Construction of electronic cigarettes

[1] E-cigarette components include a mouthpiece (drip tip[2]), a cartridge (liquid storage area), a heating element/atomizer, a microprocessor, a battery, and some of them have an LED light on the end.

[27] E-liquid is the mixture used in vapor products such as e-cigarettes[28] and usually contain propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, flavorings, additives, and differing amounts of contaminants.

[30] The liquid typically consists of a combined total of 95% propylene glycol and glycerin, and the remaining 5% being flavorings, nicotine, and other additives.

[13] E-cigarette components include a mouthpiece, a cartridge (liquid storage area), a heating element/atomizer, a microprocessor, a battery, and some have a LED light on the end.

[57] A growing subclass of vapers called cloud-chasers configure their atomizers to produce large amounts of vapor by using low-resistance heating coils.

[12] The increasing numbers of new vaping products combined with unrelated functions attest to a clear trend toward customization of e-cigarettes.

[63] This is applied in the most recently introduced models, which are activated by a pressure difference when the user inhales from the e-cigarette, avoiding pressing a button to heat the device.

[63] Smartphone applications were introduced that track the number of e-cigarette puffs taken, calculate cost savings and increased life expectancy, and have features such as auto-shut down and password protection safety.

[63] This device could potentially synchronize to a smartphone application that is intended to help people quit smoking, and carefully track their progress.

[20] The early devices looked like a traditional cigarette, often including a small light on the tip that lit when the user puffed.

[64] These early systems were generally inefficient at delivering nicotine, in part because the particle sizes of the aerosol were too large to penetrate deep into the lungs.

[64] Newer versions feature replaceable or refillable reservoirs and rechargeable batteries that generate smaller particles and more efficient nicotine delivery.

[18] Some cheaper battery sections use a microphone that detects the turbulence of the air passing through to activate the device when the user inhales.

[4][78] The power section may include additional options such as screen readout, support for a wide range of internal batteries, and compatibility with different types of atomizers.

[81] An atomizer consists of a small heating element that vaporizes e-liquid and a wicking material that draws liquid onto the coil.

[85] "Rebuildable" or "do it yourself" atomizers can use silica, cotton, rayon, porous ceramic, hemp, bamboo yarn, oxidized stainless steel mesh and even wire rope cables as wicking materials.

[79] The user needs to manually keep the atomizer wet by dripping liquid on the bare wick and coil assembly, hence their name.

[103] Many devices rely on replaceable liquid pods that may contain propylene glycol, glycerin, benzoic acid, nicotine, and artificial flavors.

[99] Tests show that the pod mods Juul, Bo, Phix, and Sourin contain nicotine salts in a solution with propylene glycol and glycerin.

[61] Some of these devices include additional settings through their menu system such as: atomizer resistance meter, remaining battery voltage, puff counter, and power-off or lock.

[118] Nickel, titanium, NiFe alloys, and certain grades of stainless steel are common materials used for wire in temperature control.

[141]In 2009, FDA reported tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), diethylene glycol, cotinine, anabasine, myosmine, and beta-nicotyrine in e-liquids.

[142] TSNAs N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N-nitrosoanabasine, and nitrosoanatabine were detected in five e-liquid samples from two companies at levels comparable to other nicotine replacement products.

[145] The FDA warned several e-cigarette companies for selling e-cartridges and refill solutions containing active pharmaceutical ingredients such as rimonabant (Zimulti) for weight loss purposes and reducing smoking, and tadalafil (for erictile dysfunction).

[150] A 2016 study reported that some e-liquids contained tobacco alkaloids such as nornicotine, anabasine, anatabine, and TSNAs, such as N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamine)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK),[15] nitrates, and phenol.

[148] A 2014 study reported small quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene.

[155] In surveys of regular e-cigarette users, the most popular e-liquids had a nicotine content of 18 mg/ml, and the preferred flavors were largely tobacco, mint and fruit.

[37] First tier manufacturers use lab suits, gloves, hair covers, inside of certified clean rooms with air filtration similar to pharmaceutical-grade production areas.

[41] The AEMSA standards cover nicotine, ingredients, sanitary manufacturing rooms, safety packaging, age restrictions, and labeling.

[170][171] The FDA has sought to regulate e-liquid in 2014[172] through use of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act,[173] passed into law in June 2009.