IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,318,535
Granted Patent B2
US 12,318,535 · App. 17/495,525 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Aerosol delivery device with microfluidic delivery component

Inventors: Stephen Benson Sears (Siler City, NC); Michael F. Davis (Clemmons, NC); Karen V. Taluskie (Winston-Salem, NC); Yi-ping Chang (Greensboro, NC); Eric Taylor Hunt (Pfafftown, NC); Andries Don Sebastian (Winston-Salem, NC)
Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
A61M15/06A24F40/30A24F40/485A61M11/042B01F23/2133A24F40/10A61M2205/3653A61M2205/8206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,318,535
App. No.
17/495,525
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic vaporizer, an aerosol delivery device that may include such vaporizer, and methods for forming an aerosol. A microfluidic vaporizer can comprise a substrate that defines: a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a heater adapted to vaporize the liquid; and a capillary channel configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater. An aerosol delivery device can comprise a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer. The microfluidic vaporizer and aerosol delivery device can be used for forming aerosols with precise and reproducible compositions.

Claims (25)

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising a shell and a microfluidic vaporizer within the shell, the microfluidic vaporizer comprising:

a substrate;

a reservoir formed in the substrate and configured to hold a liquid;

a heater positioned in or on the substrate and adapted to vaporize the liquid; and

one or more capillary channels formed in or on the substrate and configured for movement of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover overlying the substrate.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the cover is vapor permeable and liquid impermeable.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is adapted for passive transfer of the liquid from the reservoir to the heater through the one or more capillary channels.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic vaporizer further comprises an active transport element selected from the group consisting of valves, pumps, heaters, electrical field formers, stimuli-responsive materials, and combinations thereof.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is an aerosol precursor composition, or component thereof, suitable for use in the aerosol delivery device.

7. The aerosol delivery device of any claim 1 , wherein the 25 liquid comprises one or more flavors.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more flavors comprises nicotine.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid 5 comprises an aerosol former.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9 , wherein the aerosol former is selected from the group consisting of water, glycerol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a plurality of reservoirs.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is a thin film.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is an electrically conductive material patterned on the substrate.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater has a thickness of about 500 μm or less.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a metal or metal alloy.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises one or more of a ceramic, carbon, a carbide, and a nitride.

17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrical connections arranged on the substrate.

18. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic material.

19. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a well or other indentation formed in the substrate.

20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is arranged on a flat surface of the substrate.

21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the heater is positioned at terminals ends of the one or more capillary channels.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 16217784 · Dec 12, 2018
Continuation 14643626 · Mar 10, 2015
Related Publication 20220023555A1 · Jan 27, 2022
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