Table 1.
Terms Used by Researchers to Describe Different ECIG Device Types and Features
| Overall device | Liquid container | Battery | Other features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First generation3,8–16 | Cigalike3,8–15 | Cartridge9,13 | Rechargeable3,9,10 | Lights up at the end15 |
| Vape stick11 | Not specified8 | Fully disposable3,8,10 | Same size but heavier than a cigarette15 | |
| Pen-style cigalike11 | Cartomizer10 | Fixed, low voltage3 | Disposable (part(s) not specified)13,14 | |
| Not refillable8,9 | Not rechargeable8 | |||
| Reloadable13 | Low capacity10 | |||
| Closed9 | ||||
| Second generation3,8–15 | Tank system or tank-style11,12,14 | Cartridge8 | Pen-style3,8 | Larger than a cigalike15 |
| Vape pen9,12,13 | Tank3,10 | Larger, higher powered than first generation3,10,12 | Looks like a laser pointer15 | |
| Personal vaporizer15 | Clearomizer3,10,11 | Variable voltage3 | Tubular shaped14 | |
| Pen or pen-like15 | Refillable3,8–10,13,14 | Thin11 | Resemble pens or gadgets10 | |
| Prefilled8 | Rechargeable8,12,14 | Reusable (part(s) not specified)8,9 | ||
| Transparent cartridge11,12 | Has a button15 | |||
| Open9 | ||||
| Third generation3,8–15 | Mod3,8,9,11–13,15 | Refillable8,9 | Modifiable3 | Fluid reservoir similar to second generation3 |
| Box mod12,14 | Open9 | Adjustable voltage3,8,13–15 | Has a button15 | |
| Tank-style or tank system8,9,13 | Adjustable wattage3,8,13–15 | Larger than first and second generation15 | ||
| Sub-ohm tank8 | Adjustable power3,10 | Reusable (part(s) not specified)8,9 | ||
| Modifiable ECIG9 | Rechargeable8,12 | Can modify components12 | ||
| Mechanical mod15 | Larger capacity than second generation10,12 | |||
| Vaping product11 | ||||
| Regulated mod15 | ||||
| Fourth generation3,8,9,13–15 | Pod3,9 | Pod8,9,14 | Rechargeable9 | Modifiable system8 |
| Pod mod8,14 | Cartridge8 | Fixed voltage3 | Does not have a button14 | |
| Prefilled8 | Various shapes3 | |||
| Refillable8,9 | Adjustable wattage15 | |||
| Disposable9 | Adjustable voltage15 | |||
| Contains atomizer14 | Sub-ohm resistance15 |
Articles cited in the table were selected by conducting a search using all possible terms (eg, first generation, fourth generation, mods, pods, cigalike, tank, pen), and this process was repeated several times until searches returned few if any relevant articles (ie, articles that offered new information or different examples of ECIG-related terminology). From the final list, we selected a portion that best demonstrated the variability in terminology that was observed while keeping below the maximum number of references permitted for this commentary. ECIG = electronic cigarette.