IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,232,540
Granted Patent B2
US 12,232,540 · App. 17/520,032 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Methods and devices for delivering and monitoring of tobacco, nicotine, or other substances

Inventor: Gal A. Cohen (Mill Valley, CA)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
A24F40/65A24F40/51A61B5/082A61B5/14507A61B5/14546A61B5/486G01N33/497G01N2033/4975
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,232,540
App. No.
17/520,032
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for use with modified risk products or other tobacco products, and in particular, associated with nicotine and tobacco products.

Claims (22)

1. A method comprising:

measuring, via a diagnostic test using an electrochemical or metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor, a concentration of nicotine in a sample of a breath of a user of an electronic vaporizer;

comparing, via electronic circuitry, the concentration of nicotine to a threshold; and

enabling or disabling, via the electronic circuitry, operation of the electronic vaporizer based on the comparison of the concentration of nicotine to the threshold, in accordance with a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) protocol to prevent unauthorized usage of the electronic vaporizer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling operation of the electronic vaporizer is performed when the concentration of nicotine in the sample of breath of the user is above the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enabling operation of the electronic vaporizer is performed when the concentration of nicotine in the sample of breath of the user is below the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold corresponds to a concentration of nicotine associated with an expected nicotine user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold corresponds to a concentration of nicotine indicative of whether the user has consumed a nicotine product within the last twenty-four hours.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sampling, via a sensor, the sample of the breath of the user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises an electromechanical sensor.

8. A vaporizer device, comprising:

a sensor configured to sample a breath of a user of the vaporizer device; and

electronic circuitry configured to perform operations comprising:

determining a concentration of nicotine using an electrochemical or metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor in the sample of the breath of the user based on a diagnostic test,

comparing the concentration of nicotine to a threshold, and

enabling operation of the vaporizer device based on the comparison of the concentration of nicotine to the threshold, wherein the electronic circuitry adjusts vaporizer settings to optimize delivery.

9. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the sensor is disposed on the mouthpiece.

10. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the enabling operation of the vaporizer device is performed when the concentration of nicotine in the sample of breath of the user is above the threshold.

11. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the enabling operation of the vaporizer device is performed when the concentration of nicotine in the sample of breath of the user is below the threshold.

12. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises an electrochemical sensor.

13. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the threshold corresponds to a concentration of nicotine associated with an expected nicotine user.

14. The vaporizer device of claim 8 , wherein the threshold corresponds to a concentration of nicotine indicative of whether the user has consumed a nicotine product within the last twenty-four hours.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2026
From: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST,
To: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 075901/0032 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2026
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075853/0773 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 071830/0819 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
Reel/Frame 069185/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2023
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064252/0225 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062114 FRAME: 0196. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062214/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062114/0195 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061282/0887 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061578/0865 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 060376/0271 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2022
From: COHEN, GAL A.
To: PLOOM, INC.
Reel/Frame 058935/0488 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 9, 2022
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058979/0945 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 9, 2022
From: PLOOM, INC.
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058979/0942 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16725981 · Dec 23, 2019
Continuation 14461284 · Aug 15, 2014
Continuation In Part 14012952 · Aug 28, 2013
Provisional Application 61694046 · Aug 28, 2012
Related Publication 20220053837A1 · Feb 24, 2022
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