Abstract: Hydration of a larynx and/or vicinity with a composition comprising a salt formulation (e.g., CaCl2), MgCl2, KCl and/or NaCl) can achieve prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects (e.g., cough suppression, improving voice quality, increasing pulse oxygen saturation and/or increasing mucosal vaccination effectiveness). The composition is administered as dry particles (e.g., aerosol) or as a liquid (e.g., solution, aerosol). The liquid can have a pH of 7.0 up to around 10.0, or preferably around 7.5 up to around 9.5, or more preferably around 8.0 up to around 9.0, or even more preferably 8.0 to 8.5 or most preferably around 8.0. The droplets can have a mass median aerodynamic diameter from approximately 8 ?m to approximately 15 ?m or from approximately 15 ?m to approximately 500 ?m. A therapeutic dose (e.g., 0.5 mg to 4.0 mg mass of salt) is administered in response to an indication. Such can employ an osmolitically active composition.

Abstract: A scent release system includes scent cartridges containing temperature activated scent media. The scent cartridges may bear machine-readable identification that specifies which scent media are carried by the cartridge. The scent release system can be controlled by a timer to initiate a phase change of the scent media to selectively release one or more scents, followed by a reverse phase change to selectively stop release of the respective scents. A scent release system in conjunction with a mobile electronic device, such as a smart phone, allows sending and receiving scent messages. The scent release system can be built into a case for the mobile electronic device, eliminating the need for a separate unit. A private scent delivery device in the form of a headset can be worn by users of a scent release system or by scent message recipients.

Abstract: Hydration of a larynx and/or vicinity with a composition comprising a salt formulation (e.g., CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl and/or NaCl) can achieve prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects (e.g., cough suppression, improving voice quality, increasing pulse oxygen saturation and/or increasing mucosal vaccination effectiveness). The composition is administered as dry particles (e.g., aerosol) or as a liquid (e.g., solution, aerosol). The liquid can have a pH of 7.0 up to around 10.0, or preferably around 7.5 up to around 9.5, or more preferably around 8.0 up to around 9.0, or even more preferably 8.0 to 8.5 or most preferably around 8.0. The droplets can have a mass median aerodynamic diameter from approximately 8 µm to approximately 15 µm or from approximately 15 µm to approximately 500 µm. A therapeutic dose (e.g., 0.5 mg to 4.0 mg mass of salt) is administered in response to an indication. Such can employ an osmolitically active composition.

Abstract: A system to provide media (e.g., scent, therapeutics, other substances) includes a dispenser that may include a reservoir, an actuator (e.g., nebulizer), and an outlet through which a vapor or aerosol may be supplied or dispensed, the vapor or aerosol, for example comprising readily-soluble droplets having a median size range of approximately 2 microns to approximately 50, 20, or 10 microns for introduction to vessel. An interface is positionable over an opening of the vessel to close the opening while allow media to be dispensed into the interior of the vessel, thereby retaining the dispensed media until taken in by a user. The interface (e.g., annular plate) has a pair of opposed major surfaces, and the first major face supported on a rim of the vessel, with the dispenser supported on the second major face in an inverted orientation. A sensor may sense orientation, and cause an actuator (e.g., nebulizer) to dispense media when in the inverted orientation or otherwise titled for normal.

Abstract: A scent dispensing device is disclosed. The scent dispensing device has a housing that has a cavity which forms an interior of the housing and separates the interior from an external environment. The cavity may be sized and dimensioned to receive at least one scent cartridge. The housing may have a number of apertures that each provide a respective flow path between the interior of the housing and the external environment. A number of selectively permeable membranes may be positioned in the flow paths. The selectively permeable membranes may selectively block moisture from reaching the interior of the housing from the external environment and may permit passage of gas between the interior of the housing and the external environment including passage of at least one scent from the interior of the housing to the external environment.

Abstract: A scent release system includes scent cartridges containing temperature activated scent media. The scent cartridges may bear machine-readable identification that specifies which scent media are carried by the cartridge. The scent release system can be controlled by a timer to initiate a phase change of the scent media to selectively release one or more scents, followed by a reverse phase change to selectively stop release of the respective scents. A scent release system in conjunction with a mobile electronic device, such as a smart phone, allows sending and receiving scent messages. The scent release system can be built into a case for the mobile electronic device, eliminating the need for a separate unit. A private scent delivery device in the form of a headset can be worn by users of a scent release system or by scent message recipients.

Abstract: A system to provide active agent (e.g., scent molecules) includes a delivery system that may include a reservoir, an actuator (e.g., nebulizer), and a fluidly communicative scent path through which a vapor or aerosol may be supplied or dispensed, the vapor or aerosol comprising readily-soluble droplets having a median size range of approximately 2 microns to approximately 50, 20, or 10 microns for introduction to an animal via a retro-nasal route. The vapor or aerosol may be dispensed below a top of the vessel, in a direction that at least initially retains the vapor or aerosol in the vessel. The system may include a base to support or secure the vessel, a cover to close the vessel, and, or a conduit or straw to sip from the vessel. The system can include switches or sensors to provide signals to control operation of the actuator, for instance, based on position, orientation, or direct or indirect user input. The system takes the form of conduit, e.g., straw or stirrer.

Abstract: A scent dispenser includes a housing, holder having scent cartridge receiver(s) to removably hold scent cartridges, baffle(s) with a port which is positionable, actuator(s) (e.g., stepper motors), and a control subsystem that drives the actuators to position the baffles to selectively dispense scent from the scent cartridges. The scent cartridges can have passages, at least some of which contain scent media, and optionally one passage without scent media. The housing can be cylindrical and fittable in a cup holder of an automobile. The scent dispenser can have vents at a bottom, a grille at a top, and an air mover (e.g., fan) to create an air flow from the vents through the grille, passing through any scent channels which are aligned with the ports to dispense scent. One or more substrates (e.g., printed circuit boards) can have apertures (e.g., large central passage) to facilitate the air flow.

Abstract: A system to provide scents includes a scent receiver to replaceable receive scent carriers that carry scent media, a scent actuator operable to controllable release scent, and a configurable circulation subsystem. Peltier devices may used to induce active heating and active cooling of scent media according to defined scent sequence information or scent tracks. The system is also operable to collect air, including scents, from an ambient environment, and temporarily retaining such for sampling by a user. Scent tracks may be defined and shared amongst users and other entities.

Abstract: A scent dispensing device is disclosed. The scent dispensing device has a housing that has a cavity which forms an interior of the housing and separates the interior from an external environment. The cavity may be sized and dimensioned to receive at least one scent cartridge. The housing may have a number of apertures that each provide a respective flow path between the interior of the housing and the external environment. A number of selectively permeable membranes may be positioned in the flow paths. The selectively permeable membranes may selectively block moisture from reaching the interior of the housing from the external environment and may permit passage of gas between the interior of the housing and the external environment including passage of at least one scent from the interior of the housing to the external environment.

Abstract: A method of operating a scent dispensing device includes starting operation of an air mover to move air. A motor orients a scent cartridge in a first orientation in which an outlet of a first chamber of the scent cartridge is fluidly communicatively coupled with a port of the scent dispensing device. A direction and an amount of movement from the first orientation to orient the scent cartridge in a second orientation in which an outlet of a second chamber of the scent cartridge is fluidly communicatively coupled with the first port of the scent dispensing device are determined. The scent cartridge is then oriented in the second orientation. A consumable scent cartridge includes a housing having walls that define chambers arrayed about a rotational axis and consumable scent media received in at least two of the chambers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing scents in a social network environment. Users of a social network service can combine visual, audio, and olfactory effects into digital posts or messages that can be experienced by other users of the social network service. A program executing on a user computing device facilitates user interaction with the social network service. The program operates to control one or more scent dispensing devices to cause the scent dispensing devices to dispense one or more scents according to a scent specification generated by users of the social network service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing scents. A beacon transmits short-range wireless signals to detect mobile devices located proximate to the beacon. The beacon transmits scent messages to users of the mobile devices providing the users with opportunities for experiencing one or more scents on a scent dispensing device. The scent dispensing device receives scent dispensing instructions from one or more computing devices. The scent messages may include product information, product advertisements, and/or instructions to assist a user to locate a scent dispensing device.

Abstract: A system to provide scents includes a scent receiver to replaceable receive scent carriers that carry scent media, a scent actuator operable to controllable release scent, and a configurable circulation subsystem. Peltier devices may used to induce active heating and active cooling of scent media according to defined scent sequence information or scent tracks. The system is also operable to collect air, including scents, from an ambient environment, and temporarily retaining such for sampling by a user. Scent tracks may be defined and shared amongst users and other entities.

Abstract: A scent release system includes scent cartridges containing temperature activated scent media. The scent cartridges may bear machine-readable identification that specifies which scent media are carried by the cartridge. The scent release system can be controlled by a timer to initiate a phase change of the scent media to selectively release one or more scents, followed by a reverse phase change to selectively stop release of the respective scents. A scent release system in conjunction with a mobile electronic device, such as a smart phone, allows sending and receiving scent messages. The scent release system can be built into a case for the mobile electronic device, eliminating the need for a separate unit. A private scent delivery device in the form of a headset can be worn by users of a scent release system or by scent message recipients.