IP Library Granted Patent US 12,201,767
Granted Patent B2
US 12,201,767 · App. 16/095,676 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Aerosol devices having compartmentalized materials

Inventors: Ariel Atkins (San Francisco, CA); Adam Bowen (San Mateo, CA); Alexander Gould (San Francisco, CA); Chenyue Xing (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc.
A61M15/06A24F40/30A61M11/042A61M15/0003A24F40/10A24F40/20A24F40/40A61M15/08A61M2205/3653A61M2205/584A61M2205/8206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,201,767
App. No.
16/095,676
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for aerosolization of compartmentalized materials is provided. In some implementations, the system performs operations comprising vaporizing, by a heater, at least a portion of a first material to form a first vapor, wherein the first material is stored in a reservoir coupled to the heater. The operations can further comprise providing, through a draw channel comprising the heater, the first vapor to a second material within the draw channel, wherein the second material comprises one or more of nicotine and an acid, wherein the second material is positioned between the resistive heater and an exit point of the draw channel. The operations can also include forming, based on the first vapor passing through and/or around the second material, an inhalable vapor. Related systems, methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a reservoir comprising a liquid barrier defining a compartment containing a liquid vaporizable material;

a first heater configured to vaporize the liquid vaporizable material to form a first vapor;

a draw channel configured for passage of the first vapor formed by the first heater, the draw channel defined by a part of the liquid barrier and separated from the compartment by the liquid barrier, the draw channel comprising the first heater; and

a porous substrate including an elutable material, the porous substrate positioned downstream from the first heater, the porous substrate positioned outside of the compartment and within and across the draw channel such that airflow within the draw channel and the first vapor is passed through the porous substrate in order to exit the draw channel,

a second heater positioned on an interior surface of the draw channel and in contact with the porous substrate, the second heater configured to heat the elutable material to a temperature that is below a vaporization temperature for the elutable material, and

wherein an inhalable aerosol is formable by passing the first vapor through the porous substrate and combining the first vapor with the elutable material of the porous substrate, wherein the second heater is positioned downstream of the first heater.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises about 10-90% vegetable glycerol, and wherein the liquid vaporizable material further comprises propylene glycol.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material further comprises a flavorant.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured apply energy to the first heater to vaporize the liquid vaporizable material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the first heater to heat to between about 100° C. and about 300° C.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge comprising one or more electrical contacts for connection to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to apply energy to the first heater to vaporize the liquid vaporizable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inhalable aerosol is formable based on elution of at least a portion of the elutable material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elutable material comprises at least one of a tobacco material or a botanical.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises (i) nicotine and (ii) an acid or acid precursor that forms an acid upon heating.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid vaporizable material comprises between 0.5% and 20% nicotine.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inhalable aerosol includes particles comprising from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w) protonated nicotine, an acid, and a carrier.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inhalable aerosol comprises nicotine.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the elutable material comprises one or more of an acid and nicotine.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

an aerosol outlet configured to allow for passage of the inhalable aerosol for inhalation by a user.

15. A method comprising:

vaporizing, using a first heater, at least a portion of a liquid vaporizable material to form a first vapor, wherein the liquid vaporizable material is stored in a reservoir coupled to the first heater, the reservoir comprising a liquid barrier defining a compartment containing the liquid vaporizable material, and wherein the first heater is positioned within a draw channel defined by a part of the liquid barrier and separated from the compartment by the liquid barrier;

heating a porous substrate including an elutable material to a temperature that is below a vaporization temperature for the elutable material with a second heater, the second heater positioned on an interior surface of the draw channel and in contact with the porous substrate; and

forming an inhalable aerosol by passing the first vapor through the porous substrate including the elutable material and combining the first vapor with the elutable material of the porous substrate, the porous substrate positioned outside of the compartment and downstream from the first heater, the porous substrate positioned within and across the draw channel such that airflow within the draw channel and the first vapor is passed through the porous substrate in order to exit the draw channel, wherein the second heater is positioned downstream of the first heater.

16. The method of claim 15 ,

wherein the elutable material comprises a tobacco material, and the porous substrate is positioned between the first heater and an aerosol outlet of the draw channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the porous substrate is positionable between the first heater and an air outlet of the draw channel.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detachable cartridge and a reusable body coupled to the cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises the reservoir, the first heater, the draw channel, the elutable material, and the second heater, and the reusable body includes a battery and circuitry connected to the battery.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the draw channel is a single airpath extending between an inlet positioned upstream from the first heater and an outlet of the apparatus, the outlet being downstream from the porous substrate positioned within and across the draw channel.

Assignments (12)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 072224/0075 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: ENVENIO INC.; JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 069185/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2023
From: JUUL LABS, INC.; VMR PRODUCTS LLC; ENVENIO INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 064252/0225 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: PAX LABS, INC.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062389/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2023
From: BOWEN, ADAM; XING, CHENYUE; ATKINS, ARIEL; GOULD, ALEX
To: PAX LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062375/0483 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062114 FRAME: 0196. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 23, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062214/0142 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: JLI NATIONAL SETTLEMENT TRUST
Reel/Frame 062114/0195 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2022
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061587/0947 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061578/0865 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: JUUL LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060446/0261 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 049948/0881 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: JUUL LABS, INC.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049013/0519 →