Vaporizer device including metallic bifunctional wick-heater assembly
A vaporization device includes a cartridge having a reservoir that holds a vaporizable material, a heating element, and a wicking element that can draw the vaporizable material to the heating element to be vaporized. The vaporizer cartridge is configured for coupling to a vaporizer device body and containing a vaporizable material. Various embodiments of the vaporizer cartridge are described that include a bifunctional wick-heater assembly using a porous metal. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
1 . A vaporizer device, comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain a liquid vaporizable material;
a porous metal substrate having an airflow cutout forming an air channel therethrough, wherein a portion of the porous metal substrate surrounding the airflow cutout is in direct contact with the liquid vaporizable material contained in the reservoir and wherein the porous metal substrate is configured to draw the liquid vaporizable material via capillary force from the reservoir into the porous metal substrate, the porous metal substrate further configured to receive an electrical current to heat the liquid vaporizable material contained within the porous metal substrate to generate a vapor from the liquid vaporizable material; and
a first bus bar and a second bus bar, the first bus bar disposed at a first end of the porous metal substrate and the second bus bar disposed at a second end of the porous metal substrate, wherein the first bus bar and the second bus bar are configured to provide the electrical current to the porous metal substrate.
2 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a condensation chamber within which the vapor condenses to generate an inhalable aerosol, the condensation chamber in fluid communication with the air channel of the porous metal substrate and an aerosol outlet.
3 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the airflow cutout of the porous metal substrate is configured to allow unimpeded airflow therethrough.
4 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first air inlet in fluid communication with the air channel of the porous metal substrate, the first air inlet configured to deliver air to the air channel of the porous metal substrate.
5 . The vaporizer device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second air inlet in fluid communication with the air channel of the porous metal substrate, the second air inlet configured to deliver air to the air channel of the porous metal substrate.
6 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cannula in fluid communication with the airflow cutout to deliver vaporized material from the air channel of the porous metal substrate to an aerosol outlet of the vaporizer device, the cannula extending through the reservoir.
7 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate comprises aluminum, titanium, or alloys thereof.
8 . The vaporizer device of claim 7 , wherein the porous metal substrate includes an alloy comprising iron, chromium, and aluminum.
9 . The vaporizer device of claim 7 , wherein the porous metal substrate is a metal foam.
10 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate comprises a plurality of fluid channels configured to control fluid flow of the liquid vaporizable material.
11 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate has an average pore size diameter from about 5 microns to about 50 microns.
12 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate has an average pore size diameter from about 10 microns to about 40 microns.
13 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate has an average pore size diameter from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
14 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate has an average pore size diameter from about 10 microns to about 20 microns.
15 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the porous metal substrate comprises a surface treatment.
16 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises nicotine, and a humectant including propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, or combinations thereof.
17 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises a nicotine salt formulation.
18 . The vaporizer device of claim 1 , further comprising a vaporizer cartridge and a vaporizer body, wherein the reservoir, porous metal substrate, the first bus bar, and the second bus bar are positioned within the vaporizer cartridge, and wherein the vaporizer cartridge is configured to couple with the vaporizer body.
19 . The vaporizer device of claim 18 , wherein the first bus bar comprises a first cartridge contact and the second bus bar comprises a second cartridge contact.