HAND-HELD INHALABLE VAPOR PRODUCING DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20180098572A1
• Filed: 10/10/2016
• Published: 04/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Edward Breede
• Original Assignee: InnovoSciences, LLC
• Inventors: MINSKOFF, Noah Mark, MAGYAR, Robert Stanford
• Granted Patent: US 10,440,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0211 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence

Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating and delivering an inhalable vapor or aerosol. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to generate and deliver a vapor or aerosol containing tobacco for use in, for example, traditional smoking or, for example, to deliver a smoking cessation therapy. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used for generating and delivering a vapor or aerosol comprising a medicament. For example, in some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to deliver an inhalable medicament to the lungs of a patient.

Claims

1. A hand-held inhalable vapor producing device comprising:

a cartridge having an opening and containing a liquid;

a channel outside of the cartridge that is continuous with the opening and positioned to receive the liquid from the cartridge;

a thermal valve that seals the opening in a first conformation and unseals the opening in a second conformation so that when the valve unseals the opening, the liquid is able to flow from the cartridge into the channel;

a thermal conducting plate having a plurality of pores and in fluid communication with the channel, the thermal conducting plate configured to receive the liquid from the channel within the plurality of pores; and

a heat source configured to apply heat to the thermal valve and the thermal conducting plate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge contains an ejector that advances the liquid through the opening and into the channel when the opening is unsealed.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ejector travels frictionlessly within the cartridge.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the ejector and the cartridge are made of glass.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is removable from the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge contains a bag that opens to the opening and the liquid is within the bag.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the bag is positioned to advance the liquid through the opening and into the channel when the opening is unsealed.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises nicotine.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured so that liquid advances through the channel due to capillary action.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve changes from the first conformation to the second conformation when the valve is heated by the heat source.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the valve comprises one or more materials that change conformation when heated.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the valve comprises a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, wherein the second metallic layer is positioned to face towards the heat source, and wherein the second metallic layer has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the valve comprises a rod that is positioned to seal the opening in the first conformation, and wherein the rod is positioned to move away from the opening in the second conformation thereby unsealing the opening.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the channel has a proximal end towards the cartridge and a distal end towards the thermal conductor, and wherein the channel widens into a reservoir at the distal end.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the thermal conductor is positioned to receive the liquid from the reservoir.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal conductor comprises a metal.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the thermal conductor comprises titanium.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the thermal conductor comprises a ceramic.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a light source.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the light source comprises a laser.