Nicotine Salt Formulations For Aerosol Devices And Methods Thereof
Patent No. US10952468 (titled "Nicotine Salt Formulations For Aerosol Devices And Methods Thereof") was filed by Envenio Inc on Oct 28, 2015.
What is this patent about?
’468 is related to the field of electronic cigarettes and, more specifically, to nicotine salt formulations used within them. Traditional e-liquids often use freebase nicotine, which can be harsh at higher concentrations. The industry is constantly seeking formulations that provide a smoother, more satisfying nicotine delivery experience, mimicking the rapid uptake and satisfaction associated with traditional cigarettes.
The underlying idea behind ’468 is to use a nicotine salt formed with benzoic acid in a specific formulation for e-cigarettes. By using benzoic acid to create the nicotine salt, the inventors aimed to achieve a more efficient and satisfying nicotine delivery. The key insight is that this particular salt, when vaporized, provides a smoother inhalation and a faster nicotine uptake compared to freebase nicotine, more closely resembling the experience of smoking a traditional cigarette.
The claims of ’468 focus on an electronic cigarette cartridge containing a nicotine salt liquid formulation. This formulation comprises a nicotine salt formed from nicotine and benzoic acid, dissolved in a liquid carrier of glycerol and propylene glycol. The claims specify that the nicotine salt should provide between 3% and 15% nicotine by weight in the aerosol, and that the molar ratio of benzoic acid to nicotine is approximately 1:1.
In practice, the invention involves creating a liquid mixture of nicotine benzoate, glycerol, and propylene glycol within an e-cigarette cartridge. When the e-cigarette's heating element is activated, this liquid is vaporized into an aerosol. The user then inhales this aerosol, receiving a dose of nicotine. The specific ratio of benzoic acid to nicotine ensures the formation of the desired salt, while the glycerol and propylene glycol act as carriers for the nicotine and contribute to the aerosol's properties.
The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the specific use of benzoic acid as the acid in the nicotine salt, combined with the defined concentration range and carrier composition. While nicotine salts were known, the inventors found that nicotine benzoate in this particular formulation provides a superior experience compared to other nicotine salts or freebase nicotine, offering a smoother inhalation and a more rapid nicotine uptake, thus better mimicking the satisfaction derived from traditional cigarettes.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’468 was filed, electronic cigarettes were at a time when X was typically implemented using Y. Specifically, the formulation of liquids for producing aerosols in electronic cigarettes was an area of active development, with engineers exploring different carrier liquids and additives to optimize nicotine delivery and user experience. At this time, the use of nicotine salts was not yet widespread, and the focus was on freebase nicotine formulations.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art neither taught nor suggested an electronic cigarette, or a method of providing nicotine to a user, wherein a nicotine salt liquid formulation contains a nicotine salt comprised of nicotine and benzoic acid in a 1:1 molar ratio, and in a liquid carrier which includes glycerol and propylene glycol, wherein the nicotine salt is present in an amount that forms from about 3% (w/w) to about 15% (w/w) nicotine in the inhalable aerosol which is generated when the nicotine salt liquid formulation is heated in the electronic cigarette.
Claims
This patent contains 20 claims, of which claims 1, 8, 14, and 15 are independent. The independent claims are directed to an electronic cigarette and methods of using a nicotine salt liquid formulation. The dependent claims generally add further limitations or specific details to the composition of the liquid formulation or the electronic cigarette device.
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Date
Description
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US10952468
- Application Number
- US14925961
- Filing Date
- Oct 28, 2015
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- May 6, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents