IP Library Granted Patent US 8,322,350
Granted Patent B2
US 8,322,350 · App. 11/302,492 · Granted Dec 4, 2012

Aerosol generator

Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,322,350
App. No.
11/302,492
Granted
Dec 4, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt is provided. The aerosol generator comprises: (i) a mouth end; (ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine, (iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, (iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, leading to the mouth end, and (v) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device. A nicotine vapor can be produced by drawing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine. An acid vapor can be produced by passing air along the passageway and through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid. Then, the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out through the mouth end.

Claims (52)

1. An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt, comprising:

(i) a mouth end and a basic compound in an amount effective to remove acid vapor in the aerosol in the mouth end;

(ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

(iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid,

(iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and leading to the mouth end,

and

(vi) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device,

wherein a nicotine vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

wherein an acid vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, and

wherein the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out the mouth end.

2. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol of the nicotine salt has a MMAD of about 0.1 to 10 microns in size.

3. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol of the nicotine salt has a MMAD of about 0.1 to 3 microns in size.

4. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the volatile acid in the second chamber is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid and sulphuric acid.

5. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the form of the liquid nicotine is (i) a racemic mixture, (ii) an unequal amount of the D and L isomers, (iii) substantially the D isomer or (iv) substantially the L isomer.

6. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the form of the nicotine is substantially the L isomer.

7. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein either the first chamber or the second chamber further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a viscosity agent, an antioxidant and a preservative.

8. An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt, comprising:

(i) a mouth end;

(ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

(iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid,

(iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and leading to the mouth end,

(v) a fourth chamber in fluid communication with the third chamber, wherein the fourth chamber contains a flavoring and wherein the fourth chamber further contains at least one additive selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol, and

(vi) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device,

wherein a nicotine vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

wherein an acid vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, and

wherein the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out the mouth end.

9. An aerosol generator device for delivering an aerosol of a nicotine salt, comprising:

(i) a mouth end and a basic compound in an amount effective to remove acid vapor in the aerosol in the mouth end;

(ii) a first chamber containing a porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

(iii) a second chamber containing a porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid,

(iv) a third chamber in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and leading to the mouth end,

(v) a fourth chamber in fluid communication with the third chamber, wherein the fourth chamber contains a flavoring, and

(vi) an outer housing defining a passageway for air through said device,

wherein a nicotine vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with liquid nicotine,

wherein an acid vapor can be produced by passing air through the porous material wetted with a solution of a volatile acid, and

wherein the nicotine vapor and the acid vapor can be admixed in the third chamber to form an aerosol of a nicotine salt, which can be drawn out the mouth end.

10. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the basic compound is calcium carbonate.

11. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth chamber in fluid communication with the third chamber, wherein the fourth chamber contains a flavoring and wherein the flavoring is menthol.

12. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , where the aerosol generator contains about 1 to 50 mg of nicotine.

13. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , where the aerosol generator contains about 1 to 20 mg of nicotine.

14. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , where the aerosol generator delivers an inhalation volume of about 10 to 1000 cc per each puff or draw.

15. An aerosol generator of claim 1 , where the aerosol generator delivers an inhalation volume of about 35 to 350 cc per each puff or draw.

16. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the aerosol of the nicotine salt has a MMAD of about 0.1 to 10 microns in size.

17. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the aerosol of the nicotine salt has a MMAD of about 0.1 to 3 microns in size.

18. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the volatile acid in the second chamber is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid and sulphuric acid.

19. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the form of the liquid nicotine is (i) a racemic mixture, (ii) an unequal amount of the D and L isomers, (iii) substantially the D isomer or (iv) substantially the L isomer.

20. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein the form of the nicotine is substantially the L isomer.

21. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , wherein either the first chamber or the second chamber further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a viscosity agent, an antioxidant and a preservative.

22. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , where the aerosol generator contains about 1 to 50 mg of nicotine.

23. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , where the aerosol generator contains about 1 to 20 mg of nicotine.

24. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , where the aerosol generator delivers an inhalation volume of about 10 to 1000 cc per each puff or draw.

25. An aerosol generator of claim 9 , where the aerosol generator delivers an inhalation volume of about 35 to 350 cc per each puff or draw.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2006
From: LIPOWICZ, PETER
To: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.
Reel/Frame 018176/0004 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60640089 · Dec 30, 2004
Related Publication 20060283468A1 · Dec 21, 2006