Field

This disclosure relates generally to producing an inhalable vapour and more particularly to methods and apparatuses therefor.

Backqround

Some vapourizing devices for vapourizing marijuana derivatives or nicotine derivatives are limited to vapourizing these derivatives in their liquid form. Such vapourizing devices may produce vapours having an inconsistent dosage, or may produce vapours having low potency of active ingredients, or may lead to waste of the derivatives, or all of the above.

Summary

In one embodiment there is provided a method of producing an inhalable vapour. The method involves placing an amount of a substance in a low-melting point solid phase on at least one heating element suspended to allow for free-flow of air around and through the at least one heating element. The substance contains active ingredients for producing a physiological effect in a human. The method further involves causing the at least one heating element to melt at least a portion of the substance in the solid phase into a liquid phase, absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in an absorbent material contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element to hold at least a portion of the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase at a temperature that vapourizes the substance in the liquid phase into a vapour phase, and causing at least some of the substance in the vapour phase to be carried by air drawn through the absorbent material to enter a respiratory system of the human.

Placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on at least one heating element suspended to allow for free-flow of air may involve placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on the at least one heating element suspended above a well having a bottom surface.

The method may further involve collecting a portion of the substance in the liquid phase not vapourized into the vapour phase on the bottom surface. The method may further involve causing the portion of the substance in the liquid phase collected on the bottom surface to solidify back into the solid phase.

The method may further involve retrieving the portion of the substance in the solid phase on the well surface for re-use.

Causing the at least one heating element to melt at least a portion of the substance in the solid phase into the liquid phase may involve causing a temperature of the at least one heating element to be increased at a rate such that the substance in the solid phase is melted into the liquid phase without a combustion reaction.

Placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on the at least one heating element may involve placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on at least one coil operable to be heated when an electrical current is applied to the at least one coil.

Placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on the at least one coil may involve placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on a coil comprising a wire helically wound about a coil axis and defining a coil volume. Absorbing the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the absorbent material contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element may involve absorbing the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in an absorbent material contained substantially entirely within the coil volume. Placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on the at least one heating element may involve placing an amount of the substance in the solid phase on each one of a plurality of heating elements.

Absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the absorbent material may involve causing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase to be retained a distance from the at least one heating element such that the substance in the liquid phase is vapourized into the vapour phase without a combustion reaction. Absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the absorbent material may involve absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in at least one absorbent body. Absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the at least one absorbent body may involve absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in at least one absorbent body including a plurality of fiberglass threads carrying an oil.

Absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the absorbent material contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element may involve absorbing the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in the plurality of fiberglass threads. Each of the plurality of fiberglass threads may be contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element. Placing the amount of the substance in the solid phase on the at least one heating element may involve placing an amount of a low-melting-point marijuana derivative in a solid phase on the at least one heating element.

Placing the amount of the low-melting-point marijuana derivative in the solid phase on the at least one heating element may involve placing a low-melting-point solid marijuana derivative having a tetrahydrocannabinol content of between about 70 to 99 percent by weight in a solid phase on the at least one heating element.

In another embodiment there is provided an apparatus for producing an inhalable vapour. The apparatus includes at least one heating element suspended to allow for free-flow of air thereabout and through the at least one heating element. The at least one heating element is configured to facilitate placement thereon, of an amount of a substance in a low-melting point solid phase, the substance containing active ingredients for producing a physiological effect in a human, the at least one heating element being operable to melt at least a portion of the substance in the solid phase into a liquid phase. The apparatus further includes an absorbent material for absorbing at least some of the substance in the liquid phase. The absorbent material is contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element to hold at least a portion of the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase at a temperature that vapourizes the substance in the liquid phase into a vapour phase. The apparatus further includes an enclosure enclosing the at least one heating element and having an air inlet and an air outlet for enabling air to be drawn through the air inlet and through the absorbent material such that at least some of the substance in the vapour phase is carried by the air drawn through the absorbent material and out of the air outlet for inhalation into a respiratory system of the human.

The apparatus may further include a well having a bottom surface, wherein the at least one heating element is suspended above the well such that the bottom surface is configured to collect a portion of the substance in the liquid phase not vapourized into the vapour phase.

The bottom surface may be spaced from the at least one heating element by a distance such that the bottom surface is operable to cool the portion of the substance in the liquid phase collected on the bottom surface. The bottom surface may be further operable to solidify the portion of the substance in the liquid phase back into the solid phase for retrieval.

The at least one heating element being operable to melt the substance in the solid phase into the liquid phase may include the at least one heating element being operable to increase temperature at a rate such that the substance in the solid phase is melted into the liquid phase without a combustion reaction.

Each of the at least one heating element may include a respective coil operable to be heated when an electrical current is applied to the coil.

The coil may include a wire helically wound about a coil axis and defining a coil volume.

The coil may have a coil diameter of about 2mm to about 6mm. The coil may have a coil length of about 6mm to about 10mm.

The absorbent material being contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element may include the absorbent material being contained substantially entirely within the coil volume. The coil may further include a first wire end operably configured to be electrically connected to a negative contact and a second wire end operably configured to be electrically connected to a positive contact to receive the electrical current.

The wire may be helically wound for at least about 3 coil wraps to at least about 20 coil wraps.

The wire may be helically wound for 10 coil wraps.

The wire may be formed from an alloy of at least iron, chromium and aluminium. The wire may be formed from Kathanl™. The wire may be formed from an alloy of at least nickel and chromium. The wire may be formed from titanium.

The wire may have a diameter of about 20 AWG to about 38 AWG.

The wire may have a diameter of about 22 AWG.

The at least one heating element may include a plurality of heating elements. The at least one heating element may include two heating elements.

The absorbent material may hold the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase by retaining a portion of the at least some of the substance in the liquid phase a distance from the at least one heating element such that the substance in the liquid phase is vapourized into the gas phase without a combustion reaction.

The absorbent material may include at least one absorbent body.

The at least one absorbent body may include plurality of fiberglass threads carrying an oil. The absorbent material being contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element may include each of the plurality of fiberglass threads of the at least one absorbent body being contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element.

The at least one absorbent body may be shaped into generally an elongate pellet shape.

The at least at least one absorbent bodies may have a body density of about 0.5 grams per cm ³ to about 0.7 grams per cm ³ .

The at least one absorbent body may include a plurality of absorbent bodies. Each of the plurality of absorbent bodies may be contained substantially entirely within the at least one heating element. The substance may include a low-melting-point marijuana derivative.

The low-melting-point solid marijuana derivative may have a tetrahydrocannabinol content of between about 70 to about 99 percent by weight. Description of the Figures

Figure 1 is an exploded view of an electronic vaporizer comprising an atomizer and a modifier according to an illustrative embodiment; Figure 2 is a side perspective view of a base of the atomizer of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of an electronic contact disposed on a bottom surface of a well of the base of the atomizer of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top view of the base of the atomizer of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a heating element of the atomizer of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an end view of the heating element of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a sectional view of the atomizer of Figure 1 . Detailed Description

Referring to Figure 1 , an electronic vaporizer system according to a first embodiment is shown generally at 10. The system 10 generally includes a power source or a modifier 12 and an atomizer 14.

Modifier

The modifier 12 includes a base 20 having a first receptacle 24 for receiving the atomizer 14 on an end 22 of the base 20. The base 20 further includes a second receptacle 26 for receiving and holding at least one battery (not shown) to supply power to a power circuit 28 for supplying electrical power to the atomizer 14. The power circuit 28 includes an ohmmeter operable to measure a resistance of the atomizer 14, a voltmeter operable to measure a voltage applied to the atomizer 14, an ammeter operable to measure an electrical current supplied to the atomizer 14 and a wattmeter operable to measure electric power supplied to the atomizer 14. Indication of the resistance, voltage, current and power may be provided on a display 30 on a side 32 of the modifier 12, for example. Increasing or decreasing power buttons 34 and 36 and a control button 38 may also be provided on the side 32 of the modifier 12 to allow user selection of an amount of electrical power to be supplied to the atomizer 14, and user actuation of the modifier 12. Atomizer

Still referring to Figure 1 , the atomizer 14 includes a cap shown generally at 40 and a base shown generally at 42.

The cap 40 includes a cap wall 50 defining a generally cylindrical nozzle 52 having an air outlet opening 54 and an annular bottom opening 56 adapted to fit the cap 40 to the base 42. The cap wall 50 further includes at least one cap air inlet opening 58. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , there may be three cap air inlet openings 58. Referring now to Figure 2, the base 42 includes a threaded coupling portion 60 for coupling the base 42 to the receptacle 26 of the modifier 12 shown in Figure 1 . Once the base 42 is fully received in the modifier 12 such that electrical contacts (not shown) of the modifier 12 are electrically coupled to electrical contacts (not shown) of the atomizer 14, the modifier 12 is operable to deliver power to the atomizer 14 by actuation of the control button 38 on the side 32 of the modifier 12.

The base 42 further includes a cylindrical body portion 62 defining a heating chamber 64. The body portion 62 includes a cylindrical wall 66 having an outer surface 68 dimensioned to be received in the annular bottom opening 56 of the cap 40 (shown in Figure 1 ) securely. In some embodiments, the outer surface 68 may include an o-ring 70 in a groove in the outer surface 68. The o-ring 70 may interact with ridges on an inside surface of the annular bottom opening 56 of the cap 40 (shown in Figure 1 ) to enable the cap 40 to be securely coupled to the base 42 in a friction fit, for example.

The cylindrical wall 66 may have one or more base air inlet openings 72. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, there may be three base air inlets openings 72. Each of the base air inlet openings 72 is configured to align with a corresponding cap air inlet opening 58 (shown in Figure 1 ) in the cap 40 when the cap 40 is coupled to the base 42. Alignment of air inlet openings 58 and 72 allows air to be drawn through the air inlet openings 58 and 72 into the base 42, through the cap 40 (shown in Figure 1 ) and out of the air outlet opening 54 (shown in Figure 1 ) in the cap 40 when the system 10 is in operation.

The cap 40 may be rotated relative to the base 42 when the cap 40 is coupled to the base 42 to control the alignment of the base air inlet openings 72 with the corresponding cap air inlet openings 58 to control air flow through the heating chamber 64. For example, if the cap air inlet openings 58 are completely aligned with the base air inlet openings 72, then air flow would be significantly available. However, if the cap 40 is rotated such that the cap air inlet openings 58 are completely unaligned with the base air inlet openings 72, resulting in a substantially sealed cap 40, then air flow would be restricted or unavailable. Intermediate positions are also contemplated in the disclosed embodiments.

The heating chamber 64 includes a well shown generally at 76 including a bottom surface 78 from which first, second and third electrical contacts 80, 82 and 84 project upwardly. The first, second and third electrical contacts 80, 82 and 84 are arranged in a generally linear configuration. The first and third contacts 80 and 84 are configured to be connected to a negative power supply terminal of the modifier 12 while the second contact 82 is configured to be connected to a positive power supply terminal of the modifier 12. Consequently, any first electrical load connected between the first and second contacts 80 and 82 and any second electrical load connected between the second and third contacts 82 and 84 are connected to each other to form a parallel load circuit to which electrical power can be supplied by the modifier 12. Referring now to Figure 3, the first contact 80 will be described in detail, with the understanding that the second contact 82 and the third contact 84 operate in a similar fashion. The first contact 80 includes cylindrical projection 90 having a cylindrical wall 92 defining an inner, axially threaded bore 94 and first and second aligned transversely extending openings 96 and 98 extending through the cylindrical wall 92 on generally opposite sides thereof. The axially threaded bore 94 is terminated by a seat 100 disposed in the threaded bore 94 slightly below the first and second aligned transversely extending openings 96 and 98.

The first contact 80 further includes a fastener, which in this embodiment is a screw 102 having a shaft 103 with threads 104 and removably receivable in the threaded bore 94. After a piece of wire associated with a heating element (described in greater detail below) is passed through the first and second aligned transverse openings 96 and 98, such as shown in Figure 3, for example, threads 104 of the screw 102 can be engaged with threads 106 in the threaded bore 94 such that tightening of the screw 102 in the threaded bore 94 causes an end 106 of the screw 102 to bear upon a portion of the wire passing through the threaded bore 94, thereby clamping the wire down on the seat 100 to secure the wire to the first contact 80. The first and third contacts 80 and 84 are intended to hold a single wire portion, while the second contact 82 is intended to hold two wire portions simultaneously extending through the first and second aligned transversely extending openings.

Referring to Figure 4, the heating chamber 64 may, in the embodiment shown, hold first and second heating elements 110 and 112 comprised of coils of heating wire. A first coil 120 of the first heating element 110 has first and second wire ends 122 and 124 which are connected to the first and second contacts 80 and 82 respectively, and a second coil 126 of the second heating element 112 comprises third and fourth wire ends 128 and 130 which are connected to the second and third contacts 82 and 84 respectively. Further, the first and second heating elements 110 retain first and second absorbent materials 114 and 116 respectively contained substantially entirely within the heating elements 110 and 112. In other embodiments, the heating chamber 64 may have more than two heating elements or only a single heating element.

Referring now to Figure 5, the first heating element 110 and the first absorbent material 114 will be described in detail, with the understanding that the second heating element 112 and the second absorbent material 116 are generally the same.

Referring to Figure 5, the coil 120 of the first heating element 110 may be formed by helically winding a wire 150 about 7 to about 10 wraps around a coil axis 152 such that the wire 150 defines a generally cylindrical volume coil volume 154 having a coil length 156 and a coil diameter 158. In other embodiments, the coil 120 may have more or less wraps, such that it may be helically wound to include about 3 coil wraps to about 20 coil wraps, for example. As the number of coil wraps increase, the resistance of the first heating element 110 increases. In other embodiments, the wire 150 may be wound in other ways, such that it defines a generally rectangular form or a generally triangular from, for example, to define the coil 120 and the coil volume 154. In the embodiment shown, the coil diameter 158 is about 4mm and the coil length 156 is about 7mm. In other embodiments, the coil diameter 158 may range between about 2mm to about 6mm and the coil length 156 may range between about 6mm to 10mm. As the coil length 156 and the coil diameter 158 is increased, the resistance of the first heating element 110 increases.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second wire ends 122 and 124 of the coil 120 are each about 2mm. In other embodiments, the first and second wire ends 122 and 124 may each range from about 0.5mm to about 4mm. As the length of the wire ends is increased, the resistance of the first heating element 110 also increases.

The wire 150 may be made from any resistance heating material. For example, in one embodiment, the wire 150 may be made from a metal alloy of iron, chromium and aluminium and may be specifically Kathanl™ wire. In other embodiments, the wire 150 may be made from a metal alloy of nickel and chromium or any other appropriate metal alloy. In yet further embodiments, the wire 150 may be made from titanium, or a metal alloy of titanium and some other substance. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the wire 150 has a diameter of about 22 AWG. In other embodiments, the wire 150 may have a diameter of anywhere between about 20 AWG to about 38 AWG. As the diameter of the wire 150 used to form the coil 120 is increased, the resistance of the coil 120 decreases.

Still referring to Figure 5, the first absorbent material 114 is positioned to be contained substantially entirely within the coil 120 of the first heating element 110. In the embodiment shown, the first absorbent material 114 includes a first absorbent body 160 and a second absorbent body 162, each having a generally elongated pellet shape, for example. In other embodiments, the first absorbent material 114 may be formed from a single absorbent body or more than two absorbent bodies. The absorbent bodies may further be of different shape configurations, such as a cylindrical shape, for example.

The first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 may be made from a plurality of flame- retardant fiberglass threads carrying an oil to prime the absorbent bodies for use in producing a vapour. For example, the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 may be made from fiberglass threads derived from fiberglass rope manufactured by the Imperial Manufacturing Group under model no. GA0159 and the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 may carry a vegetable oil. The oil may facilitate formation and retention of the elongate pellet shape of the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 and may further facilitate insertion of the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 into the coil 120. In some embodiments, the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 may only be lightly coated with the oil.

The first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 are contained within the heating element 110 such that substantially each fiberglass thread of the plurality of fiberglass threads of both the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 are contained substantially entirely within the coil volume 154 defined by the coil 120. Each of the first and second absorbent bodies 160 and 162 may further be shaped to have a body density of between about 0.5 grams per cm ³ to about 0.7 grams per cm ³ . Referring back to Figure 2, once the wire ends 122 and 124 of the first heating element 110 are securely coupled to, respectively, the negative first contact 80 and the positive second contact 82, and the wire ends 128 and 130 of the second heating element 112 are securely coupled to the positive second contact 82 and negative third contact 84, the heating elements 110 and 112 are suspended above the well 76 and away from the contacts 80, 82 and 84 to allow for free-flow of air thereabout and through the heating elements 110 and 112. Thus positioned, the first and second heating elements 110 define respective receiving surfaces 170 and 172 (shown in Figure 5) configured for placement thereon of an amount of a vapourizable substance normally in a low-melting-point solid phase at room temperature.

The vapourizable substance may be a substance containing active ingredients for producing a physiological effect in a human. In some embodiments, the substance may be a low- melting-point solid marijuana derivative having a tertrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of between about 70 to about 99 percent by weight, for example. The substance may further have a melting point of about 50 degrees Celsius. The substance may be that which is commonly known as "shatter", for example.

When the first wire end 122 of the first heating element 110 is secured to the negative first contact 80 and the second wire end 124 of the first heating element 110 is secured to the positive second contact 82, an electrical circuit is formed by the first heating element 110 to connect the respective terminals of the power source of the modifier 12. Similarly, when the third wire end 128 of the second heating element 112 is secured to the positive second contact 82 and the fourth wire end 130 of the second heating element is secured to the negative third contact 84, an electrical circuit is formed by the second heating element 112 to connect the respective terminals of the power source of the modifier 12 in parallel to the electrical circuit formed by the first heating element 110. Specifically, the heating elements 110 and 112 act as resistors to the power source of the modifier 12 and thus the coils 120 and 126 are heated by an application of an electrical current from the power source, by actuation of the control button 38 of the modifier 12, for example. The precise supply of electrical current may be controlled by actuation of the increasing and decreasing power buttons 36 or 34, for example. When the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 are heated, they are operable to reach a temperature where at least a portion of the substance in the low-melting-point solid phase is melted into a liquid phase. The resistance of the first heating element 110 and the second heating element 112 is dependent on several factors, including the composition of the wire 150, the gauge of the wire 150, coil length 156, the coil diameter 158, the number of wraps of the coil 120 and 126, the length of the wire ends 122, 124, 128 and 130, etc. The specific resistance of the heating elements 110 and 112 are configured to provide a rate of melting of the substance in the solid phase that is sufficient to cause the melted substance in the liquid phase to be retained by the absorbent materials 114 and 116 without saturating the absorbent materials 114 and 116, to minimize the amount of the low-melting point substance in the liquid phase allowed to drip on the bottom surface 78 of the heating chamber 64, and to allow enough of the substance in the liquid phase to be released into a vapour phase by air drawn through the heating chamber 64. In the embodiment shown, the resistance of each of the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 is about 0.8 ohms and the parallel electrical connection of the coils causes the equivalent resistance to be about 0.4 ohms. In some embodiments, the resistance of the first heating element 110 and the second heating element 112 may be different from each other. In some embodiments, the resistance of the first heating element 110 or the second heating element 112 may range from between about 0.6 and about 1 .0 ohms. In one embodiment, application of about 3 to about 4.5 volts by the modifier 12 causes the heating elements 110 and 112 to each increase in temperature at a rate such that at least a portion of the substance in the solid phase is melted into the liquid phase without a combustion reaction. For example, the first heating element 110 may increase to a temperature of about 100 to about 300 degrees Celsius within about 2 to about 5 seconds.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, the function of the first heating element 110 and the first absorbent material 114 will be described in detail, with the understanding that the second heating element 112 and the second absorbent material 116 function in substantially the same manner. When a portion of the substance in the low-melting-point solid phase placed of the receiving surface 170 is melted into a liquid phase, the substance in the liquid phase flows from the receiving surface 170 of the first heating element 110 into the coil volume 154 where at least some of the substance in the liquid phase is absorbed into the first absorbent material 114.

The first absorbent material 114 holds at least some of the substance in the liquid phase at a temperature that enables vapourization the substance in the liquid phase into a vapour phase. Specifically, referring to Figure 6, the first absorbent material 114 retains at least some of the substance in the liquid phase between a first distance 180 and a second, radial distance 182 from the first heating element 110. The first distance 180 corresponds to a distance between the first heating element 110 and the first absorbent material 114, and the second distance 182 corresponds to a radial distance between the first heating element 110 and a center of the first absorbent material 114. By holding the substance in the liquid phase at least at the first distance 180 from the heating coil, the amount of heat applied to the substance in the liquid phase by the first heating element 110 is reduced, which facilitates vapourization of the substance in the liquid phase into the vapour phase without a combustion reaction. Further, as the first absorbent material 114 has a thermal resistance greater than air, the rate of heat flow from the first heating element 110 is reduced, which reduces the amount of heat applied to the substance in the liquid phase held by the first absorbent material 114 such that vapourization of the substance in the liquid phase into the vapour phase without a combustion reaction is further facilitated.

Referring now to Figure 7, coupling the cap 40 to the base 42 forms an enclosure 190, having aligned air inlet openings 58 and 72 and the air outlet opening 54, enclosing the first heating element 110 (and second element 112, not shown in Figure 7). Application of negative pressure to the air outlet opening 54 by a mouth of a human draws air into the air inlet openings 58 and 72 and through the first absorbent material 114 (and the second absorbent material 116, not shown in Figure 7) such that at least some of the substance in the vapour phase is carried by the air drawn through the first absorbent material 114 and out of the air outlet opening 54 for inhalation into a respiratory system of the human. Should a portion of the substance in the liquid phase flow through the first absorbent material 114 past a second surface 192 of the coil 120 and onto the bottom surface 78 of the well 76, the substance in the liquid phase may collect on the bottom surface 78. The bottom surface 78 is separated from the first heating element 110 by a distance 194 sufficient to enable the substance in the liquid phase collected on the bottom surface 78 to cool. Further, after the application of the electrical current to the first heating element 110 (and the second heating element 112, not shown in Figure 7) is halted, such as by release of the control button 38 of the modifier 12, the well 76 allows the substance in the liquid phase collected on the bottom surface 78 to cool sufficiently such that it solidifies back into the low-melting- point solid phase. The substance in the solid phase on the bottom surface 78 may then be retrieved for re-use.

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, a method of producing an inhalable vapour involves placing an amount of the substance in a low-melting point solid phase on at least one of the receiving surface 170 of the first heating element 110 and the receiving surface 172 of the second heating element 112. In some embodiments, separate amounts of the substance in the low- melting point solid phase can be placed on both the receiving surface 170 of the first heating element 110 and the receiving surface 172 (shown in Figure 5) of the second heating element 112.

Then, the cap 40 may be coupled to the base 42 to form the enclosure 190 enclosing the first and the second heating elements 110 and 112, the enclosure 190 having aligned air inlet openings 58 and 72 and the air outlet opening 54 to allow air to flow through the enclosure 190 and through the first and second heating elements 110 and 112.

The method then involves causing the first heating element 110 and the second heating element 112 to increase in temperature to melt at least a portion of the substance in the low- melting point solid phase placed on the receiving surface 170 and 172 into a liquid phase. For example, the method may involve application of an electrical current to the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 by a power source, such as by actuation of the control button 38 of the modifier 12 (shown in Figure 1 ), which causes the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 to increase in temperature. Once a portion of the substance in the solid phase is melted into a liquid phase, at least some of the substance in the liquid phase is absorbed in the first absorbent material 114 contained substantially entirely within the first heating element 110 and the second absorbent material 116 contained substantially entirely within the second heating element 112. The absorbent materials 114 and 116 then hold at least some of the substance in the liquid phase in locations within the heating elements where the temperature is such that the substance in the liquid phase is easily vapourized into a vapour phase.

The method then involves causing at least some of the substance in the vapour phase to be carried by air drawn through the absorbent material 114 and the second absorbent material 116 to enter the respiratory system of the human to produce a physiological effect. For example, application of negative pressure to the air outlet opening 54 by a mouth of the human causes air to be drawn into the air inlet openings 58 and 72, through the absorbent materials 114 and 116, out of the air outlet opening 54, and into the respiratory system of the human.

Any portion of the substance in the liquid phase not vapourized may possibly flow through the first absorbent material 114 past the second surface 192 (shown in Figure 6) of the first heating element 110 and through the second absorbent material 116 past a second surface of the second heating element 112, where it may collect and be cooled on the bottom surface 78 of the well 76 such that the substance collected on the bottom surface 78 solidifies back into the low-melting-point solid phase. For example, when the application of electrical current to the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 are stopped, such as by release of the control button 38 of the modifier 12, the well 76 allows the substance in the liquid phase collected on the bottom surface 78 to cool sufficiently such that it solidifies back into the low-melting-point solid phase.

In some embodiments, the method may further involve causing the first and second heating elements 110 and 112 to increase in temperature before placing the substance in the low- melting point solid phase on the receiving surfaces 170 and 172 in a preparatory heating step. This preparatory heating step may remove substantially all of the oil carried by the absorbent bodies of the first and second absorbent materials 114 and 116, for example.

Since the first and second heating elements 112 and 110 are configured for direct application of the substance containing active ingredients in the solid phase, the electronic vapourizor system 10 avoids the difficulties associated with applications of substances containing active ingredients in the liquid phase, such as dosage inaccuracies and waste. For example, when substances containing active ingredients in liquid phase are applied to vapourizors, a portion of the substance in the liquid phase may flow rapidly through the heating element and the absorbent material and into the well, which may lead to inconsistencies in the amount of active ingredient vapourized even if a consistent volume of the substance in the liquid phase is applied. Further, it can difficult to retrieve the portion of the substances in the liquid phase which are not vapourized for re-use. Further, marijuana and nicotine derivatives in the solid form typically comprise tertrahydrocannabinol and nicotine content, respectively, at a higher concentration than would be possible for these derivatives in liquid form, which enables the electronic vapourizor system 10 to produce vapours of greater potency from a smaller starting volume of material. The method allows direct application of a marijuana, nicotine or other active ingredient containing solid phase derivative in a highly concentrated form in the system 10, and direct vapourization thereof. This avoids the difficulties associated with applications of marijuana derivatives in liquid form, such as dosage inaccuracies and waste. Further, derivatives in the solid form typically have active ingredient content at a higher concentration than would be possible for derivatives in liquid form, which enables the method to produce vapours of greater potency from a smaller starting volume of material.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.