Inhalation device and heating unit therefor

1. An inhalation device ( 10 ; 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) for the inhalation administration of an inhalation mixture of air and at least one additive material, comprising:

a generally cylindrical outside wall ( 220 ) having a proximal end and a distal end;

a mouthpiece ( 82 ; 182 ; 282 ) disposed at the proximal end of the generally cylindrical outside wall ( 220 );

a heating unit ( 50 ; 350 ) for heating the air and the additive material disposed at the distal end within the generally cylindrical outside wall; and

an inhalation mixture generator ( 70 ; 170 ; 270 ; 370 ) disposed within the generally cylindrical outside wall between the mouthpiece and the heating unit, the inhalation mixture generator having an air inlet opening ( 72 ; 272 ) towards the heating unit and an air outlet opening towards the mouthpiece ( 82 ; 182 ; 282 ),

wherein the heating unit ( 50 ; 350 ) comprises

a fuel storage ( 52 ; 152 ; 252 ) spatially separated from the inhalation mixture generator, the fuel storage configured to receive a thermally combustible solid or liquid fuel ( 258 ), and

a combustion chamber ( 56 ; 156 ; 256 ) configured to form a flame to combust the fuel,

and wherein micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) are provided in the generally cylindrical outside wall around the combustion chamber to supply oxygen to the flame and to protect the flame from wind gusts, wherein the micro openings at least partially overlap the flame.

2. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the sum of the outer side lengths of all micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) is at least 140 mm and

wherein the sum of the outer side lengths of all micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) per surface of the outside wall around the combustion chamber ( 22 ; 122 ; 222 ) averages at least 80 mm/cm 2 .

3. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the sum of the outer side lengths of all micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) is at least 700 mm and

wherein the sum of the outer side lengths of all micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) per surface of the outside wall around the combustion chamber ( 22 ; 122 ; 222 ) averages at least 400 mm/cm 2 .

4. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) have an average aperture surface of less than 1.5 mm 2 .

5. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) permeate between 10% and 50% of outside wall surface area around the combustion chamber ( 22 ; 122 ; 222 ).

6. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the outside wall around the combustion chamber is formed at least partly by a metal fabric or metal braid of metal wires.

7. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the outside wall around the combustion chamber ( 22 ; 122 ; 222 ) is formed at least partly by a metal foil with incorporated micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ).

8. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the combustion chamber ( 56 ; 156 ; 256 ) is accessible from outside only in the area of an ignition access ( 26 ; 126 ; 236 ).

9. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel ( 258 ) consists at least partly of one or more of the substances selected from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters.

10. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel ( 258 ) is present in the form of a gel with a viscosity of at least 10,000 mPa·s.

11. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel storage ( 152 ) is closed by means of a gastight closure that can be removed by heating.

12. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel storage ( 252 ) is closed by means of a gastight closure ( 260 ) that can be removed or torn open by a pressure that can be applied to the fuel storage manually, preferably by pressure on the inhalation device from both sides in the area of the fuel storage.

13. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fuel storage ( 252 ) can be connected releasably to the heating unit.

14. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the outside wall disintegrates under the influence of heat or consists of a material or a material combination that becomes fragile under the influence of heat.

15. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the outside wall consists of heat-resistant wall segments that are joined by a joining means.

16. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the heating unit ( 350 ) is designed as a device that can be handled separately and that can be connected releasably to the inhalation mixture generator ( 370 ).

17. The inhalation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an additive material storage that is designed separate from the inhalation mixture generator is provided, the additive material storage being designed so as to be replaceable or refillable.

18. A heating unit ( 50 ; 350 ) for use in an inhalation device ( 10 ; 110 ; 210 ; 310 ) for heating air and an additive material, comprising:

a combustion chamber ( 56 ; 156 ; 256 ) configured to form a flame to combust a fuel, the combustion chamber being in a flow-connection with the mouth of a user; and

an outside wall around the combustion chamber, the outside wall comprising

a) an ignition access ( 226 ) through which the flame in the combustion chamber can be ignited and

b) a plurality of micro openings ( 24 ; 124 ; 224 ) for supplying oxygen to the flame and for protecting the flame from wind gusts,

wherein the fuel inside the combustion chamber is ignited by pulling an external flame from a match or lighter through the ignition access when the user inhales, wherein the micro openings at least partially overlap the flame.

19. An inhalation device ( 210 ) for the inhalation administration of an inhalation mixture of air and at least one additive material comprising:

a substantially cylindrical outside wall ( 220 );

a fuel storage ( 252 ) disposed at a distal end of the inhalation device ( 210 );

a mouthpiece ( 282 ) disposed at a proximal end of the inhalation device ( 210 );

a combustion chamber ( 256 ) disposed adjacent to and having an opening towards the fuel storage ( 252 ); and

an inhalation mixture generator ( 270 ) disposed adjacent to the combustion chamber ( 256 ) towards the proximal end of the inhalation device ( 210 ),

wherein the fuel storage ( 252 ), the combustion chamber ( 256 ), the inhalation mixture generator ( 270 ) and the mouthpiece ( 282 ) are arranged within the substantially cylindrical outside wall ( 220 ), and

wherein a combustion chamber wall section ( 222 ) of the substantially cylindrical outside wall ( 220 ) around the combustion chamber ( 256 ) comprises

an ignition access ( 226 ) through which a flame in the combustion chamber can be ignited and

micro openings ( 224 ) through which oxygen is provided to the flame within the combustion chamber, the micro openings being sufficiently small to protect the flame against gusts of wind, wherein the micro openings at least partially overlap the flame.

20. The inhalation device as in claim 19 , wherein the ignition access comprises a plurality of elongated apertures.

21. The inhalation device as in claim 19 , further comprising a fuel ( 258 ) with gel-like consistency within the fuel storage ( 252 ).

22. The inhalation device as in claim 19 , wherein the fuel storage is made of chromium-nickel spring steel.

23. The inhalation device as in claim 21 , wherein the fuel ( 258 ) within the fuel storage ( 252 ) is enclosed within a membrane ( 260 ) having low elasticity, and wherein the membrane ( 260 ) is torn open by compressing the fuel storage ( 252 ) before use.