# US 11,998,051 B2 · Aerosol-generating system having a fluid-permeable heater assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,051 B2 - Document ID: US11998051B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/999,643 - Filed: 2020-08-21 - Published: 2020-12-03 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-10 - Assignees: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Applicants: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Inventors: Oleg Mironov; Rui Nuno Batista - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998051B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/70: Manufacture - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - H05B 3/06: Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders - H05B 3/145: {Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite} - H05B 3/16: the conductor being mounted on an insulating base - H05B 3/34: flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs - H05B 3/342: {heaters used in textiles} - H05B 3/347: {woven fabrics} - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/0043: {Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling} - A61M 2016/0024: {with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch} - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - H05B 2203/011: Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means - H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54 - H05B 2203/015: Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile - H05B 2203/017: Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - H05B 2203/022: Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material - 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)} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An aerosol-generating system including a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly is provided, the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly including: an electrically insulating substrate; an aperture formed in the electrically insulating substrate; and a heater element fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions disposed on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, and the plurality of electrically conductive filaments form interstices, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions being configured to allow contact with an external power supply; and the aerosol-generating system having a longitudinal axis and the heater element being substantially flat and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly, the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly including: an electrically insulating substrate; an aperture formed in the electrically insulating substrate; and a heater element fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions being disposed on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, and the plurality of electrically conductive filaments forming interstices, wherein the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with an external power supply; and wherein the aerosol-generating system has a longitudinal axis that intersects a mouthpiece and the heater element is substantially flat and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the heater element has a first face that is fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, and the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with the external power supply on a second face of the heater element opposite to the first face. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions are fixed directly to the electrically conductive filaments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions are integral with the electrically conductive filaments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage portion comprising a housing containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the heater assembly is fixed to the housing of the liquid storage portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 5, wherein the housing of the liquid storage portion is a rigid housing that provides mechanical support to the heater assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 5, wherein the housing of the liquid storage portion has an open side, and the heater assembly is fixed to the open side of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 5, wherein the liquid storage portion is disposed on a first side of the electrically conductive filaments, and an airflow channel is disposed on an opposite side of the electrically conductive filaments to the liquid storage portion, such that air flow past the electrically conductive filaments entrains vapourised liquid aerosol-forming substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 5, wherein the liquid storage portion comprises a capillary material configured to convey liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the heater assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 9, wherein the capillary material is in contact with the electrically conductive filaments. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 9, wherein the capillary material extends into interstices between the electrically conductive filaments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising: an aerosol-generating device; and a cartridge that is removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a power supply, and the cartridge comprises the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a cavity configured to receive the cartridge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a main body and the mouthpiece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments cover an area of between 10% and 50% of an area of the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive filaments consist of an array of filaments arranged parallel to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein an area of the plurality of electrically conductive filaments is less than 25 mm2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly further comprises at least one filament made from a first material and at least one filament made from a second material different from the first material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage portion comprising a housing containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly is fixed to the housing of the liquid storage portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating system is an electrically operated smoking system. ### Claim 21 An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly, the fluid-permeable electric heater assembly including: an electrically insulating substrate; an aperture formed in the electrically insulating substrate; and a heater element fixed to the electrically insulating substrate, the heater element spanning the aperture and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive filaments connected to first and second electrically conductive contact portions, the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions being disposed on opposite sides of the aperture to one another, and the plurality of electrically conductive filaments forming interstices, and a liquid storage portion comprising a housing containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the first and the second electrically conductive contact portions are configured to allow contact with an external power supply; wherein the aerosol-generating system has a longitudinal axis and the heater element is substantially flat and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis; wherein the heater assembly is fixed to the housing of the liquid storage portion; wherein the liquid storage portion is disposed on a first side of the electrically conductive filaments; and wherein an airflow channel is disposed on an opposite side of the electrically conductive filaments to the liquid storage portion, such that air flow past the electrically conductive filaments entrains vapourised liquid aerosol-forming substrate.