ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,274,309, issued on April 15, was assigned to ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC (Richmond, Va.).

"Burning prediction and communications for an electronic cigarette" was invented by Nehemia Amir (Shoham, Israel).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An electronic cigarette comprises a battery portion which is operable to provide power to a heating element of the electronic cigarette, and a cartomizer coupled with the battery portion. The cartomizer comprises a liquid container which provides a liquid toward the heating element wherein the liquid is used for producing and flavoring a vapor of the electronic cigarette when the liquid is heated by the heatin...