Aerosol generating device

• US 10,194,693 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fontem Ventures BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Fontem Holdings 1 BV (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: Wensley, Martin, Lloyd, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US14/491,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/288 Instantaneous electrical steam generators built-up from heat-exchange elements arranged within a confined chamber having heat-retaining walls

Abstract

Provided herein are methods, devices, kits, and systems for modulating aerosol particle size generated by an aerosol generating device (e.g., electronic nicotine delivery device). Also described herein are methods, devices, kits, and systems for modulating the delivery of aerosol particles generated by an aerosol generating device (e.g., an electronic nicotine delivery device) to the deep lung of a subject.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, the device comprising an elongated housing comprising:

a. a reservoir comprising a liquid substrate comprising nicotine and a carrier;

b. an air flow channel comprising;

i. a first air inlet;

ii. a heater element, wherein the heater element comprises a coil wrapped around a wick element, wherein the coil and wick element are made of an electrically resistive material that when heated vaporizes the liquid substrate comprising nicotine and a carrier that is delivered onto the heater element;

iii. a tube located within the air flow channel;

wherein the tube is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the heater element; and

iv. an outlet, wherein the heater element is located in an aerosol generation region of the air flow channel between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the device is configured to emit a condensation aerosol comprising nicotine and a carrier from the outlet;

v. a second air inlet, wherein the second air inlet is located between the aerosol generation region and the outlet;

c. a pump connected to the tube, wherein the pump is configured to deliver the liquid substrate comprising nicotine and the carrier through the tube onto the heater element;

d. an air flow switch, wherein the air flow switch is configured to activate the heater element at an air flow rate through the aerosol generating region of less than 1 LPM; and

e. a power supply, wherein the power supply is in electrical communication with the heater element and the air flow switch.

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 wherein entrainment air enters the air flow channel through the second air inlet and entrains condensation aerosol particles having a diameter of from about 1 μ

m to about 5 μ

m at a rate effective to deliver the condensation aerosol to a deep lung of a user of the device.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 wherein the entrainment air has a flow rate of about 6 liters per minute to about 40 liters per minute (LPM).

4. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 wherein the air flow channel comprises a gas-control valve located between the first inlet and the aerosol generation region, wherein the gas-control valve is configured to limit air flowing through the aerosol generation region of the air flow channel to the a flow rate that generates condensation aerosol particles having a diameter of from about 1 μ

m to about 5 μ

m.

5. The aerosol generating device of claim 4 wherein the diameter is a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD).

6. An aerosol generating device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir in the housing, the reservoir containing a liquid substrate including nicotine and a carrier;

an air flow channel including a first air inlet, a second air inlet, and an outlet;

a heater in an aerosol generation region of the air flow channel between the first air inlet and the outlet, the heater including a coil wrapped around a wick, the coil and wick comprising electrically resistive materials;

the second air inlet located between the aerosol generation region and the outlet;

a pump connected to a tube leading from the reservoir to the heater;

an air flow switch configured to activate the heater at a predetermined air flow rate through the aerosol generating region; and

a battery electrically connected to the heater and the air flow switch.

7. An aerosol generating device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir in the housing containing a liquid;

an air flow channel in the housing including a first air inlet, a second air inlet, and an outlet;

a heater in an aerosol generation region of the air flow channel between the first air inlet and the outlet;

the second air inlet located between the aerosol generation region and the outlet;

a pump for pumping liquid from the reservoir through a tube to the heater;

an air flow switch configured to activate the heater at a predetermined air flow rate through the aerosol generating region; and

a battery electrically connectable to the heater, the air flow switch and the pump.

8. The aerosol generating device of claim 7 wherein the heater includes a coil wrapped around a wick.

9. The aerosol generating device of claim 8 wherein the coil and the wick comprise electrically resistive materials.