# US 11,998,050 B2 · Capsules with internal channels, heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating devices, and methods of generating an aerosol > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,050 B2 - Document ID: US11998050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/908,849 - Filed: 2020-06-23 - Published: 2021-12-23 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-23 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Zack Blackmon; Patrick Good; Rangaraj S. Sundar; Jarrett Keen; Eric Hawes; Yannick Hourmand; Niall Gallagher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998050B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 2205/36: related to heating or cooling - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - 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)} ## Abstract A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and internal channels between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. The internal channels are configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate. The housing is configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction and/or convection so as to generate an aerosol. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capsule for an aerosol-generating device, comprising: a housing defining inlet openings, outlet openings, and internal channels between the inlet openings and the outlet openings, the internal channels configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate, the housing configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction so as to generate an aerosol, the housing including a corrugated structure and a conductive cover, the corrugated structure having alternating ridges and furrows which, in combination with the conductive cover, defines the internal channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the inlet openings are configured to permit air to enter the capsule, and the outlet openings are configured to permit the aerosol to exit the capsule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the internal channels are separate and independent conduits. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a body section, a first end cap, and a second end cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The capsule of claim 4, wherein the first end cap is secured to an upstream end of the body section, and the second end cap is secured to a downstream end of the body section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The capsule of claim 4, wherein the body section defines the internal channels, the first end cap defines the inlet openings, and the second end cap defines the outlet openings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The capsule of claim 6, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are configured to engage with the body section such that each of the inlet openings of the first end cap is in fluidic communication with a corresponding outlet opening of the second end cap via a corresponding internal channel of the body section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The capsule of claim 4, wherein the body section includes the corrugated structure and the conductive cover configured to contain the corrugated structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein each of the ridges and furrows has a coplanar surface between a pair of angled surfaces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the conductive cover is configured to surround the ridges and furrows of the corrugated structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The capsule of claim 8, wherein the corrugated structure has a portion with a cross-section resembling a trapezoidal wave. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The capsule of claim 8, wherein the conductive cover is in a form of a box sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The capsule of claim 8, wherein the conductive cover is made of a metal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The capsule of claim 13, wherein the metal includes aluminum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured such that the internal channels extend along a longest dimension of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length, a width, and a thickness, the length is greater than the width, the width is greater than the thickness, and the internal channels extend in a direction of the length. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes a plant material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The capsule of claim 17, wherein the plant material includes tobacco. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An aerosol-generating device, comprising: a device body defining at least one slot configured to receive the capsule of claim 1 containing the aerosol-forming substrate, the device body including, a first side structure configured to partially define the at least one slot and receive the capsule therein, a second side structure opposite the first side structure, the second side structure being closed, and a heating assembly configured to heat the capsule containing the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol, the heating assembly including a first heater and a second heater configured to partially define the at least one slot in between so as to heat the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction when the capsule is received therein. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method of generating an aerosol, comprising: engaging the capsule of claim 1 within a slot defined by a first heater and a second heater, the capsule engaging with the slot such that the internal channels are sandwiched between the first heater and the second heater; and heating the aerosol-forming substrate via conduction with the first heater and the second heater. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The capsule of claim 16, wherein the ridges and furrows alternate in direction of the width of the housing.