# US 12,178,253 B2 · Refillable aerosol delivery device and related method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,253 B2 - Document ID: US12178253B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/031,417 - Filed: 2020-09-24 - Published: 2021-01-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-21 - Assignees: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Michael F. Davis; Percy D. Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178253B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 15/015: with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/44: Wicks - A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs - 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 The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may include one or more fill ports. Thereby, a reservoir of the aerosol delivery device may be refillable. The fill ports may be defined in a base of a cartridge of the aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may further include a flow director. An atomizer may extend through the flow director transversely to a longitudinal length of the flow director. The atomizer may include a liquid transport element with a capillary channel extending therethrough, which may receive aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir. There aerosol precursor composition may be drawn through the liquid transport element to a heating element of the atomizer, which may vaporize the aerosol precursor composition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol delivery device, comprising: an outer body; a flow director extending at least partially through the outer body and defining a reservoir between the flow director and the outer body to retain an aerosol precursor composition; and an atomizer extending through the flow director, the atomizer being configured to vaporize at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition to produce an aerosol within the flow director, wherein the atomizer comprises a liquid transport element formed as a porous monolith comprising a capillary channel extending therethrough. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises an electrically-conductive ceramic having a controllable resistance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer comprises a liquid transport element, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid transport element extends substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the flow director. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer body is sealed to a base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein the outer body engages the base via threaded engagement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aerosol delivery device of claim 5, further comprising an O-ring compressed between the outer body and the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is sealed to the outer body and the flow director. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein a base comprises one or more fill ports configured to receive the aerosol precursor composition therethrough. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is sealed to the flow director. ### Claim 10 An aerosol delivery device operation method, comprising: retaining an aerosol precursor composition in a reservoir defined between a flow director and an outer body; directing the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir through an atomizer extending through the flow director; and vaporizing at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition to produce an aerosol within the flow director, wherein directing the aerosol precursor composition through the atomizer comprises directing the aerosol precursor composition through a capillary channel of a liquid transport element formed as a porous monolith of the atomizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, further comprising receiving the aerosol precursor composition through one or more fill ports defined in a base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, wherein directing the aerosol precursor composition through the atomizer further comprises directing the aerosol precursor composition through a porous monolith of a liquid transport element of the atomizer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an electrical current through the atomizer comprising an electrically-conductive ceramic having a controllable resistance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, further comprising directing the aerosol out of the flow director through a mouthpiece. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, further comprising retaining the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir with a seal between the outer body and a base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 10, further comprising retaining the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir with a seal between a mouthpiece and the outer body and a seal between the mouthpiece and the flow director.