# US 10,440,993 B2 · Hand-held inhalable vapor producing device and method

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- Number: US 10,440,993 B2
- Document ID: US10440993B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/289,901
- Filed: 2016-10-10
- Published: 2018-04-12
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-10
- Assignees: InnovoSciences LLC
- Applicants: InnovoSciences LLC
- Inventors: Noah Mark Minskoff; Robert Stanford Magyar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440993B2

## CPC

- A61M 11/041: {using heaters}
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means
- A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures
- A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
- H05B 1/0244: {Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence)}
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
- A61M 2202/0468: non-physiological
- A61M 2205/0211: Ceramics
- A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials
- A61M 2205/368: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
- A61M 2205/7536: allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- 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)}
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating and delivering an inhalable vapor or aerosol. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to generate and deliver a vapor or aerosol containing tobacco for use in, for example, traditional smoking or, for example, to deliver a smoking cessation therapy. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used for generating and delivering a vapor or aerosol comprising a medicament. For example, in some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to deliver an inhalable medicament to the lungs of a patient.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hand-held inhalable vapor producing device comprising:
a cartridge with an opening, the cartridge containing a liquid;
a channel outside of the cartridge, continuous with the opening, and positioned to receive the liquid from the cartridge;
a thermal valve having a first conformation that seals the opening and a second conformation that unseals the opening to enable liquid to flow from the cartridge, through the opening, and into the channel;
a conducting plate in fluid communication with the channel, the conducting plate including a plurality of pores that receive the liquid flowing into the channel; and
a heat source in thermal communication with the thermal valve and the conducting plate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes an ejector that can advance the liquid through the opening and into the channel when the thermal valve is in the second conformation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 2, wherein the ejector travels frictionlessly within the cartridge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 3, wherein the cartridge and the ejector are made of glass.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is removable from a remainder of the hand-held inhalable vapor producing device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a bag that opens to the opening and the liquid is located within an interior of the bag.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 6, wherein the bag is positioned to advance the liquid through the opening and into the channel when the thermal valve is in the second conformation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises nicotine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein a size of the channel enables capillary action to advance liquid through the channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the thermal valve changes from the first conformation to the second conformation upon actuation of the heat source.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 10, wherein the thermal valve comprises one or more materials that change conformation when heated.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 11, wherein the thermal valve comprises a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer, the second metallic layer faces the heat source, and the second metallic layer has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first metallic layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 12, wherein the thermal valve comprises a moveable rod that seals the opening in the first conformation and unseals the opening in the second conformation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the channel has a proximal end adjacent to the cartridge and a distal end adjacent to the conducting plate, the channel widening to a reservoir at the distal end.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 14, wherein the conducting plate is positioned to receive the liquid from the reservoir.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 15, wherein the conducting plate comprises a metal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 16, wherein the conducting plate comprises titanium.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 15, wherein the conducting plate comprises a ceramic.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a light source.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The hand-held inhalable vapor producing device of claim 19, wherein the light source comprises a laser.