IP Verse

Aerosol Provision System

Patent No. US2017215476 (titled "Aerosol Provision System") was filed by Nicoventures on Jul 17, 2015. The application was issued on Aug 3, 2017.

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Technical Landscape

In the mid-2010s when ’476 was filed, aerosol provision systems were typically implemented using either a fibrous wadding matrix to hold source liquid or a direct-flow tank system where liquid was fed directly to a heating element. At a time when systems commonly relied on these two architectures, engineering constraints made it non-trivial to balance liquid delivery efficiency with the prevention of leakage and the minimization of chemical degradation products. In direct-flow systems, hardware constraints often resulted in an inability to regulate the precise volume of liquid reaching the heater, while wadding-based systems faced challenges regarding consistent saturation and material interactions during the vaporization process.

Prosecution Position

The disclosed invention represents a technical advancement through the integration of a specific fluid-permeable membrane and a high-water-content liquid formulation to regulate aerosol generation. By disposing a membrane between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generating area, the architecture creates a controlled fluid communication interface that overcomes the leakage constraints inherent in direct-flow tanks. This structural shift, combined with a liquid formulation having a water content of at least 18% w/w, enables the technical effect of reducing the formation of degradation products during vaporization. The advancement resides in the synergistic capability of the membrane-barrier architecture and the specific aqueous concentration to maintain fluid stability while improving the chemical purity of the resulting aerosol.

Claims

The patent contains a total of 14 claims, with claims 1 and 14 serving as the independent claims. The independent claims focus on the structural configuration of an aerosol provision system, specifically highlighting a liquid storage area, an aerosol generating area, and a membrane interface utilized with a liquid formulation containing a high water content. The dependent claims serve to further define the system by specifying particular chemical compositions of the liquid, physical dimensions and orientations of the membrane, additional internal components like liquid distribution elements and heaters, and the integration of power and control units within the device body.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)	Support for Specification	Interpretation
Aerosol generating area (Claim 1)	Aerosol provision systems such e-cigarettes contain an aerosol generating component, such as a heater. As a result of the contact between the liquid formulation and the wire, when the wire is heated during use the liquid formulation is vaporized and subsequently condenses into an aerosol.	The specific region of the system where the liquid formulation is converted into an aerosol, typically containing a heating element such as a wire.
Liquid formulation (Claim 1)	Aerosol provision systems such as e-cigarettes generally contain a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, for which an aerosol is generated. It has surprisingly been found that systems according to the present disclosure produce aerosols with relatively lower amounts of some degradation products compared to previously known systems.	A substance, typically containing nicotine, designed to be vaporized; in this system, it is specifically characterized by a high water concentration to reduce degradation products.
Liquid storage area (Claim 1)	The liquid formulation is held freely in a tank or other storage area and is directly fed to the heating wire. Other systems include the liquid formulation held freely in a tank or other storage area, but include means to prevent the 'direct flow' of the liquid formulation to the heating wire.	A compartment or reservoir within the aerosol provision system where the liquid formulation is held, specifically configured to store the liquid freely rather than being held in a wadding or holding matrix.
Membrane (Claim 1)	The disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system comprising... a membrane disposed between the liquid storage area and the aerosol generating area, said membrane fluidly communicating the liquid storage area with the aerosol generating area. The systems of the present disclosure did not suffer from the leakage problems associated with the previously known systems.	A physical barrier or interface positioned between the liquid storage and aerosol generating areas that facilitates fluid communication while preventing direct, unrestricted flow or leakage.
Water content of at least 18% w/w (Claim 1)	The disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system... wherein the liquid formulation has a water content of at least 18% w/w. It has surprisingly been found that systems according to the present disclosure produce aerosols with relatively lower amounts of some degradation products compared to previously known systems.	A specific concentration of water within the liquid formulation, measured by weight, required to achieve the reduction of degradation products during aerosol generation.

Patent Summary

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US2017215476

NICOVENTURES

Application Number: US201515328938
Filing Date: Jul 17, 2015
Publication Date: Aug 3, 2017
External Links: Slate, USPTO , Google Patents