Aerosol delivery device with microfluidic delivery component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11160939-B2
Application number	US-201816217784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2015
Publication date	Nov 2, 2021
Grant date	Nov 2, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic vaporizer, an aerosol delivery device that may include such vaporizer, and methods for forming an aerosol. A microfluidic vaporizer can comprise a substrate that defines: a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a heater adapted to vaporize the liquid; and a capillary channel configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. An aerosol delivery device can comprise a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer. The microfluidic vaporizer and aerosol delivery device can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:
a shell;
a reservoir positioned within the shell, the reservoir configured to hold a liquid; and
a heater positioned within the shell and in fluid connection with the reservoir, wherein:
the heater comprises a plurality of substantially linear channels configured to receive the liquid from the reservoir;
the plurality of substantially linear channels are configured for passage of the liquid therethrough;
the heater defines a resistance heating element configured to vaporize the liquid passing through the plurality of substantially linear channels; and
the plurality of substantially linear channels include an open end for egress of formed vapor therefrom.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater includes an insulating layer.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises an electrically conductive material.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the electrically conductive layer is a silicon-containing material.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises a cover.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the cover is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising an active transport element selected from the group consisting of valves, pumps, heaters, electrical field formers, stimuli-responsive materials, and combinations thereof.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises one or more flavors.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more flavors comprises nicotine.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises an aerosol former.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the aerosol former is selected from the group consisting of water, glycerol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises one or more electrical connections.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the resistance heating element is defined at terminal ends of the plurality of substantially linear capillary channels.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the shell is a first shell, and wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a second shell including a power source.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15 , further comprising an input adapted for providing a control instruction to the controller.

Assignees

• Rai Strategic Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Sears Stephen Benson
• Davis Michael F
• Taluskie Karen V
• Chang Yi-Ping
• Hunt Eric Taylor
• Sebastian Andries Don

Classifications

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• B01F23/2133

  using electric, sonic or ultrasonic energy · CPC title

• A61M2205/3653

  by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance · CPC title

• A24F40/485

  Valves; Apertures · CPC title