# US 10,307,549 B2 · Aerosol generating device for nebulizing a liquid and a method of temperature control of a liquid to be nebulized > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,549 B2 - Document ID: US10307549B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/000,451 - Filed: 2012-02-15 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-25 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Petrus Henricus Cornelius Bentvelsen; Hendrik Huijgen - Inventors: Petrus Henricus Cornelius Bentvelsen; Hendrik Huijgen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307549B2 ## CPC - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - B05B 12/10: responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged - B05B 15/58: preventing deposits, drying-out or blockage by recirculating the fluid to be sprayed from upstream of the discharge opening back to the supplying means {(B05B1/3093 takes precedence)} - B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto} - B05B 17/0676: {Feeding means} - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/3382: Upper level detectors - A61M 2205/3606: cooled - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract An aerosol generating device (20) comprises a reservoir (1) for containing a liquid to be atomized and a nebulization chamber (3) for nebulizing a portion of the liquid received from the reservoir. The aerosol device further comprises liquid exchange means (7,8) for exchanging in use a further portion of the liquid received in the nebulization chamber with liquid from the reservoir to reduce a temperature increase of liquid in the nebulization chamber caused by heat produced by the piezo (4). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol generating device for nebulizing a liquid, the device comprising: a reservoir; a nebulization chamber being arranged for receiving in use a portion of a liquid from the reservoir; a vibration means coupled to the nebulization chamber and arranged for bringing the portion of the liquid in vibration; liquid exchange means for exchanging in use a further portion of the liquid received in the nebulization chamber with liquid from the reservoir, wherein the liquid exchange means comprises at least one channel providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the nebulization chamber; and temperature sensing means arranged for measuring a temperature of the liquid contained in the nebulization chamber and/or the reservoir; wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the temperature sensing means indicating the measured temperature is above a predetermined threshold, to operate at least one of: (i) an active component in the liquid exchange means based on the measured temperature; or (ii) the vibration means at a decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 wherein the liquid exchange means comprises a supply channel for feeding in use the portion of liquid from the reservoir to the nebulization chamber and a return channel for feeding the further portion of the liquid from the nebulization chamber to the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 comprising the active component, wherein the active component in the liquid exchange means comprises pumping means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An aerosol generating device according to claim 3 wherein the pumping means is arranged to operate based on a controlling of the vibration means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) An aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the channel comprises a flexible tube, wherein the pumping means comprises a plurality of moving elements disposed on the channel, wherein individual ones of the plurality of moving elements are configured to press successively on the channel to create a peristaltic movement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 further comprising cooling means for reducing the temperature of the further portion of the liquid, the cooling means being arranged in the at least one channel to cool the further portion of the liquid, wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the temperature sensing means indicating the measured temperature is above the predetermined threshold, to operate: (i) the active component in the liquid exchange means based on the measured temperature; (ii) the vibration means at the decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature; and (iii) the cooling means based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein the cooling means comprises a heat sink and wherein a surface area of a portion of the channel is enlarged by the heat sink. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein the cooling means comprises a Peltier element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating device according to claim 1 wherein the nebulization chamber is arranged such that the liquid is received in a space between the vibration means and a mesh, wherein the vibration means is arranged to bring the liquid comprised in said space in vibration, the mesh having a plurality of orifices for dispersing another portion of the liquid received in the nebulization chamber as a spray of small droplets as a result of the vibration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An aerosol generating device according to claim 9 wherein in use a height difference in the relative positioning of the reservoir and the nebulization chamber causes a liquid flow from the reservoir to the nebulization chamber as a result of gravity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An aerosol generating device according to claim 10 wherein the reservoir comprises a metering chamber and an overflow chamber, the metering chamber defining the volume of the liquid to be nebulized, the metering chamber being arranged such that the liquid is poured into the metering chamber from outside the nebulizer and any liquid in excess of the volume being retained in the overflow chamber, the nebulization chamber being arranged for receiving the portion of the liquid from the metering chamber, the aerosol generating device being arranged for exchanging the further portion of the liquid between the metering chamber and the nebulization chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the temperature sensing means indicating the measured temperature is above the predetermined threshold, to operate the vibration means at the decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature but not the active component. ### Claim 13 A method of temperature control of a liquid to be nebulized in an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device comprising a nebulization chamber for nebulizing a portion of the liquid received from a reservoir, the method comprising: filling the reservoir with the liquid; receiving the portion of the liquid in the nebulization chamber; controlling a vibration means to control the nebulizing of the portion of the liquid; exchanging a further portion of the liquid received in the nebulization chamber between the reservoir and the nebulization chamber, and measuring a temperature of the liquid contained in the nebulization chamber and/or the reservoir; wherein, responsive to the measured temperature being above a predetermined threshold, the method further comprises: (i) exchanging the further portion, through at least one channel, based on the measured temperature; and/or (ii) controlling the vibration means at a decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of exchanging the further portion is further based on the controlling of the vibration means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of exchanging includes generating a liquid flow from the nebulization chamber via a return channel to the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15, wherein generating the liquid flow comprises creating, via a plurality of moving elements disposed on the return channel, a peristaltic movement by pressing individual ones of the plurality of moving elements successively on the channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein, responsive to the measured temperature being above the predetermined threshold, the method further comprises: (i) exchanging the further portion, through the at least one channel, based on the measured temperature; (ii) controlling the vibration means at the decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature; and (iii) operating cooling means based on the measured temperature, the cooling means being arranged in the at least one channel to cool the further portion of the liquid, the at least one channel providing fluid communication between the nebulization chamber and the reservoir. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein the cooling means comprises a heat sink and wherein a surface area of a portion of the channel is enlarged by the heat sink. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein the cooling means comprises a Peltier element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein, responsive to the measured temperature being above the predetermined threshold, the method further comprises controlling the vibration means at a decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature but not exchanging the further portion, through the at least one channel, based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 21 An aerosol generating device for nebulizing a liquid, the device comprising: a reservoir; a nebulization chamber arranged for receiving in use a portion of a liquid from the reservoir; a piezoelectric element coupled to the nebulization chamber and arranged for bringing the portion of the liquid in vibration; channels and a pump configured to exchange, in use, a further portion of the liquid received in the nebulization chamber with liquid from the reservoir; and one or more temperature sensors arranged to measure a temperature of the liquid contained in the nebulization chamber and/or the reservoir; wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the one or more temperature sensors indicating the measured temperature is above a predetermined threshold, to operate at least one of: (i) the pump based on the measured temperature; or (ii) the piezoelectric element at a decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) An aerosol generating device according to claim 21, wherein the channels comprise a flexible tube, wherein the pump comprises a plurality of moving elements disposed on the channel, wherein individual ones of the plurality of moving elements are configured to press successively on the channel to create a peristaltic movement. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) An aerosol generating device according to claim 21, further comprising cooling means for reducing the temperature of the further portion of the liquid, the cooling means being arranged in the at least one channel to cool the further portion of the liquid, wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the one or more temperature sensors indicating the measured temperature is above the predetermined threshold, to operate: (i) the pump based on the measured temperature; (ii) the piezoelectric element at the decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature; and (iii) the cooling means based on the measured temperature. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An aerosol generating device according to claim 23, wherein the cooling means comprises a heat sink and wherein a surface area of a portion of the channel is enlarged by the heat sink. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) An aerosol generating device according to claim 23, wherein the cooling means comprises a Peltier element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) An aerosol generating device according to claim 21, wherein the device is further configured, responsive to the one or more temperature sensors indicating the measured temperature is above a predetermined threshold, to operate the piezoelectric element at the decreased power level determined based on the measured temperature but not the pump.