Droplet device with surface tension plate
An electronically actuated droplet delivery device with a mouthpiece for inhaling fluid droplets includes an ejector mechanism having an electronic actuator operably coupled to an aperture plate. A fluid reservoir provided fluid to the ejector mechanism through a surface tension plate that increases contact between the fluid from the fluid reservoir and the aperture plate.
1 . An electronically actuated droplet delivery device comprising:
a housing comprising a mouthpiece located at an airflow exit side of the housing;
an unopened and prefilled fluid reservoir removably coupled with the housing;
an electronically actuated ejector mechanism in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and configured to generate an ejected stream of droplets;
the ejector mechanism comprising an actuator and an aperture plate, the aperture plate having a plurality of openings formed through its thickness and the actuator operable to oscillate the aperture plate at a frequency to thereby generate the ejected stream of droplets; and
a surface tension plate at a bottom of the fluid reservoir between the aperture plate and a top of the fluid reservoir, wherein the surface tension plate is combined with the fluid reservoir and ejector mechanism in a removable module having a module insertion guide and coupled with the housing.
2 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein at least about 50% of droplets in the ejected stream of droplets have an average ejected droplet diameter of less than about 5 microns.
3 . The droplet delivery device of claim 2 , further comprising at least one pressure sensor positioned within the housing, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is configured to activate the ejector mechanism upon sensing a pre-determined pressure change within the housing to thereby generate the ejected stream of droplets.
4 . The droplet delivery device of claim 3 , further comprising a housing cup as part of said fluid reservoir including the surface tension plate.
5 . The droplet delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the mouthpiece is removably coupled with the housing.
6 . The droplet delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the aperture plate is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of poly ether ether ketone (PEEK), polyimide, polyetherimide, polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), Ni, NiCo, Pd, Pt, NiPd, metal alloys, and combinations thereof.
7 . The droplet delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another.
8 . The droplet delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.
9 . The droplet delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another.
10 . The droplet delivery device of claim 9 , wherein the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
11 . The droplet delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
12 . The droplet delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and the aperture plate.
13 . The droplet delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another.
14 . The droplet delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
15 . The droplet delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another.
16 . The droplet delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.
17 . The droplet delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
18 . The droplet delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and the aperture plate.
19 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another.
20 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.
21 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
22 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension plate includes a plurality of openings.
23 . The droplet delivery device of claim 22 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and aperture plate.
24 . The droplet delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and the aperture plate.
25 . An electronically actuated droplet delivery device comprising:
a housing comprising a mouthpiece located at an airflow exit side of the housing;
an unopened and prefilled fluid reservoir removably coupled with the housing containing a fluid including nicotine or a chemical that is in marijuana;
an electronically actuated ejector mechanism in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and configured to generate an ejected stream of droplets;
the ejector mechanism comprising a piezoelectric actuator and an aperture plate, the aperture plate having a plurality of openings formed through its thickness and the piezoelectric actuator operable to oscillate the aperture plate at a frequency to thereby generate the ejected stream of droplets; and
a surface tension plate at a bottom of the fluid reservoir between the aperture plate and a top of the fluid reservoir, wherein the surface tension plate is combined with the fluid reservoir and ejector mechanism in a removable module having a module insertion guide and coupled with the housing.
26 . The droplet delivery device of claim 25 , wherein at least about 50% of droplets in the ejected stream of droplets have an average ejected droplet diameter of less than about 5 microns.
27 . The droplet delivery device of claim 26 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and the aperture plate.
28 . The droplet delivery device of claim 25 , wherein the fluid undergoes hydrostatic force and capillary action between the surface tension plate and the aperture plate.
29 . The droplet delivery device of claim 28 , wherein the surface tension plate and the ejector mechanism are parallel to one another and the surface tension plate is located within 2 mm of the aperture plate.
30 . The droplet delivery device of claim 25 , further comprising a housing cup as part of said fluid reservoir including the surface tension plate.