Electronic transdermal patch

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic transdermal patch including a substrate reservoir. The substrate reservoir includes a first compartment holding a first substrate. The substrate reservoir includes a second compartment holding a second substrate. The first substrate is different from the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of the first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a delivery element. The delivery element is configured to dispense one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a controller. The controller is configured to control delivery of the first substrate through the delivery element based on a sensor output of the sensor. The present invention also relates to a method for delivering a substrate with an electronic transdermal patch.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic transdermal patch. The present invention further relates to a method for delivering a substrate in an electronic transdermal patch. [Background technology]

[0002] A transdermal patch (such as a nicotine patch or other drug adhesive patch) may be placed on a user's skin to deliver a dose of a substrate (such as nicotine) through the user's skin. A transdermal patch generally includes a reservoir for storing the substrate. The reservoir may be covered by a porous membrane. During use, the transdermal patch may release the substrate from the reservoir to the user through the porous membrane. In another example, the reservoir may include multiple thin layers that may contain the substrate. During use, each layer of the multiple thin layers may melt based on the user's body heat to transfer the substrate from the reservoir to the user's skin.

[0003] It would be desirable to have a transdermal patch that allows for controlled delivery of a substrate. It would be desirable to have a transdermal patch that allows for customized delivery of a substrate. It would be desirable to have a transdermal patch that allows for controlled delivery of a substrate. It would be desirable to have a transdermal patch that allows for controlled delivery of at least two substrates. It would be desirable to have a transdermal patch that allows for controlled delivery of at least two substrates. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic transdermal patch is provided that includes a substrate reservoir. The substrate reservoir may include a first compartment that holds a first substrate. The substrate reservoir may include a second compartment that holds a second substrate. The first substrate may be different from the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch may further include a sensor. The sensor may be configured to detect an amount of the first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch. The electronic transdermal patch may further include a delivery element. The delivery element may be configured to dispense one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to control delivery of the first substrate via the delivery element based on a sensor output of the sensor.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic transdermal patch is provided that includes a substrate reservoir. The substrate reservoir includes a first compartment that holds a first substrate. The substrate reservoir includes a second compartment that holds a second substrate. The first substrate is different from the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect an amount of the first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a delivery element. The delivery element is configured to dispense one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate. The electronic transdermal patch further includes a controller. The controller is configured to control delivery of the first substrate through the delivery element based on a sensor output of the sensor.

[0006] Detecting the amount of first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch allows for more optimal delivery of the first substrate. During use of the electronic transdermal patch, optimal delivery of the first substrate may depend on a number of factors. In particular, optimal delivery of the first substrate may depend on the current first substrate level experienced by the user. Knowledge of this current first substrate level may be obtained by measuring the amount of first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch.

[0007] The sensor can be configured to detect an amount of the first substrate on the user's skin adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch. The amount of the first substrate on the user's skin can be determined by the amount of the first substrate in the user's sweat. The amount of the first substrate in the user's sweat can indicate a current first substrate level experienced by the user. In other words, by measuring the amount of the first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch, the detector can enable a measurement of a current first substrate level experienced by the user.

[0008] In one embodiment, a sensor in the electronic transdermal patch may determine the content of a first substrate—preferably nicotine—in the user's sweat to be between 10% and 30%, preferably about 20%. Based on the determined first substrate content, the electronic transdermal patch may control the delivery element to deliver between 40% and 80%, preferably between 50% and 70%, more preferably about 60% of the first substrate content. As described in more detail below, the measurement is preferably made by a sensor that measures the electrical impedance of the user's skin.

[0009] Thus, the delivered first substrate content may not exceed the first substrate content already present in the user's body, and overdosing of the first substrate may be avoided.

[0010] In one embodiment, a sensor in the electronic transdermal patch may determine a first substrate content in the user's sweat of 30% to 50%, preferably about 40%. Due to the higher first substrate content compared to the above embodiment, the electronic transdermal patch may control the delivery element to deliver a first substrate content of 10% to 50%, preferably 20% to 40%, more preferably about 30%. Thus, the delivered first substrate content may not exceed the first substrate content already present in the user's body. Overdosing of the first substrate may be avoided.

[0011] The electronic transdermal patch may control the delivery of the second substrate, preferably the flavor / fragrance, to 10% to 40%, preferably 20% to 30% of the second substrate content.

[0012] In one embodiment, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver one or both of the first and second substrates over a period of time. The electronic transdermal patch may deliver a first dose, such as 2% to 8%, preferably 5%, of a first substrate content with 0% of a second substrate content, between 15 and 45 minutes, preferably 30 minutes, from activation of the electronic transdermal patch.

[0013] The electronic transdermal patch may then deliver a second dose, such as 10% to 30%, preferably 20%, of the first substrate content with 5% to 15%, preferably 10%, of the second substrate content, between 45 minutes and 75 minutes, preferably 60 minutes, from activation of the electronic transdermal patch.

[0014] The electronic transdermal patch may then deliver a second dose, such as 30% to 50%, preferably 40%, of the first substrate content with 10% to 30%, preferably 20%, of the second substrate content, between 75 minutes and 105 minutes, preferably 90 minutes, from activation of the electronic transdermal patch.

[0015] Similarly, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver a fourth dose, a fifth dose, a sixth dose, etc., based on user preference.

[0016] The electronic transdermal patch can also be configured to deliver one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate in a predetermined time slot. In one example, the predetermined time slot can correspond to 5-10 minutes after each interval of a predetermined time frame, for example, during a specific minute-based interval, a specific hour-based interval, a specific day-based interval, a specific week-based interval, or a specific month-based interval. Thus, due to the discrete administration from the electronic transdermal patch, the user can be relieved from habituation to stimulation. The predetermined time slot (i.e., 5-10 minutes) is provided merely as an example, and it may be understood that the user or manufacturer of the electronic transdermal patch can modify the predetermined time slot based on user requirements.

[0017] Delivery of the second substrate may be airborne delivery. The second substrate may be delivered to the user's mouth and / or nose.

[0018] The delivery of the second substrate may be configured to mimic the sensation of consuming an aerosol-generating article, such as a heated article, for a user.

[0019] The sensor output may then be used by a controller to optimally control the delivery of the first substrate through the delivery element.

[0020] The controller may include a lookup table containing an optimal first substrate level experienced by the user. If the sensor output indicates that the current first substrate level experienced by the user is lower than the optimal first substrate level stored in the lookup table, the controller may increase the amount of the first substrate delivered via the delivery element. Similarly, if the sensor output indicates that the current first substrate level experienced by the user is higher than the optimal first substrate level stored in the lookup table, the controller may decrease the amount of the first substrate delivered via the delivery element. The electronic transdermal patch may be configured to allow a user to add a desired profile. The desired profile may be added to the controller. The desired profile may include a lookup table containing the desired optimal first substance level. The desired profile may be added using a communication interface described below.

[0021] Instead of storing the optimal first substrate level in a lookup table, the electronic transdermal patch may include a communication interface that allows a user to input a desired first substrate level into the controller. The communication interface may include one or both of a Wi-Fi communication element and a Bluetooth communication element. The user may be able to input the desired first substrate level into the controller via the communication interface. The user may be able to input the respective information via an external device such as a smartphone, a smartwatch, a tablet, or a cloud server. The external device may include an app that allows the user to input the respective information.

[0022] The first substrate may comprise nicotine. The first substrate may be nicotine.

[0023] The second substrate may comprise a flavoring agent. The second substrate may be a flavoring agent. The second substrate may comprise or be caffeine.

[0024] Nicotine as the first base can synergistically interact with caffeine as the second base. Typically, a user may desire caffeine after experiencing nicotine, or vice versa. Caffeine may be delivered immediately after or simultaneously with the delivery of nicotine. Alternatively, caffeine delivery may begin before the delivery of nicotine. In other words, there may be an overlap between the delivery of nicotine and the delivery of caffeine, depending on the user's desired delivery profile.

[0025] Exemplary electronic transdermal patches may be configured to deliver a first substrate or a second substrate for 1 to 3 minutes, preferably 2 minutes. Thereafter, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver the other first substrate or second substrate for 4 to 8 minutes, preferably 5 to 7 minutes, more preferably 6 minutes. Particularly preferably, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver caffeine for approximately 2 minutes, followed by nicotine for approximately 6 minutes.

[0026] The electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver a decreasing amount of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate over time. In other words, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver a decreasing concentration of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate over time. In the example above, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver caffeine for approximately two minutes with a decreasing caffeine concentration over a two-minute delivery period. Thereafter, the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to deliver nicotine for approximately six minutes with a decreasing nicotine concentration over a six-minute delivery period.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the first substrate may include melatonin. In this embodiment, the second substrate may include an aromatherapy fragrance, such as lavender. A synergistic effect between melatonin as the first substrate and lavender as the second substrate may help users with sleep disorders or generally improve their sleep. Delivery of melatonin may increase sleep time, shift sleep stages, decrease sleep latency, and improve sleep efficiency (the ratio of time spent in bed to time asleep). Delivery of lavender as the second substrate may increase melatonin levels in the user's blood. Delivery of melatonin may be synergistically combined with delivery of lavender to improve the user's sleep.

[0028] In further embodiments, the psychoactive properties of culinary spices may be utilized as one or both of the first and second substrates. Such culinary spices may be, for example, dried fruits and seeds such as nutmeg, vanilla, fennel, and black pepper, dried flower buds such as cloves, seed coats such as mace, bark such as cinnamon and sailon / cassia, roots and rhizomes such as aron, ginger, turmeric, galangal, and asphalt, and stigmas such as saffron. One or both of the first substrate and the second substrate may include active ingredients of these spices, such as one or more of myristicin, elimycin, safrole, vanillin, piperonal, anethole, piperine, eugenol, coumarin, calamus, gingerol, shogaol, curcumin, 1,8-cineole, β-pinene, resins, gums, essential oils, propenyl-isobutyl sulfide, umbelliferone, picrocrocin, and safranal. Delivery of such substrates may have a desired effect, such as acting as a stimulant, which is a hallucinogenic sedative. Due to the potential for abuse of these substrates, the controller may be configured to limit the amount of these substrates delivered to a safe level.

[0029] The first compartment may be fluidly separated from the second compartment. A fluid-impermeable separation wall may be disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment.

[0030] This may prevent mixing of the first substrate with the second substrate, which may allow delivery of the first substrate independent of delivery of the second substrate.

[0031] When the electronic transdermal patch is used to deliver a particular drug having three or more chemical compounds, the substrate reservoir may be configured to store each chemical compound separately in its own compartment.

[0032] The delivery element may comprise a first delivery unit configured to dispense a first substrate. The delivery element may comprise a second delivery unit configured to dispense a second substrate. The first delivery unit may be different from the second delivery unit.

[0033] This may allow the controller to separately control the delivery of a first substrate via a first delivery unit and the delivery of a second substrate via a second delivery unit. Exemplarily, the first delivery unit may be configured to deliver nicotine, followed by the delivery of caffeine by the second delivery unit. The synergistic effect between the delivery of the first substrate and the delivery of the second substrate may be enhanced by providing two separate delivery units that can be separately controlled by the controller so that the desired delivery profiles of the two substrates can be achieved.

[0034] One or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may be configured as a micropump.

[0035] One or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may be configured as a mechanical micropump, such as a diaphragm micropump, a piezoelectric micropump, and a peristaltic micropump.

[0036] Alternatively, one or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may be configured as a non-mechanical micropump, such as a valveless micropump, a capillary micropump, a chemically-driven micropump, and an optically-driven micropump.

[0037] One or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may be actuated via one or more of a piezoelectric device, an electrostatic device, a thermopneumatic device, a pneumatic device, a magnetic device, an electroosmotic device, and an electrohydrodynamic device. Alternatively, one or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may be actuated via one or more of an electrical device, a hydraulic device, and a mechanical device.

[0038] One or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit may include a nozzle, such as a sprayer or a heated aerosol generator, for delivering one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate.

[0039] 10. The electronic transdermal patch of any preceding claim, wherein delivery of the second substrate via the delivery element is controlled by the controller based on delivery of the first substrate.

[0040] This may be particularly useful for synergistically delivering a second substrate in response to the delivery of a first substrate. As described herein, illustratively, the second substrate may be caffeine and the first substrate may be nicotine. A user may desire caffeine delivery after experiencing nicotine. Consequently, the controller may control the delivery of the second substrate so that the second substrate is delivered immediately after the delivery of the first substrate. A further option is to deliver the second substrate so that there is an overlap between the delivery of the second substrate and the delivery of the first substrate. In other words, the controller may initiate the delivery of the second substrate after a predetermined time or a predetermined amount of the first substrate. The end of the delivery of the first substrate may occur after the start of the delivery of the second substrate. Another option is to wait a predetermined time after the end of the delivery of the first substrate before delivering the second substrate. This may be useful when a user desires the second substrate to be delivered after the delivery of the first substrate. As described herein, the controller may include a lookup table for determining an optimal delivery profile for the second substrate in response to delivery of the first substrate. Alternatively, a user may input a desired delivery profile for the second substrate in response to delivery of the first substrate into the controller. This input may be wireless, such as via a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection between the controller and an external device such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet.

[0041] The duration of delivery of the first substrate via the delivery element may be controlled by the controller based on the sensor output of the sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the rate of delivery of the first substrate via the delivery element may be controlled by the controller based on the sensor output of the sensor. Thus, the overall delivery of the first substrate to the user may be optimized.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, the amount of the first substrate delivered via the delivery element may be controlled by the controller based on the sensor output of the sensor. An advantage may be that an optimal amount of the first substrate may be delivered to the user due to the dependence of the delivery on the sensor output of the sensor.

[0043] The delivery element may be configured to deliver the second substrate via air delivery. The delivery element may be configured as a nozzle. The delivery element may be configured as a spray nozzle. When the delivery element comprises a first delivery unit and a second delivery unit as described herein, each of the delivery units may comprise or be configured as a nozzle or spray nozzle.

[0044] The sensor can be configured to detect electrical impedance of the user's skin adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch. The electrical impedance of the user's skin can be indicative of the amount of the first substrate. The electrical impedance of the user's skin can be indicative of the amount of the first substrate in the user's sweat. The electrical impedance of the user's skin can be indicative of the amount of the first substrate in the user's bloodstream.

[0045] For example, the sensor may include a plurality of microfluidic tubes having a sensing element. The sensing element may be configured to measure the concentration of a first substrate content (such as nicotine content, potassium content, sodium content, a metabolite, or a class of molecules that communicates with an enzyme) in the user's sweat. In one example, the sensor may be disposed within an electronic transdermal patch in a location proximate to and exposed to the user's skin. The sensor may also include a plurality of electrodes that may be configured to measure the concentration of the substrate content in the user's sweat. Examples of sensors may include an enzyme-modified field-effect transistor (FET) sensor, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, an on-skin wearable sweat sensor, a near-skin wearable sweat sensor, or other bioelectric sensor. Based on the detected substrate, the sensor may be further configured to transmit the detected substrate content to a controller to control delivery of the first substrate.

[0046] One or both of the first and second compartments may be replaceable, or the substrate reservoir may be replaceable. In other words, one or more of the first compartment, second compartment, and substrate reservoir may be configured as a cartridge. The cartridge may be replaced when the respective substrate is depleted.

[0047] The electronic transdermal patch may further comprise a communication interface that allows a user to control the delivery of one or both of the first and second substrates via a controller.

[0048] The communication interface may allow control of at least one of an amount of first substrate delivery, an amount of second substrate delivery, a duration of delivery of the first substrate, and a duration of delivery of the second substrate.

[0049] The controller may be configured to transmit information to an external device, such as a smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, or cloud server. The transmitted information may include the number of doses used, the number of doses available, the number of first substrate doses used / available, the number of second substrate doses used / available, the number of flavors / flavors used, the number of flavors / flavors available, the type of dose (such as nicotine or caffeine), the type of flavor / flavor (such as lime or mint), an overdose alert, an underdose alert, an adhesion level of an adhesive strip for attaching the electronic transdermal patch to the user's skin (e.g., a low level of adhesion may indicate that the electronic transdermal patch is about to fall off due to minimal adhesion, while a high level of adhesion may indicate that the electronic transdermal patch is firmly bonded to the user's skin), a dosing timer menu, a dose selection menu, a flavor / flavor timer menu, a flavor / flavor selection menu, etc. Based on the information transmitted to a graphical user interface of the external device, such as a display or touch-sensitive display, a delivery profile of the delivery element may be controlled by user input from the graphical user interface of the external device. Based on the received user input, the controller may be configured to control at least one or both of the delivery profile or the first substrate.

[0050] The electronic transdermal patch may further include an actuator that allows a user to control delivery of one or both of the first and second substrates via a controller. The actuator may be configured as a button. The actuator may be configured as a mechanical or electromechanical device such as a knob, slider, lever, or the like.

[0051] The controller of the electronic transdermal patch may be configured to automatically control the delivery of the first substrate based on the sensor output. In particular, the controller may be configured to automatically control the delivery of nicotine based on nicotine exposure detected in the user's sweat.

[0052] The controller of the electronic transdermal patch can be configured to automatically terminate delivery of the first substrate based on a sensor output, or based on the amount of first substrate delivered, or based on the elapsed first substrate delivery time.

[0053] This can save energy for the electronic transdermal patch. Furthermore, it can ensure that the amount of the first substrate delivered does not exceed a predetermined threshold.

[0054] The electronic transdermal patch may further include an adhesive layer, which may be configured to attach the electronic transdermal patch to the skin of a user.

[0055] The electronic transdermal patch may be in the form of a pad or a pouch.

[0056] One or more of the substrate reservoir, the first compartment, the second compartment, the sensor, and the controller may be sealed. The seal may be provided by a housing of the electronic transdermal patch.

[0057] Controlling the delivery of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate by the controller can include controlling the total amount of each substrate delivered. Controlling the delivery of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate by the controller can include controlling the amount of each substrate delivered over time. Controlling the delivery of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate by the controller can include controlling the duration of delivery of each substrate.

[0058] The present invention further relates to a method for delivering a substrate using the electronic transdermal patch described herein, which may include one or more of the following steps: detecting an amount of the first substrate via a sensor; and Controlling, via the controller, delivery of the first substrate via the delivery element based on the sensor output of the sensor.

[0059] The method may include delivering a second substrate.

[0060] The method may include the step of delivering a second substrate in response to the delivery of the first substrate.

[0061] The components of the electronic transdermal patch may be provided in other wearable devices, such as a mask or a wristband or leg band, instead of an electronic transdermal patch. In other words, the present invention also relates to a mask or other wearable device, such as a wristband or leg band, that includes the components of the electronic transdermal patch described herein. The main concept is applicable to these other applications, to measure the amount of a first substrate by a sensor and control delivery of the first substrate based on the sensor output.

[0062] Features described with respect to one embodiment may be equally applied to other embodiments of the invention.

[0063] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0064] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an electronic transdermal patch. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the components of an electronic transdermal patch. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a diagram illustrating the delivery of the first and second substrates over time. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the delivery of the first and second substrates as a function of the sensor output. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a further example of delivery of first and second substrates as a function of sensor output. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows the delivery of the first and second substrates. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0065] 1 shows an electronic transdermal patch 10. The electronic transdermal patch 10 includes an enclosure 12 or housing. The components of the transdermal patch are enclosed within the enclosure 12. The electronic transdermal patch 10 may be attached to a user's skin 14. The electronic transdermal patch 10 may be attached to the user's skin 14 using an adhesive.

[0066] The enclosure 12 encloses a substrate reservoir 16, a sensor 18, and a controller 20. The substrate reservoir 16 includes a first compartment (not shown) and a second compartment (not shown). The first compartment is fluidly separated from the second compartment. A first substrate 22 is disposed in the first compartment, and a second substrate 24 is disposed in the second compartment. The first substrate 22 is different from the second substrate 24. Preferably, the first substrate 22 is nicotine and the second substrate 24 is caffeine.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram with additional components of the electronic transdermal patch 10. In addition to the substrate reservoir 16, sensor 18, and controller 20, a delivery element is shown comprising a first delivery unit 26 and a second delivery unit 28. The first delivery unit 26 is configured to deliver the first substrate 22, and the second delivery unit 28 is configured to deliver the second substrate 24. The first delivery unit 26 may be configured as a nozzle or sprayer or any type of delivery device. The second delivery unit 28 may be similarly configured. The first delivery unit 26 is separate from the second delivery unit 28. Thus, the first substrate 22 can be delivered independently of the second substrate 24. The delivery of the first substrate 22 and the delivery of the second substrate 24 are controlled by the controller 20. The controller 20 can control the delivery of the first substrate 22 independently of the delivery of the second substrate 24.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows the delivery profile of the first substrate 22 and the second substrate 24. The X-axis represents time in minutes, and the Y-axis represents the amount of substrate delivered. In the example of FIG. 3, the first substrate 22 is delivered first. Starting at 1 minute, the first substrate 22 is delivered for 2 minutes. During the delivery time of the first substrate 22, the amount of the first substrate 22 delivered decreases over time. After 3 minutes, the delivery of the first substrate 22 is stopped. Immediately after stopping the delivery of the first substrate 22, the second substrate 24 is delivered. The second substrate 24 is delivered over a period of approximately 6 minutes, during which the amount of the second substrate 24 delivered decreases over time.

[0069] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the function of the sensor 18 of the electronic transdermal patch 10. More specifically, a first substrate content 30, which refers to the amount of first substrate 22 delivered over a predetermined time period, depends on measurements from the sensor 18. The sensor 18 is configured to measure the electrical impedance of the user's skin 14. The electrical impedance of the user's skin 14 indicates the amount of first substrate 22 contained in the user's sweat, which in turn indicates the amount of first substrate 22 in the user's bloodstream. In other words, the sensor 18 is configured to measure the first substrate 22 concentration currently experienced by the user. In response to a first substrate measurement 34 from the sensor 18, the controller 20 is configured to control the delivery of the first substrate content 30. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, a nicotine content of 20% (first substrate measurement 34) is detected by the sensor 18. As a result, a relatively high nicotine content of 60% (first substrate content 30) is delivered. Additionally, Figure 4 shows that the delivery of second substrate 24 in the form of second substrate content 32 is 20% caffeine.

[0070] Figure 5 shows an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 4 with the difference that a higher nicotine content of 40% (first substrate measurement 34) is detected by sensor 18. As a result, a lower nicotine content of 30% (first substrate content 30) is delivered. Figure 5 also shows that the second substrate content 32 can vary. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a second substrate content 32 of 30% caffeine is delivered.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary delivery profile of nicotine and caffeine over time. The X-axis again represents time in minutes, and the Y-axis represents the amount of substrate delivered. 30 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, a first dose of 5% nicotine (first substrate content 30) is delivered, while no second substrate 24 is delivered at that stage. 60 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, a second dose of 20% nicotine is delivered along with a first dose of 10% caffeine. 90 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, a third dose of 40% nicotine is delivered along with a second dose of 20% caffeine. 120 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, a fourth dose of 60% nicotine is delivered along with a third dose of 40% caffeine. 150 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, the user may desire to experience a higher caffeine content, and a fifth dose of 70% nicotine is delivered along with a fourth dose of 100% caffeine. Finally, 180 minutes after activation of the electronic transdermal patch 10, a sixth dose of 100% nicotine is delivered, while at that stage the second substrate 24 is not delivered.

Claims

1. 1. An electronic transdermal patch comprising: a substrate reservoir, the substrate reservoir comprising a first compartment for holding a first substrate, the substrate reservoir comprising a second compartment for holding a second substrate, the first substrate being different from the second substrate; a sensor configured to detect an amount of the first substrate adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch; and a delivery element configured to dispense one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate; a controller configured to control delivery of the first substrate through the delivery element based on a sensor output of the sensor or based on a predetermined profile; and 1. An electronic transdermal patch comprising:

2. 10. The electronic transdermal patch of claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises nicotine, preferably the first substrate is nicotine.

3. 3. The electronic transdermal patch of claim 1, wherein the second substrate comprises a flavoring agent, preferably the second substrate is a flavoring agent, more preferably the second substrate comprises or is caffeine.

4. 4. The electronic transdermal patch of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is fluidly separated from the second compartment, preferably by a fluid-impermeable separating wall disposed between the first and second compartments.

5. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the amount of the first substrate on the user's skin adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch.

6. 6. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the delivery element comprises a first delivery unit configured to dispense the first substrate and a second delivery unit configured to dispense the second substrate, the first delivery unit being different from the second delivery unit, and preferably one or both of the first delivery unit and the second delivery unit being configured as a micropump.

7. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein delivery of the second substrate via the delivery element is controlled by the controller based on delivery of the first substrate.

8. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a delivery period of the first substrate through the delivery element is controlled by the controller based on the sensor output of the sensor.

9. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the amount of delivered substrate of the first substrate through the delivery element is controlled by the controller based on the sensor output of the sensor.

10. The electronic transdermal patch of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the delivery element is configured to deliver the second substrate as an airborne delivery.

11. The electronic transdermal patch of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the electrical impedance of the user's skin adjacent to the electronic transdermal patch.

12. The electronic transdermal patch of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein one or both of the first and second compartments are replaceable, or the substrate reservoir is replaceable.

13. 13. The electronic transdermal patch of any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a communications interface that allows a user to control delivery of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate via the controller.

14. 14. The electronic transdermal patch of any of claims 1 to 13, further comprising an actuator that allows a user to control delivery of one or both of the first substrate and the second substrate via the controller.

15. 15. A method for delivering a substrate using an electronic transdermal patch according to any one of claims 1 to 14, said method comprising: - detecting the amount of the first substrate via said sensor, and - controlling, via said controller, the delivery of said first substrate through said delivery element based on the sensor output of said sensor; A method comprising:

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