History

The earliest concept of an electronic cigarette can be traced to an idea by Herbert A. Gilbert,
who in 1963 patented a device described as "a smokeless non-tobacco
cigarette" that involved "replacing burning tobacco and paper with
heated, moist, flavored air." This device heated the nicotine solution
and produced steam. In 1967, Gilbert was approached by several companies
interested in manufacturing it, but it was never commercialized and
disappeared from the public record after 1967.

Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, is widely credited with the invention of the first generation electronic cigarette. In 2000, he came up with the idea of using a piezoelectric ultrasound-emitting element to vaporize a pressurized jet of liquid containing nicotine diluted in a propylene glycol  solution.
This design produces a smoke-like vapor that can be inhaled and
provides a vehicle for nicotine delivery into the bloodstream via the
lungs. He also proposed using propylene glycol to dilute nicotine and
placing it in a disposable plastic cartridge which serves as a liquid
reservoir and mouthpiece. These inventions are the basis of the
present-day electronic cigarettes.

The device was first introduced to the Chinese domestic market in May
2004 as an aid for smoking cessation and replacement. The company that
Hon Lik worked for, Golden Dragon Holdings, changed its name to Ruyan (??, literally "Resembling smoking"), and started exporting its products in 2005–2006 before receiving its first international patent in 2007.

The second generation electronic cigarette, or modern electronic
cigarette, was invented and introduced to market in 2008 by Dr. Yunqiang
Xiu before receiving its international patents in 2009 & UK patent
in 2011.
The modern electronic cigarette featured the "tankomizer" (or sealed
tank system and sealed atomizer technology). This is more useful for
pharmaceutical and medical devices industries.

New Invention of 1963: The Smokeless Non-Tobacco Cigarette

Many people wonder about who actually invented the electronic cigarette.
Most don’t know, while others would claim it is Hon Lik from China. But
in 1963, Herbert A. Gilbert filed his patent on a smokeless non-tobacco
cigarette. Two years later his patent was accepted. The whole patent
issue becomes somewhat complicated when you consider new technology and
different designs, but what is clear is that 46 years ago Herbert
submitted the idea of a smokeless cigarette to the United States Patent
Office. Here is an excerpt:

“The present invention relates to a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette
and has for an object to provide a safe and harmless means for and
method of smoking by replacing burning tobacco and paper with heated,
moist, flavored air; or by inhaling warm medication into the lungs in
case of a respiratory ailment under direction of a physician.”

Herbert….I’m telling the FDA you said that.

Who is Herbert A. Gilbert and what did he patent in 1965?