outlet opening an inlet opening and a discharge conduit which interconnects the inlet opening with the outlet opening. The discharge conduit has a longitudinal extent which locates the inlet opening at a position closer to the partitioning element than to the outlet opening.

A dispenser for dispensing solid or semi-solid vaporizable consumables to a vaporizer includes a first store for storing at least one solid or semi-solid vaporizable consumable therein, and a first lid. The first store includes an opening for dispensing a solid or semi-solid vaporizable consumable therethrough, and the first lid is arranged such that it closes the opening in the first store when in a closed position. Further, the dispenser is arranged such that, in use, engaging a vaporizer with the dispenser loads a heating chamber in the vaporizer with a solid or semi-solid vaporizable consumable stored within the first store by aligning the opening in the first store with an opening in the heating chamber.

An aerosol generating device includes a heating chamber arranged to receive a consumable and heat the consumable to generate an inhalable vapour; a consumable picker arranged to engage and retain a consumable, wherein the consumable picker is movable relative to the heating chamber between: a first, external position in which the consumable picker is positioned external to the device; and a second, internal position in which the consumable picker lies within the heating chamber; such that a user may engage a consumable with the consumable picker in the first position and subsequently move the consumable picker to the second position, thereby moving the consumable picker with the retained consumable into the heating chamber for heating. By providing an aerosol generating device including a consumable picker configured in this way, the process of exchanging the consumable is greatly simplified.

A method of treating disorders in a human or animal subject may include heating a material containing a compound to a first temperature to form a heated volume of the material. The method may additionally include heating the heated volume to a higher second temperature to form a dose of vapor including the compound. The method may also include administering the dose of vapor to the subject to treat disorders such as pain. The method may further include pre-heating the material to a preliminary temperature prior to the heating to the first temperature. The heating and pre-heating may be performed with a capsule including two covering layers, each including an electrically conductive material, configured to hold the material therebetween and to generate heat by resistive heating.

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.