Devices for presenting airborne materials to the nose

Apparatus for micro-dispensation of airborne materials for inhalation or sniffing, comprising:

• at least one fluid reservoir;
• means for micro-dispensing fluid from said at least one reservoir comprising an ink-jet type dispenser;
• means for generating airborne materials from said fluid for inhalation or sniffing by a subject;
• and
• means for delivering airborne materials for inhalation or sniffing by said subject wherein said means for delivering said airborne materials delivers said airborne materials to discrete portions of an area selected from the group consisting of said subject's olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ wherein said discrete portions have a size off from 10,000 to 100,000 square microns.

Apparatus for micro-dispensation of airborne materials for inhalation or sniffing, comprising:

• at least one fluid reservoir containing fluid to be dispensed;
• a digital micro-dispenser in communication with said at least one fluid reservoir and a controller operably connected to the micro-dispenser and capable of controllably causing the micro-dispenser to dispense discrete micro droplets of said fluid;
• a heating wick for generating airborne materials from said fluid for inhalation or sniffing by a subject;
• and
• the digital micro-dispenser being positioned to dispense said micro droplets onto the heating wick.

Apparatus for micro-dispensation of airborne materials for inhalation or sniffing, comprising:

• a plurality of fluid reservoirs containing fluid to be dispensed;
• a plurality of digital micro-dispensers comprising an ink-jet type dispenser in communication with said plurality of fluid reservoirs and a controller operably connected to the micro-dispenser and capable of controllably causing the micro-dispenser to dispense discrete micro-droplets of said fluids;
• at least one heating wick under control of the controller for generating airborne materials from said fluids for inhalation or sniffing by a subject;
• and
• the plurality of ink-jet dispensers being positioned to dispense said micro-droplets onto said at least one heating wick.

Apparatus for micro-dispensing of airborne of vapor for inhalation or sniffing, comprising:

• a chip comprising a multiplicity of individual fluid reservoirs having fluid disposed therein;
• heating elements in contact with the fluid in the individual fluid reservoirs capable of vaporizing fluid disposed in said individual fluid reservoirs;
• a digital programmable controller capable of generating airborne materials from the fluid in the reservoirs by activating the heating elements for inhalation or sniffing of the airborne vapors by s subject;
• and
• wherein said chip is provided with a cover for encapsulating the fluids within each said reservoir until the activation of the heating elements.

Apparatus for micro-dispensation of airborne materials for inhalation or sniffing, comprising:

• a chip comprising a multiplicity of individual fluid reservoirs, each of said reservoirs having a first fluid and a second fluid therein;
• heating elements in contact with the first fluid in the individual fluid reservoirs;
• a digital programmable controller capable of generating airborne materials from the fluid in the reservoirs by activating the heating elements;
• and
• the first fluid and the second fluid being ejected upon vaporization of the first fluid when the heating elements are activated.

A method for micro-dispensation of airborne material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a digital dispenser for micro-dispensing discrete droplets of fluid;
• providing at least one heating wick for generating airborne materials from fluid deposited thereon;
• heating the wick to a selected temperature above ambient temperature;
• and
• depositing at least one individual droplet of said fluid by operating said micro-dispenser upon the at least one heated wick to generate airborne materials from said fluid for inhalation or sniffing by a subject.

A method for micro-dispensation of airborne material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a digital dispenser for micro-dispensing discrete droplets of fluid;
• providing a fluid supply to the digital micro-dispenser;
• providing a heating wick which can be operated at variable temperatures;
• and
• depositing one or more individual droplets of said fluid from said micro-dispenser upon said heated wick at a selected temperature which controls rise time and amplitude of a fluid vapor puff produced from said fluid droplets impacting said heating wick;
• whereby a temporal envelope of fluid vapor puffs is controlled by controlling the temperature of the wick.