Interactive aerosol delivery system

Abstract

The aerosol delivery system comprises an aerosol delivery device, a puff characterization processor configured to estimate an average puff characteristic by a user of the aerosol delivery device for a plurality of puffs, and a control processor configured to alter the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user by the delivery device, wherein the puff characterization processor is configured to detect a change in the estimated average puff characteristic after the composition of the aerosol is altered, and the control processor is configured to at least partially reverse the alteration to the composition of the aerosol if such change exceeds a predetermined first threshold.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an interactive aerosol delivery system.

[0002] The "Background" discussion provided herein is intended to provide a general overview of the context for the present disclosure. To the extent described in this Background section, the work of the inventors named herein, as well as aspects of the description that may not be admitted as prior art at the time of filing, are not admitted, either explicitly or implicitly, as prior art to the present disclosure.

[0003] Aerosol delivery systems are popular with users because they allow the active ingredient (such as nicotine) to be delivered to the user on demand in a convenient manner.

[0004] As an example of an aerosol delivery system, an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) typically includes a reservoir of a liquid feedstock containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, e.g., by thermal vaporization. Thus, the aerosol source of the aerosol delivery system may include a heater having a heating element positioned to receive the liquid feedstock from the reservoir, e.g., by wicking / capillary action. Other feedstocks, such as botanicals or gels containing active ingredients and / or flavorings, may similarly be heated to produce an aerosol. Thus, more generally, e-cigarettes may be considered to contain or receive a payload for thermal vaporization.

[0005] While a user inhales on the device, power is supplied to the heating element, vaporizing the aerosol source (part of the payload) near the heating element to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user. Such devices typically have one or more air inlet holes located away from the mouthpiece end of the system. When a user inhales on a mouthpiece connected to the mouthpiece end of the system, air is drawn in through the inlet holes and passes through the aerosol source. A flow path connects the aerosol source to the opening of the mouthpiece, such that the drawn air passing through the aerosol source continues along the flow path to the opening of the mouthpiece, carrying a portion of the aerosol from the aerosol source. The aerosol-carrying air exits the aerosol delivery system through the mouthpiece opening and is inhaled by the user.

[0006] Typically, current is supplied to the heater when the user inhales / puffs on the device. Typically, current is supplied to the heater, e.g., a resistive heating element, in response to activation of an airflow sensor along the flow path as the user inhales / puffs / sucks, or in response to activation of a button by the user. Heat generated by the heating element is used to vaporize the formulation. The released vapor mixes with air drawn through the device by the puffing consumer to form an aerosol. Alternatively or additionally, the heating element is used to heat a botanical product, such as tobacco, typically without combustion, to release its active ingredient as a vapor / aerosol.

[0007] Safe, efficient, and / or timely operation of such aerosol delivery systems can benefit from appropriate responses to how users interact with the aerosol delivery system.

[0008] It is against this background that the present invention was born. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Various aspects and features of the present invention are defined in the appended claims and within the accompanying description.

[0010] In a first aspect, an aerosol delivery system is provided according to claim 1.

[0011] In another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling an aerosol delivery system according to claim 16.

[0012] A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a delivery device according to embodiments herein. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a body of a delivery device according to embodiments herein. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of a cartomizer of a delivery device according to embodiments herein. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of a body of a delivery device according to embodiments herein. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a delivery ecosystem according to embodiments herein. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for controlling an aerosol delivery system according to embodiments herein. Description of the embodiment

[0014] An interactive aerosol delivery system is disclosed. In the following description, numerous specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice embodiments of the present disclosure. Conversely, specific details known to those skilled in the art are omitted where appropriate for the sake of clarity.

[0015] The term "interactive aerosol delivery system," or equivalently "delivery device," encompasses systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and can include non-combustion aerosol delivery systems that release compounds from an aerosol-forming material without burning the aerosol-forming material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems that use a combination of aerosol-forming materials to generate an aerosol, and non-aerosol-containing delivery systems that deliver at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally, or otherwise without forming an aerosol, including, but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles containing inhalable powders, and oral tobacco products, including snus or snuff, where the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.

[0016] The substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material not intended to be aerosolized, either of which may optionally include one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional substances.

[0017] Currently, the most common example of such a delivery device or aerosol delivery system (e.g., a non-combustion aerosol delivery system) is an electronic vapor delivery system (EVPS), such as an e-cigarette. Throughout the following description, the term "e-cigarette" may be used, which may be used synonymously with delivery device or aerosol delivery system, unless otherwise specified or the context dictates otherwise. Similarly, the terms "vapor" and "aerosol" are referred to in the same manner herein.

[0018] Generally, the electronic vapor / aerosol delivery system may be an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or an electronic nicotine delivery device (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating (e.g., aerosolizable) material is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a tobacco heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system. In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product. Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system generates vapor / aerosol from one or more such aerosol-generating materials.

[0019] Typically, a non-combustion aerosol delivery system can include a non-combustion aerosol delivery device and an article (sometimes referred to as a consumable) used with the non-combustion aerosol delivery system. However, it is contemplated that an article can itself form a non-combustion aerosol delivery system if the article itself includes a means for powering an aerosol generating component (e.g., an aerosol generator, such as a heater or a vibrating mesh). In one embodiment, the non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include a power source and a controller. The power source can be an electrical power source or a heat-generating power source. In one embodiment, the heat-generating power source includes a carbon substrate that can be energized to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosolizable material or a heat transfer material in proximity to the heat-generating power source. In one embodiment, a power source, such as a heat-generating power source, is provided within the article to form a non-combustion aerosol delivery. In one embodiment, an article used with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include an aerosolizable material.

[0020] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating component is a heater that can interact with the aerosolizable material to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosolizable material to form an aerosol. In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating component can generate an aerosol from the aerosolizable material without applying heat. For example, the aerosol-generating component can generate an aerosol from the aerosolizable material without applying heat thereto, e.g., via one or more of vibrational, mechanical, pressurized, or electrostatic means.

[0021] In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material can include an active agent, an aerosol-forming material, and optionally one or more functional substances. The active agent can include nicotine (optionally contained in tobacco or a tobacco derivative) or one or more other non-olfactory bioactive substances. A non-olfactory bioactive substance is a substance included in the aerosolizable material to achieve a physiological response other than olfaction. The aerosol-forming material can include one or more of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixtures, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. The one or more functional materials may include one or more of a fragrance, a carrier, a pH adjuster, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0022] In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include an aerosolizable material or an area for receiving an aerosolizable material. In one embodiment, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include a mouthpiece. The area for receiving an aerosolizable material can be a storage area for storing the aerosolizable material. For example, the storage area can be a reservoir. In one embodiment, the area for receiving an aerosolizable material can be separate from the aerosol-generation area or can be combined with the aerosol-generation area.

[0023] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or corresponding parts throughout the respective views, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram (not to scale) of a vapor / aerosol delivery system, such as an e-cigarette 10, providing a non-limiting example of a delivery device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] The e-cigarette has a generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by dashed line LA and comprises two main components: a body 20 and a cartomizer 30. The cartomizer includes an internal chamber containing a reservoir of payload, such as a liquid containing nicotine, a vaporizer (e.g., a heater), and a mouthpiece 35. Hereinafter, references to "nicotine" are understood to be exemplary only and can be replaced with any suitable active ingredient. Hereinafter, references to "liquid" as the payload are understood to be exemplary only and can be replaced with any suitable payload, such as botanicals (e.g., tobacco that is heated rather than burned) or a gel containing an active ingredient and / or flavoring. The reservoir can be a foam matrix or any other structure that holds the liquid until it is needed to deliver it to the vaporizer. In the case of a liquid / flowable payload, the vaporizer is for vaporizing the liquid, and the cartomizer 30 can further include a wick or similar mechanism that transports a small amount of liquid from the reservoir to a vaporization location in or adjacent to the vaporizer. In the following, a heater is used as a specific example of a vaporizer, however, it will be understood that other forms of vaporizers (e.g., those that utilize ultrasound) can also be used, and that the type of vaporizer used may also depend on the type of payload to be vaporized.

[0025] The main body 20 includes a rechargeable cell or battery for powering the e-cigarette 10 and a circuit board for overall control of the e-cigarette. When the heater receives power from the battery, as controlled by the circuit board, it vaporizes the liquid, and the vapor is then inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 35. In some specific embodiments, the main body is further provided with a manual activation device 265, such as a button, switch, or touch sensor, located on the outside of the main body.

[0026] Although the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30 may be detachable from each other by separating them in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, as shown in FIG. 1 , they are joined to each other by connections, shown schematically as 25A and 25B in FIG. 1 , that enable mechanical and electrical connection between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30 when the device 10 is in use. The electrical connector 25B of the main body 20, which is used to connect to the cartomizer 30, also serves as a socket for connecting a charging device (not shown) when the main body 20 is detached from the cartomizer 30. The other end of the charging device can be plugged into a USB socket to recharge the battery in the main body 20 of the e-cigarette 10. In other embodiments, a cable may be provided for directly connecting the electrical connector 25B of the main body 20 to the USB socket.

[0027] The e-cigarette 10 is provided with one or more holes (not shown in FIG. 1 ) for air inlet. These holes lead to an air passageway through the e-cigarette 10 and to the mouthpiece 35. When the user draws on the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into this air passageway through one or more air inlet holes suitably located on the exterior of the e-cigarette. When the heater is activated to vaporize nicotine from the cartridge, an airflow passes through and combines with the generated vapor, and the combination of airflow and generated vapor then exits the mouthpiece 35 and is inhaled by the user. Except in single-use devices, the cartomizer 30 can be removed from the main body 20 and discarded (and replaced with another cartomizer, if desired) once the liquid supply is depleted.

[0028] It will be understood that the e-cigarette 10 shown in Figure 1 is provided by way of example, and that various other implementations may be employed. For example, in some embodiments, the cartomizer 30 is provided as two separable components: a cartridge with a liquid reservoir and mouthpiece (which can be replaced when the liquid from the reservoir is depleted), and a vaporizer with a heater (which is generally retained). As another example, the charging mechanism may be connected to an additional or alternative power source, such as a car cigarette lighter.

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic (simplified) illustration of the body 20 of the e-cigarette 10 of Figure 1, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 can generally be considered a cross-section in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis LA of the e-cigarette 10. Note that various components and details of the body, such as wiring and more complex shapes, have been omitted from Figure 2 for reasons of clarity.

[0030] The main body 20 includes a battery or cell 210 that provides power to the e-cigarette 10 in response to activation of the device by a user. Furthermore, the main body 20 includes a control unit 205, a chip such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or microcontroller, that controls the e-cigarette 10. The microcontroller or ASIC includes a CPU or microprocessor. The operation of the CPU and other electronic components is generally controlled, at least in part, by a software program running on the CPU (or other component). Such software programs may be stored in non-volatile memory, such as ROM, which may be embedded in the microcontroller itself or provided as a separate component. The CPU can access the ROM to load and execute individual software programs as needed. The microcontroller also includes appropriate communication interfaces (and control software) for communicating with other devices within the main body 10 as needed.

[0031] The main body 20 further includes a cap 225 that seals and protects the distal end (tip) of the e-cigarette 10. Typically, an air inlet hole is provided in or adjacent to the cap 225 to allow air to enter the main body 20 when a user draws on the mouthpiece 35. A control unit or ASIC may be located alongside or at one end of the battery 210. In some embodiments, the ASIC is attached to a sensor unit 215 that detects draws on the mouthpiece 35 (or alternatively, the ASIC itself may include the sensor unit 215). An air path is provided from the air inlet through the e-cigarette, past the airflow sensor 215 and the heater (in the vaporizer or cartomizer 30), and to the mouthpiece 35. Thus, when a user draws on the e-cigarette's mouthpiece, the CPU detects such draws based on information from the airflow sensor 215.

[0032] At the end of the body 20 opposite the cap 225 is a connector 25B for joining the body 20 to the cartomizer 30. The connector 25B allows for mechanical and electrical connection between the body 20 and the cartomizer 30. The connector 25B includes a metallic (in some embodiments, silver-plated) body connector 240 that serves as one terminal (positive or negative) for electrical connection to the cartomizer 30. The connector 25B further includes an electrical contact 250 that provides a second terminal for electrical connection to the cartomizer 30, of opposite polarity to the first terminal, i.e., the body connector 240. The electrical contact 250 is attached to a coil spring 255. When the body 20 is attached to the cartomizer 30, the connector 25A of the cartomizer 30 presses against the electrical contact 250 to compress the coil spring in an axial direction, i.e., parallel to (aligned with) the longitudinal axis LA. Given the resilient nature of the spring 255, this compression biases the spring 255 to expand, which has the effect of pressing the electrical contact 250 firmly against the connector 25A of the cartomizer 30, thereby helping to ensure a good electrical connection between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30. The main body connector 240 and the electrical contact 250 are separated by a cradle 260, which is made of a non-conductive material (such as plastic) to provide good insulation between the two electrical terminals. The cradle 260 is shaped to aid in the mechanical engagement of the connectors 25A and 25B with each other.

[0033] As mentioned above, button 265, which represents one form of manual activation device 265, may be located on the outer housing of main body 20. Button 265 may be implemented using any suitable mechanism operable to be manually activated by a user, for example, as a mechanical button or switch, a capacitive or resistive touch sensor, etc. It will also be appreciated that manual activation device 265 may be located on the outer housing of cartomizer 30 rather than on the outer housing of main body 20, in which case manual activation device 265 may be attached to the ASIC via connections 25A, 25B. Button 265 may also be located on the end of main body 20 instead of (or in addition to) cap 225.

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the cartomizer 30 of the e-cigarette 10 of Figure 1, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 3 can generally be considered a cross-section in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis LA of the e-cigarette 10. It should be noted that various components and details of the cartomizer 30, such as wiring and more complex shapes, have been omitted from Figure 3 for reasons of clarity.

[0035] The cartomizer 30 includes an air passageway 355 that extends along the central (longitudinal) axis of the cartomizer 30 from the mouthpiece 35 to the connector 25A that joins the cartomizer 30 to the body 20. A reservoir 360 of liquid is provided around the air passageway 355. The reservoir 360 may be implemented, for example, by providing cotton or foam soaked in the liquid. The cartomizer 30 also includes a heater 365 that heats liquid from the reservoir 360 to produce vapor that flows through the air passageway 355 and out of the mouthpiece 35 in response to a user drawing on the e-cigarette 10. The heater 365 is supplied with power via power lines 366 and 367, which are further connected to opposite polarities (positive and negative, or vice versa) of the battery 210 of the main body 20 via connector 25A (details of the wiring between the power lines 366 and 367 and connector 25A are omitted in Figure 3).

[0036] Connector 25A includes an internal electrode 375, which may be silver plated or made of other suitable metal or conductive material. When cartomizer 30 is connected to main body 20, internal electrode 375 contacts electrical contact 250 on main body 20, providing a first electrical path between cartomizer 30 and main body 20. In particular, when connectors 25A and 25B are engaged, internal electrode 375 presses against electrical contact 250 to compress coil spring 255, thereby helping to ensure good electrical contact between internal electrode 375 and electrical contact 250.

[0037] The internal electrode 375 is surrounded by an insulating ring 372, which may be made of plastic, rubber, silicone, or any other suitable material. The insulating ring is surrounded by a cartomizer connector 370, which may be silver-plated or made of other suitable metals or conductive materials. When the cartomizer 30 is connected to the main body 20, the cartomizer connector 370 contacts the main body connector 240 of the main body 20, providing a second electrical path between the cartomizer 30 and the main body 20. In other words, the internal electrode 375 and the cartomizer connector 370 serve as positive and negative terminals (or vice versa) for supplying power from the battery 210 in the main body 20 to the heater 365 in the cartomizer 30 via supply lines 366 and 367, as appropriate.

[0038] The cartomizer connector 370 is provided with two protrusions or tabs 380A, 380B extending in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of the e-cigarette 10. These tabs are used with the body connector 240 to provide a bayonet fit for connecting the cartomizer 30 to the body 20. This bayonet fit provides a secure and robust connection between the cartomizer 30 and the body 20, such that the cartomizer and body are held in a fixed position relative to each other with minimal wobble or flexing, and the likelihood of accidental separation is very low. At the same time, the bayonet fit allows for easy and quick connection and separation by inserting and rotating to connect, and rotating (in the reverse direction) and pulling to separate. It will be appreciated that other embodiments may use different forms of connection between the body 20 and the cartomizer 30, such as a snap fit or a threaded connection.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of some details of connector 25B on the end of body 20 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure (although for clarity, most of the internal structure of the connector as shown in FIG. 2, such as mount 260, has been omitted). In particular, FIG. 4 shows outer housing 201 of body 20, which generally has the form of a cylindrical tube. Outer housing 201 may comprise, for example, a metal inner tube with an outer covering such as paper. Outer housing 201 may also comprise manual activation device 265 (not shown in FIG. 4), which allows for easy access to manual activation device 265 by a user.

[0040] A body connector 240 extends from this outer housing 201 of the body 20. As shown in Figure 4, the body connector 240 comprises two main portions: a shaft portion 241 in the shape of a hollow cylindrical tube sized to fit just inside the outer housing 201 of the body 20, and a lip portion 242 oriented radially outward, away from the e-cigarette's primary longitudinal axis (LA). A collar or sleeve 290, also in the shape of a cylindrical tube, surrounds the shaft portion 241 of the body connector 240 where the shaft portion does not overlap the outer housing 201. The collar 290 is captured between the lip portion 242 of the body connector 240 and the body's outer housing 201, which together prevent axial movement of the collar 290 (i.e., in a direction parallel to the axis LA). However, the collar 290 is free to rotate about the shaft portion 241 (which is therefore also the axis LA).

[0041] As mentioned above, cap 225 is provided with an air inlet hole that allows air to flow when a user inhales on mouthpiece 35. However, in some embodiments, the majority of the air that enters the device when a user inhales flows through collar 290 and body connector 240, as shown by the two arrows in FIG.

[0042] 5, an e-cigarette 10 (or, more generally, any delivery device as described elsewhere herein) may operate within a broader delivery ecosystem 1. Within the broader delivery ecosystem, multiple devices may communicate with each other directly (as indicated by solid arrows) or indirectly (as indicated by dashed arrows).

[0043] 5, an example delivery device, e-cigarette 10, can communicate directly (e.g., using Bluetooth® or Wifi Direct®) with one or more other classes of devices, including, but not limited to, a smartphone 100, a dock 200 (e.g., a home refill and / or charging station), a vending machine 300, or a wearable 400. As noted above, these devices can cooperate in any suitable configuration to form a delivery system.

[0044] Alternatively or additionally, a delivery device, such as e-cigarette 10, may communicate indirectly with one or more of the above classes of devices via a network such as the Internet 500, using, for example, Wi-Fi, near field communication, a wired link, or integrated mobile data. Again, as noted above, these devices may thus cooperate in any suitable configuration to form a delivery system.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, a delivery device, such as the e-cigarette 10, may communicate indirectly with the server 1000 via a network such as the Internet 500, for example by itself using Wi-Fi, or through another device in the delivery ecosystem, for example, by using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct to communicate with the smartphone 100, dock 200, vending machine 300, or wearable 400, which then communicate with the server 1000 to relay the e-cigarette's communications or report upon communication with the e-cigarette 10. Thus, other devices in the delivery ecosystem, such as a smartphone, dock, or point-of-sale / vending machine, can optionally act as a hub for one or more delivery devices that only have short-range transmission capabilities. Such a hub can extend the battery life of delivery devices that do not need to maintain a continuous Wi-Fi or mobile data link. It will also be appreciated that different types of data may be transmitted with different priorities. For example, data related to a user feedback system (such as user factor data or feedback behavior data as discussed herein) may be transmitted with a higher priority than more general usage statistics, and similarly, some user factor data related to shorter-term variables (such as current physiological data) may be transmitted with a higher priority than user factor data related to longer-term variables (such as current weather or day of the week). A non-limiting example transmission scheme that allows for higher and lower priority transmissions is LoRaWAN.

[0046] However, other classes of devices in the ecosystem, such as smartphones, docks, vending machines (or any other point of sale system), and / or wearables, may also communicate indirectly with server 1000 over a network such as the Internet 500 to fulfill an aspect of their own functionality or on behalf of the delivery system (e.g., as a relay or co-processing unit). These devices may also communicate with each other, directly or indirectly.

[0047] It will be appreciated that a delivery ecosystem may comprise multiple delivery devices 10, for example, because a user owns multiple devices (e.g., to easily switch between different active ingredients or fragrances) or because multiple users share, at least in part, the same delivery ecosystem (e.g., users living in the same household may share a charging dock but have their own phones or wearables). Optionally, such devices may likewise communicate, directly or indirectly, with each other and / or with devices and / or servers in the shared delivery ecosystem.

[0048] In embodiments herein, a user may wish to change the composition of the aerosol they inhale, and may do so directly via a user interface or indirectly through a controlled program, such as a nicotine reduction program, which may continuously reduce the concentration of the active ingredient(s) over time, e.g., over a period of days, weeks, or months. Alternatively or additionally, a user may wish to transition to a different payload that allows for or provides a different concentration or combination of ingredients, or to transfer the delivery characteristics of an old device to a new device. Other reasons and causes for changing the composition of an aerosol may also be envisioned by those skilled in the art.

[0049] Typically, such changes in aerosol composition are independent of any changes in the volume or mass of vapor produced, so that for the same puff, the same volume or mass of vapor is produced, but with a lower concentration of the active ingredient(s), such as nicotine. Thus, generally, changes in the composition of the delivered aerosol do not substantially affect the overall aerosol mass delivery rate.

[0050] It is envisaged herein that such changes desirably have an imperceptible or slight subjective effect on the user, so that, for example, the user will find the vaping experience to be still satisfying even as the concentration of the active ingredient gradually decreases, e.g., down to a target concentration.

[0051] Whether consciously or unconsciously, a change indicates a substantial subjective effect on the user if the user changes their average puff characteristics. Thus, for example, if a user (whether aware of it or not) finds lower puff strength less satisfying, they are likely to begin puffing longer and / or with greater intensity.

[0052] Therefore, such a shift in the user's smoking habits is an indication that the most recent change made to the concentration of the active ingredient was too large and should be at least partially reversed to make a smaller step, or completely reversed to re-normalize the user before trying again with a smaller change.

[0053] Thus, the aerosol delivery system 1 including the aerosol delivery device 10 may also include a puff characterization processor (e.g., control unit 205) configured (e.g., by suitable software instructions) to estimate average puff characteristics by a user of the aerosol delivery device over multiple puffs. As described elsewhere herein, the puff characteristics may include one or more selected from the list consisting of puff duration and puff intensity. These characteristics may be measured by the puff characterization processor, for example, using the airflow sensor 215.

[0054] The system may also include a control processor (again, eg, control unit 205) configured (eg, by suitable software instructions) to modify the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user by the delivery device.

[0055] The aerosol delivery system may include a companion device from the delivery ecosystem, such as the user's mobile phone 100. Optionally, the companion device may therefore comprise one or more selected from the list consisting of a puff characterization processor and a control processor, or the functionality of one or both of these processors may be shared between the companion device and another processor in the delivery ecosystem, such as a control unit of the delivery device.

[0056] The puff characteristic evaluation processor can be configured to detect changes in estimated average puff characteristics after the composition of the aerosol is altered, and the control processor can be configured to at least partially reverse the changes to the composition of the aerosol if such changes exceed a predetermined first threshold.

[0057] In this manner, the aerosol delivery system can characterize at least a first puff characteristic of the user and implement one or more incremental changes to the composition of the delivered aerosol, assess whether this changes the puff characteristic beyond a threshold, and, if so, reverse, at least in part, the extent of the change made.

[0058] The average puff characteristics can be a moving average and can be based on the last N puffs, or puffs within the immediately preceding predetermined time period (e.g., an hour, or a day). Optionally, multiple averages can be maintained that correspond to different situations, for example, averages can be maintained for morning and / or evening use versus use during the workday, during weekdays versus use during weekends, and / or use in different locations, recognizing that other factors besides the concentration of active ingredient in the aerosol can affect puff characteristics; generating averages for these different situations helps to normalize for the contributions of these different influences.

[0059] The average of the puff characteristics can also include short-term and long-term moving averages or periods, for example, a pair of moving averages based on the last N and M puffs, where N>M, such that the short-term moving average can more quickly detect changes in the estimated average puff characteristics and thus enable the system to act to at least partially reverse changes to the aerosol composition more quickly as well.

[0060] The threshold for detecting changes in puff characteristics may optionally be adaptive, for example, a function of the variance of the puff characteristics relative to the average puff characteristic. Thus, for example, if an average is compiled based on the last N puffs, the variance of those N puffs may also be calculated. Thus, for users whose puff draw duration or intensity is relatively constant, the threshold may be relatively sensitive, while for users who are highly variable in any event, the threshold may be very insensitive, possibly to the point where the system does not effectively take corrective action for users for whom detecting changes in behavior is impractical.

[0061] As described elsewhere herein, common sources of variation, such as changes in behavior over time or location, can be removed by compiling separate statistics for each of these conditions, thus improving the potential sensitivity of the system.

[0062] It will be appreciated that the mean, and optionally the variance, of past puffs may be temporarily retained for a short period of time after a change is made so that any differences in puff characteristics after the change do not begin to affect the baseline mean.

[0063] Thus, for example, the average and variance of the last N performances before the change (or the performances over a predetermined period before the change) can be retained, while a separate average (and optionally variance) for the last N or M (M < N) performances can be used initially over the change or only after the change for comparison purposes. Thus, the change in the estimated average performance characteristics can be the change between the retained average before the change and the average separately calculated only over or after the change.

[0064] Thus, for example, a first moving average based on the last N performances before the composition change can be used as a reference average, and then a second moving average can be replicated from the reference average such that the last N performances continue as they did after the composition change, or the second moving average can be replicated from the reference average such that the last M (M < N) performances continue as they did after the composition change, or optionally, a second moving average can be started based on the performance after the composition change, including in advance a predetermined number to raise the average.

[0065] If the performance characteristic evaluation processor determines that there is no significant change (i.e., over a predetermined period, any change remains below the threshold), data from the later average can be combined with or replaced by the retained earlier average to keep the current performance characteristics from the user up to date. However, alternatively, the original average can be used as a continuous benchmark so that successive small changes in the average performance characteristics below the threshold are added over time and do not obscure a significant actual change in the performance characteristics accumulated against the original average. Alternatively or in addition, the original average may be updated using a much longer moving average, for example equal to the usage over multiple composition changes, so that the impact of individual small step changes in the performance characteristics is reduced.

[0066] If the change in the estimated average puff characteristics after the aerosol composition is changed exceeds a predetermined first threshold, as described elsewhere in this specification, this means that the change is too large and has had a substantial effect on the user's behavior (whether consciously or unconsciously), and therefore the control processor is configured to at least partially reverse the change in the aerosol composition.

[0067] This reversal can involve, for example, changing the composition back to 100%, 75%, 50%, or 25% of the previous composition, as one example of four possible steps. Other ranges are clearly contemplated, such as sets of three or five steps.

[0068] Optionally, the degree of reversal can be calculated or selected depending on the degree of change in the estimated average puff characteristics, so for example, if the change is equal to or just exceeds the first threshold, the reversal may be 33%, while if the change exceeds the first threshold by a predetermined first additional threshold amount, the reversal may be 66%, and if the change exceeds the first threshold by a predetermined second additional threshold amount, the reversal may be 100%.

[0069] Alternatively, a first change threshold can represent a minimum or 0% reversal threshold, and a second, higher change threshold can represent a maximum 100% reversal threshold, with the amount of reversal determined by where the actual change is relative to these thresholds. The relationship between these thresholds and the amount of reversal can be linear or non-linear.

[0070] Optionally, the aerosol delivery system is configured to evaluate changes in mean puff characteristics corresponding to at least a partial reversal of the change to the composition of the aerosol, i.e., the at least partial reversal can be treated like another change in composition, and the corresponding change in mean puff characteristics can be evaluated to ascertain whether, and to what extent, the user has returned to their previous mean puff characteristics in response to the reversal.

[0071] So, for example, if the system partially reverses the composition change by 40%, but subsequently the user's average puff characteristics only revert by 80%, the aerosol delivery system can change the reversal to 50%, in the hopes that the user's average puff characteristics will revert to 100%.

[0072] If the user exhibits some form of behavioral hysteresis, a reversal of more than 100% may be required to return to the previous average puff characteristics. Thus, in effect, in this case, the overall direction of change is slightly reversed, but allows the user to reset their behavior for a subsequent, more deliberate, formulation change.

[0073] The extent to which a user's average puff characteristics are expected to revert in response to a reversal in the composition change can be predetermined, with 100% being preferred, although a lesser degree of reversal, such as 80, 75, 60, or 50%, may be acceptable. Optionally, therefore, the aerosol delivery system may be configured to alter the degree of partial reversal if the altered average puff characteristics are not within a second predetermined threshold of the original average puff characteristics.

[0074] The aerosol delivery system can optionally model the relationship between changes in the aerosol's composition and average puff characteristics. At its crudest, this can be a gradient (e.g., dy / dx) that models how changes in composition correspond to changes in puff characteristics. As a second approximation, separate gradients can be determined for the initial change and any reversal to understand whether there are any differences in response when changes occur in different directions. To better approximate, any suitable statistical model or models can be used to determine the relationship between changes in composition and changes in puff characteristics.

[0075] If more than one puff characteristic (e.g., duration and intensity) is evaluated, separate averages and separate optional models may be used, or a combined average (e.g., after normalizing each average) and a single optional model may be used.

[0076] Similarly, as discussed elsewhere herein, different models can be generated for different situations, such as workdays and evenings, weekdays and weekends, and based on location, to compensate for other influences on puff characteristics.

[0077] With such a model or models, the aerosol delivery system can be configured to predict changes to the composition of the aerosol that maintain the average puff characteristics within a first threshold based on the modeled relationship.

[0078] In other words, given a gradient or other model of how changes in composition correspond to changes in puff characteristics, changes in composition can be selected that can be expected to correspond to changes in puff characteristics that are less than a first threshold, and optionally less than a safety margin below the first threshold.

[0079] As a result, the aerosol delivery system can use such a model or models to learn changes in composition that are likely to avoid causing threshold changes in puff characteristics that would require at least partial reversal of the changing composition, in accordance with the techniques herein.

[0080] Such a model may be provided from a remote repository, such as a central server. The model may be a model of the user's actual situation derived from the user's use of a previous delivery device or a different delivery device, such as if the user currently has multiple devices. This improves the predictive capabilities of the aerosol delivery system. Alternatively or additionally, such a model may be based on data obtained for one or more other users who have similar physiological characteristics to the current user, such as one or more of age, sex, weight, height, BMI, etc., because similar individuals are likely to have similar pharmacological responses to changes in composition and, therefore, similar changes in puff characteristics in response to changes in composition.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the aerosol delivery system may share its own modeled relationship(s) with such a remote repository. Where appropriate, the aerosol delivery system may also share physiological characteristics of the current user, or these characteristics may already be known to the remote repository, for example, as part of a prior user registration process.

[0082] While reference has been made herein to altering the composition of active ingredients, particularly nicotine, this is not intended to be limiting. Rather, altering the composition includes altering the concentration of one or more selected from the list consisting of one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, and one or more cloud / opacifying agents.

[0083] It will also be appreciated that alterations to the composition can include altering the blend of active ingredients, e.g., the ratio of protonated to unprotonated nicotine, even if the overall concentration of all active ingredients remains the same.

[0084] Referring now to FIG. 6, a method for controlling an aerosol delivery system including an aerosol delivery device includes the following steps.

[0085] First, a puff characterization step s610, performed by, for example, a puff characterization processor as described elsewhere herein, estimates the average puff characteristics by a user of the aerosol delivery device for multiple puffs.

[0086] Second, a control step s620, performed, for example, by a control processor, includes altering the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user by the delivery device, as described elsewhere herein.

[0087] Third, a detecting step s630, performed by, for example, a puff characterization processor, as described elsewhere herein, of detecting changes in estimated average puff characteristics after the composition of the aerosol is altered.

[0088] and fourth, a reversal step s640, implemented, for example, by a control processor, of at least partially reversing the changes to the composition of the aerosol if such changes exceed a predetermined first threshold, as described elsewhere herein.

[0089] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations of the above method corresponding to the operation of various embodiments of the apparatus described and claimed herein are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

[0090] It will also be appreciated that the above methods may be implemented on conventional hardware suitably adapted as applicable, either by software instructions or by the inclusion or substitution of dedicated hardware. Examples of such conventional hardware include the control unit 205 and / or the CPU of a companion device (e.g., phone 100) or other device in the delivery ecosystem, operating under appropriate software instructions to implement the functions of the puff characterization processor and control processor as described elsewhere herein.

[0091] Thus, any necessary adaptations to existing portions of a conventional equivalent device may be implemented in the form of a computer program product consisting of processor-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable medium such as a floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk, solid-state disk, PROM, RAM, flash memory, or any combination thereof, or other storage medium, or may be realized in hardware as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or other configurable circuitry suitable for use in adapting a conventional equivalent device. Alternatively, such a computer program may be transmitted via data signals over a network such as an Ethernet, a wireless network, the Internet, or a combination thereof, or other network.

[0092] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention and other claims. This disclosure defines in part the scope of the following claim language, including all readily identifiable variations of the teachings herein, so that the subject matter of the invention is not exclusively reserved for the public.

Claims

1. an aerosol delivery device; a puff characterization processor configured to estimate an average of puff characteristics by a user of the aerosol delivery device for a plurality of puffs; a control processor configured to modify the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user by the delivery device; Equipped with the puff characterization processor is configured to detect a change in estimated average puff characteristics after the composition of the aerosol is changed; the control processor is configured to at least partially reverse the alteration to the composition of the aerosol if such change exceeds a first predetermined threshold; The aerosol delivery system, wherein the at least partial reversal of the alteration to the composition of the aerosol is a further alteration of the composition that at least partially counteracts the previous alteration of the composition of the aerosol.

2. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, comprising a companion device.

3. the companion device: i. the puff characterization processor; ii. the control processor; 3. The aerosol delivery system of claim 2, comprising one or more selected from the list consisting of:

4. 4. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the changes to the composition of the delivered aerosol do not substantially affect the overall aerosol mass delivery rate.

5. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is a function of the variance of puff characteristics relative to the mean puff characteristic.

6. The at least partial reversal causes the change to the composition of the aerosol to: i. 25%; ii. 50%; iii. 75%; iv. 100%; 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, further comprising: reversing by one selected from the list consisting of:

7. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to evaluate a change in average puff characteristics corresponding to the at least partial reversal of the change to the composition of the aerosol.

8. 8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 7, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to modify the degree of partial reversal if the changed average puff characteristics are not within a second predetermined threshold of the original average puff characteristics.

9. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to model the relationship between the changes to the composition of the aerosol and the average puff characteristics.

10. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 9, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to predict changes that will maintain the average puff characteristics within the first threshold based on the modeled relationship.

11. 11. The aerosol delivery system of claim 9 or 10, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to receive modeled relationships based on associated user data from a remote repository.

12. 11. The aerosol delivery system of claim 9 or 10, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to share modeled relationships with a remote repository.

13. The change in composition i. one or more active ingredients; ii. one or more flavoring agents; iii. one or more opacifying / opacifying agents; 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, comprising one or more concentration changes selected from the list consisting of:

14. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the composition change comprises a change in the formulation of the active ingredient.

15. The puff characteristics are i. the duration of the puff; ii. puff strength; 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery system is one or more selected from the list consisting of:

16. 1. A method of controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol delivery device, comprising: a puff characterization step of estimating an average of puff characteristics by a user of the aerosol delivery device for a plurality of puffs; a controlling step comprising modifying the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user by the delivery device; detecting a change in estimated mean puff characteristics after the composition of the aerosol is changed; a reversing step of at least partially reversing the alteration to the composition of the aerosol if such change exceeds a first predetermined threshold; Including, The method of controlling, wherein the at least partial reversal of the change to the composition of the aerosol is a further change to the composition that at least partially counteracts the previous change to the composition of the aerosol.

17. 17. A computer program comprising computer executable instructions configured to cause a computer system to perform the method of claim 16.

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