LOW TEMPERATURE ELECTRONIC VAPORIZATION DEVICE AND METHODS

• US 20130042865A1
• Filed: 08/16/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ploom, Inc (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: MONSEES, James, BOWEN, Adam, MYALL, Patrick, HUNTER, Krista
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.27
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 1/32 Selection of materials for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 13/04 with arrangements for cleaning or cooling the smoke
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/90 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 7/02 with detachable connecting members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/048 with a flame, e.g. using a burner
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0026 Hinged caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 : Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 : with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 : Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 : Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 : Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B01B 1/005 : Evaporation for physical or chemical purposes; Evaporation apparatus therefor, e.g. evaporation of liquids for gas phase reactions
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 : Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 : Personal or domestic articles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/36 : with provision for obtaining particular characteristics, e.g. proportional, integral, differential
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 : using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 : Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 : Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 : Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 : flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

Low temperature electronic vaporization devices and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein the devices generate an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract.

Claims

1. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater comprising a heater circuit, an oven, and a printed circuit board within said body, said electronic heater configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol; and

(d) a temperature regulator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is split or integrated into the device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece retracts from the device with a push-push mechanism.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the heater circuit is soldered to the heater circuit board.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic heater comprises a resistive heating element and a thermistor configured monitor and precisely control vaporization temperature of the viscous vaporizable material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater circuit is a thin film polyimide heater.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic heater is sealed by a hermetic or dust seal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a magnetic control using reed or hall effect switch.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the magnetic control using reed or hall effect switch is integrated into the mouthpiece.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a magnetic lid.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a thermally conductive shell configured to distribute excess heat and configured maintain a low exposed surface temperature.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises time based or sensor based standby mode activation.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer or other tactile/vibration sensor, capacitive (touch) sensor, or a sensor for monitoring the thermistor configured to detect if the heater is being loaded by the user puffing on the device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a proportional integral derivative (PID) control loop configured to control operating temperature.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a thin wall metal heating chamber.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises aerogel insulation.

17. The device of claim 16, where the aerogel insulation comprises a silica aerogel with reinforcing fibers.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater is thermal pressed, ultrasonic bonded or over-molded into a high temperature capable plastic component.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the heater is heat stated or heat swaged into a high temperature capable plastic component.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the heater is heat swaged into a high temperature capable plastic component.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprise a magnetic charge connector configured to connect the device to a charger.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a single button interface.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the viscous vaporizable material is in a removable pod.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the removable pod comprises particles of the viscous vaporizable material that are less than about 2 microns.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the removable pod comprises the viscous vaporizable material consisting essentially of particle sizes that are less than about 2 microns.

26. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a temperature regulator and

(e) an aerogel insulation.

27. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a temperature regulator and

(e) a magnetic charge connector.

28. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a battery;

(e) a temperature regulator, and

(f) time or sensor based standby activation configured to conserve battery power.

29. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a battery;

(e) a temperature regulator, and

(f) a temperature control loop.

30. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a battery;

(e) a temperature regulator, and

(f) a single button interface.

31. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a battery;

(e) a temperature regulator;

wherein the electronic heater is sealed by a hermetic or dust seal.

32. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) a vaporization chamber;

(d) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(e) a temperature regulator; and

(f) a magnetic lid configured to cover the vaporization chamber.

33. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a thermally conductive shell configured to distribute excess heat and maintain a low exposed surface temperature; and

(e) a temperature regulator.

34. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol; and

(d) a temperature regulator; and

(e) a push-push mechanism configured to toggle the mouthpiece between a retracted and an “

on”

position.

35. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a temperature regulator; and

(e) a button-operated temperature selection with a visual indicator, an audible indicator and/or a vibration indicator.

36. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol;

(d) a temperature regulator; and

(e) a tilting lid comprising a magnetic attachment or a snap attachment configured to maintain the lid in its closed position and/or configured to prevent accidental opening.

37. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol; and

(d) a temperature regulator,

(e) wherein the mouthpiece is integrated into the device.

38. A device for generating an inhalable aerosol comprising:

(a) a mouthpiece;

(b) a body;

(c) an electronic heater comprising a heater circuit within said body configured to heat a viscous vaporizable material and generate an inhalable aerosol; and

(d) a temperature regulator;

wherein the heater circuit has low resistance such that a single battery is capable of powering the device.