Cartridge with element forming a meniscus of a liquid for an aerosol-generating system

A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, the cartridge comprising:

• an air inlet and an air outlet;
• an airflow passage extending between the air inlet and the air outlet;
• a liquid reservoir comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;
• a heater assembly comprising at least one heating element in fluid communication with the airflow passage, the heater assembly being configured to heat liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied to a surface of the heater assembly from the liquid reservoir to generate an aerosol;
• and
• at least one meniscus-forming element being proximate to the heater assembly,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element is positioned within the airflow passage and contacts the surface of the heater assembly or is distanced from the surface of the heater assembly such that during use a meniscus of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is formed between the surface of the heater assembly and the at least one meniscus-forming element,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element comprises at least one blade or at least one needle,
• wherein the heater assembly further comprises a wicking element in fluidic communication with the at least one heating element and the liquid reservoir, and
• wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one fluid-permeable heating element.

An aerosol-generating system, comprising:

• a cartridge comprising:
• an air inlet and an air outlet,
• an airflow passage extending between the air inlet and the air outlet,
• a liquid reservoir comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate,
• a heater assembly comprising at least one heating element in fluid communication with the airflow passage, the heater assembly configured to heat liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied to a surface of the heater assembly from the liquid reservoir to generate an aerosol, and
• at least one meniscus-forming element being proximate to the heater assembly,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element is positioned within the airflow passage and contacts the surface of the heater assembly or is distanced from the surface of the heater assembly such that during use a meniscus of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is formed between the surface of the heater assembly and the at least one meniscus-forming element,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element comprises at least one blade or at least one needle,
• wherein the heater assembly further comprises a wicking element in fluidic communication with the at least one heating element and the liquid reservoir, and
• wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one fluid-permeable heating element;
• and
• an aerosol-generating device comprising:
• a power supply configured to supply power to the heating element, and
• control circuitry configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the at least one heating element,
• wherein the cartridge is reversibly couplable to the aerosol-generating device.

An aerosol-generating device, comprising:

• an air inlet and an air outlet;
• an airflow passage extending between the air inlet and the air outlet;
• a liquid reservoir comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;
• a heater assembly comprising at least one heating element in fluid communication with the airflow passage, the heater assembly configured to heat liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied to a surface of the heater assembly from the liquid reservoir to generate an aerosol;
• at least one meniscus-forming element being proximate to the heater assembly,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element is positioned within the airflow passage and contacts the surface of the heater assembly or is distanced from the surface of the heater assembly such that during use a meniscus of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is formed between the surface of the heater assembly and the at least one meniscus-forming element,
• wherein the at least one meniscus-forming element comprises at least one blade or at least one needle,
• wherein the heater assembly further comprises a wicking element in fluidic communication with the at least one heating element and the liquid reservoir, and
• wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one fluid permeable heating element;
• a power supply configured to supply power to the heating element;
• and
• control circuitry configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the at least one heating element.