Switchable gas and liquid release and delivery devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing switchable dispensing and/or delivery of scented substances. In one aspect, a device includes a cartridge structured to include one or more chambers containing one or more scented substances contained in a corresponding chamber, a housing structured to include a compartment to hold the cartridge, an opening to allow the scented sub stances to dispense to an outer environment from the device, and one or more transporting channels formed between the compartment and the opening, in which each of the one or more transporting channels is configured to accelerate a scented substance from the corresponding chamber to the opening, and an actuator switch arranged in a corresponding transporting channel and operable to move between an open position and a closed position based on an applied signal to selectively allow passage of the scented substance from the corresponding transporting path.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A drug delivery device, comprising:
 a cartridge including one or more chambers containing one or more substances;   a housing including a compartment to hold the cartridge, an opening to allow one or more actuator-selected substances to form as a drug to dispense to an outer environment from the device, and one or more transporting channels disposed between the compartment and the opening, wherein the one or more transporting channels are configured to carry the one or more actuator-selected substances from corresponding one or more chambers to the opening for delivering the drug to the outer environment; and   one or more actuator switches arranged in the one or more transporting channels and operable to move between an open position and a closed position based on an applied signal to selectively allow passage of a substance through a corresponding transporting channel.   
     
     
         22 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the one or more substances include at least one of a gas, a vapor, or a liquid. 
     
     
         23 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the one or more actuator switches are operable by actuation of at least one of a magnetic, piezoelectric, or thermal actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         24 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the applied signal includes a pulsed electrical current having a pulse duration of less than 1 second. 
     
     
         25 . The device as in  claim 24 , wherein the open position or the closed position of the one or more actuator switches is maintained without any use of additional electrical power after the pulsed electrical current is applied. 
     
     
         26 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the applied signal includes a pulsed magnetic field having a pulse duration of less than 1 second. 
     
     
         27 . The device as in  claim 26 , wherein the applied pulsed magnetic field is produced by an applied multiple cycle electrical current. 
     
     
         28 . The device as in  claim 27 , wherein the multiple cycle electrical current and resultant magnetic field are generated with a gradually diminishing amplitude for demagnetization, whereby the one or more actuator switches is operable to actuate movement to the open position or the closed position without any additional electrical power after the multiple cycle electrical current is applied. 
     
     
         29 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein at least one actuator switch of the one or more actuator switches includes a magnetically latchable gating structure including a first mating magnetic component and a second mating magnetic component that are coupled in the closed position and uncoupled in the open position. 
     
     
         30 . The device as in  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first mating magnetic component includes a solenoid comprising a solenoid core having a substantially square-loop magnetization loop material, and   the second mating magnetic component is structured to bend or change its translational position upon a change in magnetic field from the solenoid core to actuate the opening or closing of the at least one actuator switch in a transporting channel.   
     
     
         31 . The device as in  claim 30 , wherein the solenoid core having the substantially square-loop magnetization loop material includes a remanent induction to magnetic saturation squareness ratio of at least 0.85. 
     
     
         32 . The device as in  claim 30 , wherein the solenoid core having the substantially square-loop magnetization loop material provides a coercive force in a range of 20 Oe to 100 Oe. 
     
     
         33 . The device as in  claim 30 , wherein one or both of the first and the second mating magnetic components includes a magnetic alloy including at least one of a square loop Fe—Cr—Co based spinodally decomposed alloy, a Fe—Cr base alloy, a Fe—Ni base alloy, a Fe—Cr—Ni base alloy, a Fe—Co base alloy, a Fe—Mo alloy, a Fe—Ni—Mo base alloy, a Fe—Si base alloy, a Cu—Ni—Fe based spinodally decomposed alloy, or a Cu—Ni—Co based spinodally decomposed alloy. 
     
     
         34 . The device as in  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the square loop Fe—Cr—Co based spinodally decomposed alloy, the Fe—Cr base alloy, the Fe—Ni base alloy, the Fe—Cr—Ni base alloy, the Fe—Co base alloy, the Fe—Mo alloy, the Fe—Ni—Mo base alloy, or the Fe—Si base alloy includes at least 50 weight percent Fe. 
     
     
         35 . The device as in  claim 33 , wherein at least one of the Cu—Ni—Fe based spinodally decomposed alloy, or the Cu—Ni—Co based spinodally decomposed alloy includes at least 50 weight percent Cu. 
     
     
         36 . The device as in  claim 30 , wherein the first mating magnetic component is positioned vertically or horizontally in the transporting channel, and the second mating magnetic component includes a tip coated with a compliant material to form a tight sealing between the first and the second mating magnetic components when the at least one actuator switch is in the closed position. 
     
     
         37 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein at least one actuator switch of the one or more actuator switches includes:
 a plug formed in the corresponding transporting channel and including an orifice to allow a substance of the one or more substances to flow, and   a spring component configured in the corresponding transporting channel proximate the orifice of the plug and operable to move toward and away from the orifice based on the applied signal causing the spring component to thermally expand to block the orifice or retract to not block the orifice.   
     
     
         38 . The device as in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an electrical circuit including an array of one or both of transistors and relay switches coupled to the one or more actuator switches to control application of the applied signal to each of the one or more actuator switches.   
     
     
         39 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the one or more transporting channels are configured in an array of transporting nanoscale or microscale channels connecting the one or more chambers to an array of openings of the housing. 
     
     
         40 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the device is configured to be one of a handheld device, a wearable device, or a fixed device. 
     
     
         41 . The device as in  claim 21 , wherein the device is configured to be programmed for timed release and dispensing of the drug.