Vaporizer for inhalation and method for extraction of active ingredients from a crude natural product or other matrix

Abstract

A vaporizer apparatus and method for uniformly extracting active ingredients of a specimen of crude natural product or inert particulate matrix impregnated with volatile substances, without pyrolysis, which uses hot air or a heated inert gas stream to volatilize the specimen. The heated air or gas is introduced from below (from either a hot air gun or a high pressure tank connected to a heat exchanger) and ascends through a permeable support structure (e.g., fritted glass disk, etc.), subsequently causing specimen particles disposed on the permeable support structure to be suspended within the confines of an isolation chamber. This allows a maximized gas extraction exposure for each suspended particle, and promotes a uniform extraction of the aggregate charge through its periodic mixing. A filter prevents the particles from being inhaled by the user. During device disuse, the heated airstream flows through an optional side-arm of the vaporizer apparatus, preventing wasteful loss of active ingredients. In another embodiment, the side-arm can also be used to divert mixed purge gases from the specimen required to be under inert gas during its extraction.