# US 11,433,192 B2 · Cartridge for e-vaping device with open-microchannels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,433,192 B2 - Document ID: US11433192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/598,278 - Filed: 2019-10-10 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-24 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Raymond W. Lau; Ali A. Rostami; Eric A. Hawes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433192B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - F22B 1/284: {with water in reservoirs} - H05B 1/0297: {Heating of fluids for non specified applications} - H05B 3/44: heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges - A24F 40/44: Wicks - 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) - F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a reservoir configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation and a channel structure that includes a channel surface with one or more open-microchannels. An open-microchannel in the channel structure may be in fluid communication with the reservoir and may transport pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir to a heating element based on capillary action of the pre-vapor formulation through the open-microchannels. The heating element may vaporize the pre-vapor formulation drawn through one or more open-microchannels. The cartridge may be independent of fibrous dispensing interfaces, including one or more wicks. Fabrication of such a cartridge may be simplified, faster, cheaper, some combination thereof, or the like relative to fabrication of a cartridge that includes a fibrous or soft dispensing interface to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir to a heating element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: drawing a pre-vapor formulation from a plurality of reservoirs to a heating element through a plurality of open-microchannels, the plurality of open-microchannels including multiple sets of open-microchannels, each set of the plurality of open-microchannels being in fluid communication with a separate reservoir of the plurality of reservoirs, each set of the plurality of open-microchannels including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being in fluid communication with the separate reservoir, and the second portion being coupled to the heating element; and vaporizing the pre-vapor formulations drawn to the heating element through the plurality of open-microchannels to form a vapor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sets of open-microchannels of the plurality of open-microchannels are parallel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reservoirs includes two or more reservoirs, and the plurality of open-microchannels includes two or more sets of open-microchannels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the open-microchannels of the plurality of open-microchannels have trapezoidal channel cross-sections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sets of open-microchannels includes a hydrophilic layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element includes a surface heater. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of reservoirs includes a sealing element configured to substantially seal an interface between the at least one of the plurality of reservoirs and the second portion of at least one of the sets of open-microchannels. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: drawing a pre-vapor formulation from a plurality of reservoirs to a heating element through a channel structure, the channel structure having a tubular structure and including multiple sets of open-microchannels extending axially along an outer surface of the tubular structure, each set of open-microchannels being in fluid communication with a separate reservoir of the plurality of reservoirs, each set of open-microchannels including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being in fluid communication with the separate reservoir, and the second portion being coupled to the heating element; and vaporizing the pre-vapor formulations drawn to the heating element through the multiple sets of open-microchannels to form a vapor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the channel structure is a molded structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the open-microchannels have trapezoidal channel cross-sections. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the channel structure includes a hydrophilic layer on an outer layer of the tubular structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the heating element includes a surface heater.