An apparatus that includes at least one nebulizer that includes a mesh material having a plurality of pores, a vibrating actuator coupled to the nebulizer and configured to produce ultrasonic vibration when energized according to a set energy profile, and a reservoir receiver configured to receive a reservoir that holds a topical formulation, the reservoir being coupled to the nebulizer when received. When the nebulizer is placed in contact with the topical formulation, vibration of the mesh nebulizer by the vibrating actuator, according to the set energy profile, ejects droplets of the topical formulation from the plurality of pores, forming a spray.

An electrically-powered inhalation device for delivery of an aerosol to the oropharynx of a user comprises respective proximal and distal portions, the proximal portion including an inlet for a liquid, the distal portion including an aerosol outlet defining a mist-exiting location and a piezo assembly including an ultrasonically vibrable mesh membrane, for producing, upon electrical activation, a mist comprising droplets of the liquid, the mesh membrane defining a mist-generating location; and an intermediate portion disposed distally from the proximal portion and proximally from the distal portion, wherein the distal portion is dimensioned to vertically span the user's oral cavity from tongue to hard-palate when the user's lips and/or teeth are transversely engaged with the intermediate portion, so as to place the mist-exiting location in fluid communication with the user's oropharynx.

An aerosol generator with electrical power conducting pins has a vibratable plate with apertures therein and an annular piezo. An annular support member supports the piezo and the vibratable plate. A first electrical power conducting pin engages directly with a first, top, surface of the piezo. A second electrical power conducting pin indirectly conducts electrical power to a second surface of the piezo, by contacting an extension tab. There is a film of cured epoxy adhesive on the tab. The aerosol generator avoids need for soldered joints for electrical contact, and the pins are conveniently mounted parallel to each on the same lateral and top side of the piezo and support member. The pins may have multi-point tips for particularly effective electrical contact.

An ultrasonic vaporization assembly includes: a piezoelectric drive element provided with a first through hole; a vaporizer plate stacked with the piezoelectric drive element, the vaporizer plate having a microporous zone at a position corresponding to the first through hole; and a loading board arranged on a side surface of the vaporizer plate which faces away from the piezoelectric drive element, the loading board being provided with a second through hole at a position corresponding to the microporous zone. A ratio of a pore size of the second through hole to a diameter of the microporous zone is greater than or equal to 0.75 and less than or equal to 1.5.

An aerosol generating device includes an aerosol generator and a plug. The aerosol generator includes a container and an atomizing module arranged in the container. The container has a liquid chamber, an aerosol chamber, and an insertion slot defining an insertion direction. The liquid chamber and the aerosol chamber are respectively arranged at two opposite sides of the atomizing module, and are in spatial communication with each other through the atomizing module. The atomizing module includes two electrode regions having the same polarity and being electrically connected to each other. The plug is detachably inserted into the insertion slot of the container along the insertion direction, and a conductive terminal of the plug contacts the two electrode regions.

A microporous vaporization assembly includes: a microporous vaporization plate for vaporizing an aerosol-generation substrate to generate aerosols; and a circuit board flexibly electrically connected to the microporous vaporization plate, the circuit board transmitting an electrical signal of the circuit board to the microporous vaporization plate. In an embodiment, the microporous vaporization assembly includes a flexible electrical conductor between the circuit board and the microporous vaporization plate. The flexible electrical conductor is in contact with the circuit board and the microporous vaporization plate respectively, to implement a flexible electrical connection between the circuit board and the microporous vaporization plate.

The humidifier includes a humidification section which vaporizes water to produce humidified air, and a fan which produces in an air passage an air flow delivering the humidified air to the outside. The humidifier further includes a sterilized water producing section which produces sterilized water, an ultrasonic irradiator which produces sterilizing mist through ultrasonic irradiation of the sterilized water, an auxiliary passage through which the sterilizing mist is delivered to the outside, and an operation switching mechanism. The operation switching mechanism is switched between a first operation mode in which the air passage and the auxiliary passage communicate with each other to introduce the sterilizing mist into the air passage, and a second operation mode in which communication between the air passage and the auxiliary passage is blocked.

A microporous vaporization assembly includes: a piezoceramic plate, a through hole being provided in the piezoceramic plate; and a vaporization plate including a body part and a fence part, the body part being stacked on and bonded to the piezoceramic plate and covering the through hole, a plurality of vaporization holes being provided in an area of the body part corresponding to the through hole. The fence part is arranged protruding from a surface of the body part stacked with the piezoceramic plate and surrounds an outer circumference of the piezoceramic plate.

A photo-resist (21) is applied in a pattern or vertical columns having the dimensions of holes or pores of the aperture plate to be produced. This mask pattern provides the apertures which define the aerosol particle size, having up to 2500 holes per square mm. There is electro-deposition of metal (22) into the spaces around the columns (21). There is further application of a second photo-resist mask (25) of much larger (wider and taller) columns, encompassing the area of a number of first columns (21). The hole diameter in the second plating layer is chosen according to a desired flow rate.

A method for aerosolising a liquid comprises the steps of: —providing an aperture plate having at least 100 outlet holes per mm; delivering liquid to the aperture plate; and vibrating the aperture plate to produce an aerosol. The viscosity of the liquid is in the range of from 1 to 15 cP and the surface tension of the liquid is in the range of from 72 to 0.5 mN/m. The output rate of the generated aerosol is greater than 0.01 mL/min.