Cartridge for an aerosol-generating system and an aerosol-generating system comprising a cartridge

Abstract

There is provided a cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, the cartridge including: a first compartment having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first compartment containing a nicotine source including a first carrier material impregnated with between about 1 milligram and about 40 milligrams of nicotine; and a second compartment having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, the second compartment containing a lactic acid source including a second carrier material impregnated with between about 2 milligrams and about 60 milligrams of lactic acid. An aerosol-generating system is also provided, including the cartridge and an aerosol-generating device including a housing defining a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge; and a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, the cartridge comprising: a first compartment having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first compartment containing a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material impregnated with between about 1 milligram and about 40 milligrams of nicotine; and a second compartment having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, the second compartment containing a lactic acid source comprising a second carrier material impregnated with between about 2 milligrams and about 60 milligrams of lactic acid, wherein a flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is greater than a flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first carrier material is impregnated with between about 8 milligrams and about 18 milligrams of nicotine, and the second carrier material is impregnated with between about 10 milligrams and about 30 milligrams of lactic acid.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first carrier material and the second carrier material have a density of between about 0.1 grams/cubic centimeter and about 0.3 grams/cubic centimeter.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first carrier material and the second carrier material have a porosity of between about 15 percent and about 55 percent.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment further comprises a flavorant.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the first carrier material is impregnated with between about 3 milligrams and about 12 milligrams of flavorant.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are arranged in parallel within the cartridge.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a third compartment in fluid communication with the first air outlet of the first compartment and the second air outlet of the second compartment.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first air inlet and the first air outlet of the first compartment, and the second air inlet and the second air outlet of the second compartment, are sealed by one or more removable or frangible barriers.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a cavity disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment and being configured to receive a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment.

11. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a heater disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the heater is configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment.

12. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a cartridge comprising: a first compartment having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first compartment containing a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material impregnated with between about 1 milligram and about 40 milligrams of nicotine, and a second compartment having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, the second compartment containing a lactic acid source comprising a second carrier material impregnated with between about 2 milligrams and about 60 milligrams of lactic acid, wherein a flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is greater than a flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment; and an aerosol-generating device comprising: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge; and a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the heater is disposed within the cavity of the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the cartridge further comprises a cavity disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment and being configured to receive the heater.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the cartridge further comprises a susceptor disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and the heater comprises an inductive heater surrounding at least a portion of the cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

15. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a cartridge comprising: a first compartment having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, the first compartment containing a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material impregnated with between about 1 milligram and about 40 milligrams of nicotine, a second compartment having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, the second compartment containing a lactic acid source comprising a second carrier material impregnated with between about 2 milligrams and about 60 milligrams of lactic acid, and a heater disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the heater is configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein a flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is greater than a flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment; and an aerosol-generating device comprising: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge; and a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge.

16. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment to the flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is between about 3:4 and about 1:2.

17. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein a ratio of the flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment to the flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is between about 3:4 and about 1:2.

18. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein a ratio of the flow area of the first air outlet of the first compartment to the flow area of the second air outlet of the second compartment is between about 3:4 and about 1:2.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cartridge according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a cartridge according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cartridge according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 1 shows schematic illustrations of an elongate cartridge 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention for use in an aerosol-generating system for generating an aerosol comprising nicotine lactate salt particles.

(8) The cartridge 2 has a length of about 15 millimetres, a width of about 7 millimetres and a height of about 5.2 millimetres. The cartridge 2 comprises an elongate body 4, a distal end cap 6 and a proximal end cap 8.

(9) The body 4 has a length of about 13 millimetres, a width of about 7 millimetres and a height of about 5.2 millimetres. The distal end cap 6 and the proximal end cap 8 have a length of about 2 millimetres, a width of about 7 millimetres and a height of about 5.2 millimetres.

(10) The cartridge 2 comprises an elongate first compartment 10 that extends from the proximal end of the body 4 to the distal end of the body 4. The first compartment 10 contains a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material 12 impregnated with about 10 milligrams of nicotine and about 4 milligrams of menthol.

(11) The cartridge 2 comprises an elongate second compartment 14 that extends from the proximal end of the body 4 to the distal end of the body 4. The second compartment 14 contains a lactic acid source comprising a second carrier material 16 impregnated with about 20 milligrams of lactic acid.

(12) The first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14 are arranged in parallel.

(13) The cartridge 2 further comprises a cavity 18 for receiving a heater configured to heat the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14. The cavity 18 is located between the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14 and extends from the proximal end of the body 4 to the distal end of the body 4. The cavity 18 is of substantially stadium shaped transverse cross-section and has a width of about 6.3 millimetres and a height of about 1 millimetre.

(14) The distal end cap 6 comprises a first air inlet 20 comprising a row of three spaced apart apertures and a second air inlet 22 comprising a row of five spaced apart apertures. Each of the apertures forming the first air inlet 20 and the second air inlet 22 is of substantially circular transverse cross-section and has a diameter of about 0.3 millimetres.

(15) The flow area of the first air inlet 20 is about 0.21 square millimetres and the flow area of the second air inlet 22 is about 0.35 square millimetres. The ratio of the flow area of the first air inlet 20 to the flow area of the second air inlet 22 is about 3:5.

(16) The distal end cap 6 further comprises a third inlet 24 located between the first air inlet 20 and the second air inlet 22. The third inlet 24 is of substantially stadium shaped transverse cross-section and has a width of about 6.3 millimetres and a height of about 1 millimetre.

(17) The proximal end cap 8 comprises a first air outlet 26 comprising a row of three spaced apart apertures and a second air outlet 28 comprising a row of five spaced apart apertures. Each of the apertures forming the first air outlet 26 and the second air outlet 28 is of substantially circular transverse cross-section and has a diameter of about 0.3 millimetres.

(18) The flow area of the first air outlet 26 is about 0.21 square millimetres and the flow area of the second air outlet 28 is about 0.35 square millimetres. The ratio of the flow area of the first air outlet 26 to the flow area of the second air outlet 28 is about 3:5.

(19) As shown in FIG. 1, to form the cartridge 2, the proximal end cap 8 is inserted into the proximal end of the body 4 such that the first air outlet 26 is aligned with the first compartment 10 and the second air outlet 28 is aligned with the second compartment 14.

(20) The first carrier material 12 impregnated with nicotine and menthol is inserted into the first compartment 10 and the second carrier material 16 impregnated with lactic acid is inserted into the second compartment 14.

(21) The distal end cap 6 is then inserted into the distal end of the body 4 such that the first air inlet 20 is aligned with the first compartment 10, the second air inlet 22 is aligned with the second compartment 14 and the third inlet 24 is aligned with the cavity 18.

(22) The first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14 are substantially the same shape and size. The first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14 are of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and have a length of about 11 millimetres, a width of about 4.3 millimetres and a height of about 1 millimetres.

(23) The first carrier material 12 and the second carrier material 16 comprise a non-woven sheet of PET/PBT and are substantially the same shape and size. The shape and size of the first carrier material 12 and the second carrier material 16 is similar to the shape and size of the first compartment 10 and the second compartment 14 of the cartridge 2, respectively.

(24) The first air inlet 20 is in fluid communication with the first air outlet 26 so that a first air stream may pass into the cartridge 2 through the first air inlet 20, through the first compartment 10 and out of the cartridge 2 though the first air outlet 26. The second air inlet 22 is in fluid communication with the second air outlet 28 so that a second air stream may pass into the cartridge 2 through the second air inlet 22, through the second compartment 14 and out of the cartridge 2 though the second air outlet 28.

(25) Prior to first use of the cartridge 2, the first air inlet 20 and the second air inlet 22 may be sealed by a removable peel-off foil seal or a pierceable foil seal (not shown) applied to the external face of the distal end cap 6. Similarly, prior to first use of the cartridge 2, the first air outlet 26 and the second air outlet 28 may be sealed by a removable peel-off foil seal or a pierceable foil seal (not shown) applied to the external face of the proximal end cap 8.

(26) FIG. 2 shows schematic illustrations of an elongate cartridge 102 according to a second embodiment of the invention for use in an aerosol-generating system for generating an aerosol comprising nicotine lactate salt particles.

(27) The cartridge 102 has a length of about 15 millimetres, a width of about 7.1 millimetres and a height of about 6.75 millimetres. The cartridge 102 comprises an elongate body 104 and a distal end cap 106.

(28) The body 104 has a length of about 13 millimetres, a width of about 7.1 millimetres and a height of about 6.75 millimetres. The body 104 has a proximal end wall 108. The distal end cap 106 has a length of about 2 millimetres, a width of about 7.1 millimetres and a height of about 6.75 millimetres.

(29) The cartridge 102 comprises an elongate first compartment 110 that extends from the distal end of the body 104 to the proximal end wall 108 of the body 104. The first compartment 110 contains a nicotine source comprising a first carrier material 112 impregnated with about 10 milligrams of nicotine and about 4 milligrams of menthol.

(30) The cartridge 102 comprises an elongate second compartment 114 that extends from the distal end of the body 104 to the proximal end wall 108 of the body 104. The second compartment 114 contains a lactic acid source comprising a second carrier material 116 impregnated with about 20 milligrams of lactic acid.

(31) The first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 are arranged in parallel.

(32) The cartridge 102 further comprises a cavity 118 for receiving a heater configured to heat the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114. The cavity 118 is located between the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 and extends from the distal end of the body 1044 to the proximal end wall 108 of the body 104. The cavity 118 is of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and has a width of about 6 millimetres and a height of about 1 millimetre.

(33) The distal end cap 106 comprises a first air inlet 120 comprising a row of three spaced apart apertures and a second air inlet 122 comprising a row of five spaced apart apertures. Each of the apertures forming the first air inlet 120 and the second air inlet 122 is of substantially circular transverse cross-section and has a diameter of about 0.5 millimetres.

(34) The flow area of the first air inlet 120 is about 0.59 square millimetres and the flow area of the second air inlet 122 is about 0.98 square millimetres. The ratio of the flow area of the first air inlet 120 to the flow area of the second air inlet 122 is about 3:5.

(35) The distal end cap 106 further comprises a third inlet 124 located between the first air inlet 120 and the second air inlet 122. The third inlet 124 is of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section and has a width of about 6 millimetres and a height of about 1 millimetre.

(36) The proximal end wall 108 of the body 104 comprises a first air outlet 126 comprising a row of three spaced apart apertures and a second air outlet 128 comprising a row of five spaced apart apertures. The first air outlet 126 is aligned with the first compartment 110 and the second air outlet 128 is aligned with the second compartment 114. Each of the apertures forming the first air outlet 126 and the second air outlet 128 is of substantially circular transverse cross-section and has a diameter of about 0.5 millimetres.

(37) The flow area of the first air outlet 126 is about 0.59 square millimetres and the flow area of the second air outlet 128 is about 0.98 square millimetres. The ratio of the flow area of the first air outlet 126 to the flow area of the second air outlet 128 is about 3:5.

(38) As shown in FIG. 2, to form the cartridge 102, the first carrier material 112 impregnated with nicotine and menthol is inserted into the first compartment 110 and the second carrier material 106 impregnated with lactic acid is inserted into the second compartment 114.

(39) The distal end cap 106 is then inserted into the proximal end of the body 104 such that the first air inlet 120 is aligned with the first compartment 110, the second air inlet 122 is aligned with the second compartment 114 and the third inlet 124 is aligned with the cavity 118.

(40) The first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 are substantially the same shape and size. The first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 have a length of about 12 millimetres, a width of about 5 millimetres and a height of about 1.7 millimetres.

(41) The first carrier material 112 and the second carrier material 116 comprise a non-woven sheet of PET/PBT and are substantially the same shape and size. The shape and size of the first carrier material 112 and the second carrier material 116 is similar to the shape and size of the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102, respectively.

(42) The first air inlet 120 is in fluid communication with the first air outlet 126 so that a first air stream may pass into the cartridge 102 through the first air inlet 120, through the first compartment 110 and out of the cartridge 102 though the first air outlet 126. The second air inlet 122 is in fluid communication with the second air outlet 128 so that a second air stream may pass into the cartridge 102 through the second air inlet 122, through the second compartment 114 and out of the cartridge 102 though the second air outlet 128.

(43) Prior to first use of the cartridge 102, the first air inlet 120 and the second air inlet 122 may be sealed by a removable peel-off foil seal or a pierceable foil seal (not shown) applied to the external face of the distal end cap 106. Similarly, prior to first use of the cartridge 102, the first air outlet 126 and the second air outlet 128 may be sealed by a removable peel-off foil seal or a pierceable foil seal (not shown) applied to the external face of the proximal end wall of the body 104.

(44) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol-generating system 200 according to an embodiment of the invention for generating an aerosol comprising nicotine lactate salt particles.

(45) The aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device 202, a cartridge 102 according to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 and a mouthpiece 204.

(46) The aerosol-generating device 202 comprises a housing 206 defining a cavity 208 for receiving the cartridge 102 and a heater (not shown) configured to heat both the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102.

(47) The heater is a single elongate electric heater. The heater is positioned within the cavity 208 of the aerosol-generating device 202 and extends along the longitudinal axis of the cavity 208. The aerosol-generating device 202 further comprises a power supply and a controller (not shown) for controlling a supply of power from the power supply to the heater.

(48) As the cartridge 102 is inserted into the cavity 208 of the aerosol-generating device 202, the heater passes through the third inlet 124 of the distal end cap 106 of the cartridge 102 and is received in the cavity 118 located between the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102. During use, the controller of the aerosol-generating device 202 controls the supply of power from the power supply aerosol-generating device 202 to the heater to heat the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102 to substantially the same temperature of about 100° C.

(49) Once the cartridge 102 has been inserted into the cavity 208 of the aerosol-generating device 202, the distal end of the mouthpiece 204 is connected to the proximal end of the housing 206 of the aerosol-generating device 202.

(50) In use, a user draws on the proximal end of the mouthpiece 204 to draw a first air stream through the first compartment 110 of the cartridge 102 and a second air stream through the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102. As the first air stream is drawn through the first compartment 110 of the cartridge 102, nicotine vapour is released from the first carrier material 112 into the first air stream. As the second air stream is drawn through the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102, lactic acid vapour is released from the second carrier material 116 into the second air stream.

(51) The nicotine vapour in the first air stream and the lactic acid vapour in the second air stream react with one another in the gas phase in the mouthpiece 204 to form an aerosol of nicotine salt particles, which is delivered to the user through the proximal end of the mouthpiece 204.

(52) In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the distal end of the mouthpiece 204 may be configured for engagement with the proximal end of the cartridge 102 rather than the proximal end of the housing 206 of the aerosol-generating device 202.

(53) The cavity 118 of the cartridge 102 is enclosed along its length. As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge may comprise a cavity for receiving a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment that is at least partially open along its length. This may advantageously facilitate insertion of the heater of the aerosol-generating device into the cavity of the cartridge.

(54) As shown in FIG. 5, rather than a cavity for receiving a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment, the cartridge may comprise a heater located between the first compartment and the second compartment. In such embodiments, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to supply power to the heater of the cartridge by means of one or more connection points of the heater at the distal end of the cartridge.

(55) In the aerosol-generating system according to invention shown in FIG. 3, the aerosol-generating device 202 comprises an electric heater within the cavity 208 and the cartridge 102 comprises a cavity 118 for receiving the heater.

(56) In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the aerosol-generating device 202 may comprise an inductive heater circumscribing the cavity 208 and the cartridge 102 may comprise a susceptor positioned within the cavity 118. In this alternative embodiment, during use the controller of the aerosol-generating device 202 controls the supply of power from the power supply of the aerosol-generating device 202 to the inductive heater to heat the susceptor within the cavity 118 of the cartridge 102. Once heated, the susceptor heats the first compartment 110 and the second compartment 114 of the cartridge 102.