# US 12,178,259 B2 · Temperature controlled aerosol supply device

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- Number: US 12,178,259 B2
- Document ID: US12178259B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/495,538
- Filed: 2021-10-06
- Published: 2022-01-27
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-09
- Assignees: Japan Tobacco Inc.
- Applicants: Japan Tobacco Inc.
- Inventors: Michihiro Inagaki; Yuki Abe; Miki Wakamatsu; Tatsuya Suganuma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178259B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/57: Temperature control
- A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A24F 40/05: Devices without heating means
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means
- A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
- A24F 40/51: Arrangement of sensors
- A61M 15/0003: {with means for dispensing more than one drug}
- A61M 15/0016: {located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product}
- A61M 15/002: {with air flow regulating means}
- A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor}
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
- B05B 12/08: responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material {to be} discharged, of ambient medium or of target {; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means}
- B05B 17/0676: {Feeding means}
- A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring
- A61M 11/002: {by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles}
- A61M 2202/0468: non-physiological
- A61M 2205/0294: Piezoelectric materials
- A61M 2205/106: reciprocating
- A61M 2205/123: with incorporated reservoirs
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3372: Temperature compensation
- A61M 2205/3606: cooled
- A61M 2205/3633: thermally insulated
- A61M 2205/3673: thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
- A61M 2205/3693: by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61M 2209/045: for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
- B05B 1/3006: {the controlling element being actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed (B05B1/323 takes precedence; single-unit outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed B05B11/0062)}
- B05B 9/0838: {supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container}
- B05B 12/1418: {for supplying several liquids or other fluent materials in selected proportions to a single spray outlet (controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid G05D11/02)}
- B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto}
- 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)}
- 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

An aerosol supply device includes: an accommodating part (cartridge) configured to accommodate a liquid; an atomization unit having a storing part to store the liquid, the atomization unit being configured to generate an aerosol by atomizing the liquid; and a temperature control part configured to control the temperature of the liquid at a given location between the accommodating part (cartridge) and the storing part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aerosol supply device comprising:
an accommodating part configured to accommodate a liquid;
an atomization unit having a storing part to store the liquid supplied from the accommodating part, the atomization unit being configured to generate an aerosol by atomizing the liquid stored in the storing part;
a temperature control part configured to control a temperature of the liquid at a given location between the accommodating part and the storing part; and
a housing provided on an outside of the aerosol supply device to surround at least the accommodating part,
wherein the temperature control part includes an external-heat conduction part having thermal conductivity, the external-heat conduction part being connected to the accommodating part and to an outer surface of the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control part includes a cooling part configured to absorb heat at a given location between the accommodating part and the storing part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein the temperature control part includes a heating part configured to release heat at a given location between the accommodating part and the storing part.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 3, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to supply the aerosol by atomizing the liquid by a surface acoustic wave,
wherein the atomization unit includes
a piezoelectric substrate having a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric substrate being configured to vibrate the liquid to form the aerosol, and
a comb-shaped electrode configured to, in response to receiving supply of electric power, generate a surface acoustic wave on the piezoelectric substrate, and
wherein the cooling part or the heating part is positioned to provide cooling or heating to the piezoelectric substrate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to supply the aerosol by atomizing the liquid by vibration,
wherein the atomization unit includes
a vibrating element configured to vibrate the liquid to form the aerosol, and
a vibration source configured to, in response to receiving supply of electric power, vibrate the vibrating element,
wherein the aerosol supply device further includes an element-heat conduction part having thermal conductivity, the element-heat conduction part being connected to the vibrating element and to the accommodating part, and
wherein the temperature control part includes the vibrating element, the vibration source, and the element-heat conduction part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to supply the aerosol by atomizing the liquid by a surface acoustic wave,
wherein the vibrating element is a piezoelectric substrate having a piezoelectric element, and
wherein the vibration source is a comb-shaped electrode configured to generate a surface acoustic wave on the piezoelectric substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to supply the aerosol by atomizing the liquid by vibration,
wherein the atomization unit includes
a vibrating element configured to vibrate the liquid to form the aerosol, and
a vibration source configured to, in response to receiving supply of electric power, vibrate the vibrating element,
wherein the aerosol supply device further includes a controller configured to control the electric power to be supplied to the vibration source, and
wherein the controller is configured to,
when the liquid is at a first temperature, supply a first electric power as the electric power,
when the liquid is at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, supply a second electric power greater than the first electric power as the electric power, and
when the liquid is at a third temperature higher than the first temperature, supply a third electric power less than the first electric power as the electric power.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control part includes a heating part configured to release heat at a given location between the accommodating part and the storing part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control part includes a Peltier element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein a heat insulation structure having a lower thermal conductivity than the accommodating part is formed by a vacuum area between an inner layer and an outer layer of the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the external-heat conduction part has a first section connected to the accommodating part, a second section contacting an outer surface of the housing and a third section extending through the housing and connected to the first section and the second section.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a pump capable of supplying the liquid to the atomization unit;
a controller configured to control electric power to be supplied to the pump; and
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature around the accommodating part,
wherein the pump is a syringe pump capable of pulling back the liquid toward the accommodating part from the atomization unit, and
wherein the controller is configured to, when a temperature of the liquid detected by the temperature sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature or less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, control the pump to pull back the liquid toward the accommodating part from the atomization unit or to push out the liquid toward the atomization unit from the accommodating part.