# US 11,998,682 B2 · Aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating article, and an electrically operated aerosol-generating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,682 B2 - Document ID: US11998682B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/711,257 - Filed: 2017-09-21 - Published: 2018-01-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-31 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Michel Thorens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998682B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24D 1/20: Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24F 40/00: Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor - A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A61M 11/003: {by passing the aerosol trough sieves or filters} - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/003: {using capsules, e.g. to be perforated or broken-up} - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - H05B 6/108: {for heating a fluid} - A24D 1/02: with special covers - A24D 3/17: Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/0035: {Piercing means} - A61M 15/0066: {with means for varying the dose size} - A61M 2205/0211: Ceramics - A61M 2205/3606: cooled - A61M 2205/3646: by heat accumulators, e.g. ice, sand - A61M 2205/368: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves - A61M 2205/7545: for solid matter, e.g. microaggregates - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - B05B 7/2402: {Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device (B05B7/0012 takes precedence)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES - 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 - 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 The aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating article with an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end. The system also includes an electrically operated aerosol-generating device including a housing having a cavity configured to receive the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, an electric heating element, and a heat diffuser including a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from the electric heating element such that, in use, air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end is heated by the heat absorbed in the porous body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol-generating system, comprising: an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end; an aerosol-generating device that is electrically operated, the aerosol-generating device including a housing having a cavity, the cavity configured to receive the distal end of the aerosol-generating article; an electric heat-generating element; and a heat diffuser including a porous body for absorbing heat from the electric heat-generating element such that, in use, air drawn through the aerosol-generating article from the distal end to the outlet end is heated by the heat absorbed in the porous body, the porous body being made from a ceramic that is non-combustible, the porous body being configured to receive a distal end of the electric heat-generating element such that the distal end is embedded in the porous body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the electric heat-generating element forms part of the aerosol-generating device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aerosol-generating system of claim 2, wherein the heat diffuser is removably couplable to the aerosol-generating device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The aerosol-generating system of claim 3, wherein the aerosol-generating system is configured to, cause the heat diffuser to absorb heat from the electric heat-generating element, and cause the air drawn through the aerosol-generating article to be heated by the heat absorbed in the porous body of the heat diffuser, if the heat diffuser is coupled to the aerosol-generating device; and cause the aerosol-generating article to absorb heat from the electric heat-generating element, if the heat diffuser is not coupled to the aerosol-generating device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The aerosol-generating system of claim 3, wherein the porous body of the heat diffuser is configured to be penetrated by the electric heat-generating element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The aerosol-generating system of claim 3, wherein the porous body of the heat diffuser defines the cavity for receiving the electric heat-generating element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The aerosol-generating system of claim 3, wherein the aerosol-generating system is configured to cause the aerosol-generating article to absorb heat from the electric heat-generating element, if the heat diffuser is not coupled to the aerosol-generating device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the electric heat-generating element is coupled to the porous body of the heat diffuser. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The aerosol-generating system of claim 8, wherein the electric heat-generating element includes a susceptor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The aerosol-generating system of claim 8, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to receive the heat diffuser and the electric heat-generating element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the electric heat-generating element and the heat diffuser form part of the aerosol-generating device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating article further includes, a liquid retention medium; and a frangible capsule in contact with the liquid retention medium, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is contained within the frangible capsule, the aerosol-forming substrate being a liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The aerosol-generating system of claim 12, wherein the frangible capsule of the aerosol-generating article is located within the liquid retention medium. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The aerosol-generating system of claim 12, wherein the liquid retention medium abuts the heat diffuser when the cavity has received the distal end of the aerosol-generating article. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The aerosol-generating system of claim 12, wherein the liquid retention medium is configured to retain the aerosol-forming substrate within the aerosol-generating article after a release of the aerosol-forming substrate from the frangible capsule, the liquid retention medium being devoid of the aerosol-forming substrate prior to the release of the aerosol-forming substrate from the frangible capsule. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device further includes, a power supply for supplying electrical power to the electric heat-generating element; and electrical circuitry for controlling the supply of electrical power from the power supply to the electric heat-generating element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the electric heat-generating element includes a resistive heating element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein at least one first portion of the electric heat-generating element is selectively coupled and in direct contact with at least one second portion of the porous body to cause the at least one first portion to heat the at least one second portion when the electric heat-generating element is electrically energized and the aerosol-generating system is in operational use. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system of claim 1, wherein the electric heat-generating element and the aerosol-forming substrate are spaced apart from each other when the distal end of the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity. ### Claim 20 An electrically operated aerosol-generating device, comprising: a housing having a cavity, the cavity being configured to receive a distal end of an aerosol-generating article; an electric heat-generating element configured to generate heat; and a heat diffuser including a porous body for absorbing the heat from the electric heat-generating element, the porous body being made from a ceramic that is non-combustible, the porous body being configured to receive a distal end of the electric heat-generating element such that the distal end is embedded in the porous body.