ADAPTED E-CIGARETTE WITH AUTHENTICATION FOR NICOTINE DELIVERY

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system comprising a mobile inhaler (1) that is configured to be simultaneously connected to at least one or a plurality of liquid containers (17) and to deliver an inhaling substance (10), wherein the inhaling substance comprises at least one of an amount of a first component (11) and an amount of a second component (12). The mobile inhaler further comprises at least one or a plurality of connector(s) (80) configured for connection of the mobile inhaler to the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers and for intaking of at least a portion of each of the liquid container(s)'s content(s). The system comprises furthermore the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers, wherein the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers comprises a plurality of reservoirs, wherein each reservoir comprises a component of the inhaling substance and wherein the reservoirs each comprise mutually different components of the inhaling substance. The present invention is furthermore directed to a method for operating the system, comprising delivering the inhaling substance by the mobile inhaler, wherein the mobile inhaler delivers at least the first component of the inhaling substance according to a set of conditions. Said set of conditions regulates at least one of a quantity and a general delivery of at least one of the first component and the inhaling substance.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A system comprising a mobile inhaler that is configured to be simultaneously connected to at least one or a plurality of liquid containers, and to deliver an inhaling substance, wherein the inhaling substance comprises at least one of an amount of a first component and an amount of a second component, wherein the mobile inhaler further comprises at least one or a plurality of connector(s) configured for connection of the mobile inhaler to the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers and for intaking of at least a portion of each of the liquid container(s)'s content(s); wherein the system comprises furthermore the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers, wherein the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers comprises a plurality of reservoirs, wherein each reservoir comprises a component of the inhaling substance; and wherein the reservoirs each comprise mutually different components of the inhaling substance.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mobile inhaler comprises a connection component to an output interface component, wherein the output interface component is configured to display information relating to the mobile inhaler, a delivery of the inhaling substance and/or an inhalation, information relating to a recording and/or a duration of an inhalation, a summary or an analysis thereof or information relating to at least one liquid container that is, was or can be connected to the mobile inhaler.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system comprises furthermore an interface suitable to connect the system to at least one of a computer device, an integrated circuit and a data storage device, by at least one of a wired and a wireless connection.

20. A method for operating a system according to claim 17, comprising delivering the inhaling substance by the system, wherein the system delivers at least the first component of the inhaling substance according to a set of conditions, and wherein said set of conditions regulates at least one of a quantity and a general delivery of at least one of the first component and the inhaling substance.

21. The method according to claim 20, comprising at least partially automatically regulating at least the amount the first component of the inhaling substance that is delivered over time.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein automatically regulating the amount of the first component that is delivered over time follows at least one of (a) a pre-defined pattern or function, (b) a pre-defined rule-set, (c) a pattern based on data that is at least one of measured, generated and recorded by the system or the mobile inhaler, (d) a mathematical model or function based on data that is at least measured, generated and/or recorded by the system or the mobile inhaler, (e) a machine learning or artificial intelligence model; and (f) further data.

23. The method according to claim 20, comprising furthermore verifying a set of conditions before delivering the first component of the inhaling substance.

24. The method according to the claim 23, wherein the step of delivering of the first component of the inhaling substance before which said set of conditions is verified is the first delivery of the first component of the inhaling substance.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein said set of conditions comprises a condition concerning an age of a person.

26. The method according to claim 23, comprising furthermore (a) verifying at least one condition of the set of conditions at least partially by an end user computer device that is connected to the mobile inhaler or to the system; (b) verifying at least one condition of the set of conditions at least partially by a server that is connected to the mobile inhaler or to the system; (c) verifying at least one of the at least one or the set of condition(s) at least partially by a server that is at least indirectly connected to the mobile inhaler via an end user computer device that is connected to the mobile inhaler; (d) verifying at least one condition of the set of conditions at least partially by a computing component that the system comprises; or (e) combining any of the verifying steps according to the preceding four options.

27. The method according to claim 23, comprising furthermore displaying at least an indicator for said verifying or its result on at least one of a portion of the system, the mobile inhaler and a device linked to the system via a wireless or wired connection.

28. The method according to claim 20, comprising furthermore delivering at least one of the first component and the second component of the inhaling substance only from liquid container(s) that comprise(s) at least one restriction element, and/or if there is another authorization.

29. The method according to claim 20, comprising furthermore counting at least one number of inhales since a point in time and storing the at least one the number of inhales on at least one of the system, a portion thereof, such as an electronic element that one of the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers comprises, and a third device, such as a smart handheld device, a mobile computer or a dongle, wherein this third device is configured for wired and/or wireless communication.

30. The method according to claim 20, comprising storing an unlocking state, wherein the unlocking state is a result of the step of verifying the set of conditions or an indicator for this result.

Description

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

Brief Description of the Figures

[0740] FIG. 1 the mobile inhaler with a liquid container that comprises two components of the inhaling substance

[0741] FIG. 2 the mobile inhaler with two liquid containers that comprise each one component of the inhaling substance

[0742] FIG. 3 verifying of a condition regarding an identity document

[0743] FIG. 4 displaying the unlocking state

[0744] FIGS. 5-8 a liquid container comprising restriction elements

[0745] FIG. 9 a liquid container comprising restriction elements

[0746] FIG. 10 the mobile inhaler with delivering restrictions

[0747] FIG. 11 the mobile inhaler with delivering restrictions with a respective liquid container with restriction elements

[0748] In all figures apart from FIGS. 5 to 8, air intakes, corresponding valves etc. are not shown.

[0749] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the system comprising a mobile inhaler 1, a mouth piece 54 and a canal 55. The mobile inhaler is configured to accommodate one liquid container 17 that comprises two reservoirs that each comprise one component 11, 12 of the inhaling substance 10, which in this example consists in those two components 11, 12. All described features can nevertheless be applied to every system that was disclosed in the numbered embodiments, especially in case that the inhaling substance comprises more than 2 components.

[0750] The mobile inhaler 1 is configured to deliver the inhaling substance 10, which comprises at least one of the two components 11, 12. In this example, the system 1 delivers the first component 11 of the inhaling substance 10 only after verifying a condition, such as an age of a user of the mobile inhaler 1. Until the age of the user is not provided or if the age does not satisfy the verified condition, such as the condition being that the user is not underage, the system delivers in this example only the second component 12 of the inhaling substance 10, which is substantially free from nicotine or other psychoactive substances. FIG. 1 shows the first 11 and the second component 12 of the inhaling substance 10 in the canal 55 leading to the mouth piece 54.

[0751] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the system, comprising a mobile inhaler 1, a mouth piece 54, a canal 55, aerosol generators, two liquid containers 17 comprising each one component 11, 12 of the inhaling substance, connectors 80 configured for connection of the mobile inhaler 1 to the liquid containers 17 and a computing component 2. Furthermore, each of the liquid containers 17 comprises one restriction element 60 comprising the liquid containers' shapes, and the mobile inhaler 1 comprises two delivering restrictions 61 limiting the shape of attachable liquid containers 17.

[0752] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inhaling substance 10 that the system comprises, comprises two components 11, 12. It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the discussed considerations also apply to systems with more than two components of the inhaling substance 10.

[0753] The first liquid container 17 comprises a reservoir that comprises the first component 11 of the inhaling substance 10 that comprises nicotine in this example. Independently from the comprised nicotine, the first liquid container 17 comprises a restriction element 60 that comprises the liquid container's 17 shape. In this embodiment, the liquid container comprises a spherical cut-out. The liquid container 17 could nevertheless also comprise any other restriction element 60 as detailed above. The mobile inhaler 1 comprises a corresponding delivering restriction 61—in this embodiment a spherical counterpart. The liquid container 17 that comprises the second component 12 also comprises a restriction element 60 and the mobile inhaler 1 comprises a matching delivering restriction 61, wherein this restriction element 60 comprises a chamfer and the delivering restriction 61 comprises a matching protrusion. The delivering restrictions 61 of the mobile inhaler 1 can furthermore comprise elements for wireless or wired communication to a restriction element 60 comprised by one liquid container 17 that is an electronic element configured for at least an identification of the liquid container 17. This element can furthermore identify the component 11, 12 of the inhaling substance 10 comprised by the liquid container 17. One restriction element 60 of the left liquid container 17 can be for example an RFID chip that identifies the left container as a container comprising nicotine. One restriction element 60 of the right liquid container 17 can be an RFID chip identifying the liquid container 17 as a liquid container that does not comprise nicotine. Instead, the restriction elements 60 could also be different from each other, and they could furthermore be any other electronic elements configured at least for an identification of the corresponding liquid container 17. The mobile inhaler 1 can furthermore comprise delivering restrictions 61 that link different restriction elements 60, wherein this link may optionally be depending on the liquid container 17 or its content. An example would be a rule requiring liquid containers 17 that comprise an RFID-chip as restriction element 60 that provides the information that the liquid container 17 comprises nicotine to furthermore comprise a chamfer as restriction element 60. The mobile inhaler 1 would in this case for example comprise a device configured to retrieve information from the RFID-chip. The mobile inhaler 1 would furthermore comprise a switch that is configured to detect a chamfer or its absence at a mounted liquid container 17.

[0754] The person skilled in the art will understand that this linking delivering restrictions is not limited to nicotine as portion of a component comprised by a liquid container 17, nor that it is limited to the content of a liquid container 17 at all. It can furthermore also be applied to a system comprising only one liquid container 17 with two or more reservoirs. Also, in some embodiments, for the same contents, the restriction elements 60 could be different. In such embodiments, the mobile inhaler 1 can comprise delivering restrictions 61 that are matched by different restriction elements 60, e.g. by different data communicated by RFID-chips as restriction elements.

[0755] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention that comprises verifying a condition relating to an identity document that has to satisfy a further condition, in this case it has to provide an age of a user that is above a certain threshold and to provide at least one security feature. Verifying the condition is performed partially by an end user computer device that is connected to the mobile inhaler 1. In this case, the end user computer device is a smart phone. The end user computer device can for example take several images of the identity document. The mobile inhaler 1 is furthermore indirectly connected to a server via an end user computer device, that is in this embodiment said smart phone. The server receives the pictures of the identity document from the smart phone and verifies the security features of the identity document and calculates an age of an identity document's holder. The result is transferred to the end user computer device and from the end user computer device to the mobile inhaler 1. The person skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the use of a smartphone as end user computer device. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the use of visual pictures for the verification of documents, but that also wired communication to a chip mounted to the identity document or a wireless communication to an adapted device mounted to the identity document could be used to transfer data from the respective identity document to the end user computer device.

[0756] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the invention that comprises displaying a result of the verifying the set of conditions on a device linked to the mobile inhaler 1 before delivering the first component 11 of the inhaling substance 10. In the shown example, the device linked to the mobile inhaler 1 receives and displays data indicating that the verifying of the set of conditions led to a positive result and that therefore, the delivery of the first component 11 of the inhaling substance 10 can be performed.

[0757] FIGS. 5 to 8 show embodiments of a liquid container 17. FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the liquid container 17 comprising two restriction elements. One restriction element 60 comprises the shape of the liquid container 17. Another restriction element 60 comprises an electronic element configured to provide at least an identity of the liquid container 17, in this embodiment an RFID-chip that is attached to the liquid container, in FIG. 5 on the left side of the liquid container 17.

[0758] FIG. 7 shows the same embodiment of the liquid container 17 and the restriction element 60 that comprises the geometry of the liquid container 17.

[0759] FIG. 8 shows the same embodiment of a liquid container 17 and the restriction element 60 that comprises the RFID-chip.

[0760] FIGS. 9 to 11 show an embodiment of a liquid container 17 comprising restriction elements 60 and a connector 80, an embodiment of a mobile inhaler 1 comprising delivering restrictions 61 that are matched by these restriction elements 60 and an embodiment of the system comprising the embodiments of the liquid container 17 and the mobile inhaler 1.

[0761] In FIG. 9, the restriction elements 60 comprise the liquid container's 17 geometry, in particular, they comprise three indentations, one on the right of the liquid container's 17 connector 80, one in the middle and one on the left of the liquid container 17. The person skilled in the art will understand that the concrete geometry of the restriction elements 60 is not limiting and that furthermore, the liquid container 17 can comprise one or more reservoirs and one or more components 11, 12 of the inhaling substance 10.

[0762] FIG. 10 shows the mobile inhaler 1 comprising delivering restrictions 61 comprising each at least one protruding corner that is matched by the indentations of the liquid container 17. Chamfers and necessary tolerances in order to mount the liquid container 17 to the mobile inhaler 1 as well as the mobile inhaler's connector 80 are not shown.

[0763] FIG. 11 shows the system comprising the liquid container 17 and the mobile inhaler 1, wherein the liquid container 17 is mounted to the mobile inhaler 1. The delivering restrictions 61 match the restriction elements 60 according to the FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0764] The person skilled in the art will understand that neither the concrete shape of the delivering restrictions 61 and the restriction elements 60, nor the choice of restriction elements 60 and delivering restrictions 61 that only comprise the geometry of the mobile inhaler 1 and the liquid container 17 are limiting the invention.

[0765] The person skilled in the art will furthermore understand that the dosing arrangement(s), the aerosol generator(s) or parts or portions of any of the aforementioned can be a part of the mobile inhaler 1 and/or of at least one of the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers 17. That is, for the example of the aerosol generator, at least one liquid container 17 can comprise the aerosol generator, the mobile inhaler can comprise the aerosol generator or the mobile inhaler 1 can comprise a portion of the aerosol generator and at least one liquid container 17 can comprise a portion of the aerosol generator. The person skilled in the art will understand that the mobile inhaler 1 and the at least one of the at least one or the plurality of liquid containers 17 are chosen as examples for portions of the system.