Electronic devices and liquids for aerosolizing and inhaling therewith

Inventors

Danek, Mario • Kovacevich, Ian • Heinrich, Andrew • Cheng, Christopher Kar-Heng • Walsh, Joseph Gene

Assignees

Qnovia Inc

Abstract

An electronic device includes a mouthpiece, a bladder, and a mesh assembly having a mesh material and a piezoelectric material. The mesh material is in contact with a liquid of the bladder. The mouthpiece, the bladder, and the mesh assembly are located in-line along a longitudinal axis of the device between opposite longitudinal ends of the device, with the mesh assembly extending between and separating the mouthpiece and the bladder. A liquid-filled cartridge also is disclosed for use with an electronic device for delivery of a substance into a body through respiration includes a liquid container; and a liquid contained within the container for aerosolizing and inhaling by a person using the electronic device. The liquid includes a plurality of nanoparticles in a nanoemulsion, the nanoparticles including the encapsulation of the substance to be delivered into the body through respiration. The nanoemulsion preferably is produced using a microfluidizing machine.

Core Innovation

The disclosure describes an electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person. The device includes a cartridge comprising a cartridge body and a mouthpiece secured to the cartridge body in covering relation to a top of the cartridge body. The cartridge includes a silicone bladder containing a liquid, with the silicone bladder contained within the cartridge body and arranged to expose a bladder mouth within an opening in a wall defining the top of the cartridge body.

At the bladder mouth, the device includes a mesh assembly comprising a mesh material and a piezoelectric material. A flange of the mouth of the silicone bladder forms a seal with an underside of the mesh assembly such that the liquid does not leak from the silicone bladder. The mesh material is configured to vibrate when the piezoelectric material is actuated, and aerosol is produced when the mesh material contacts the liquid of the silicone bladder for inhalation through the mouthpiece secured over the top of the cartridge body.

The cartridge is removably mounted within a base housing that comprises circuitry and a power supply for actuating the mesh assembly. The cartridge is partially received within a recess of an end of the base housing, and the plate of the cartridge body is magnetically attached to the base housing. The disclosed approach produces aerosol without heat/smoldering, relying on piezoelectric actuation and a vibrating mesh that contacts the bladder liquid.

The disclosure also describes a cartridge liquid formulation in which the substance delivered is provided using nanoemulsion nanoparticles, including encapsulation of the substance within the nanoparticles and an aqueous carrier. The described formulation includes optional encapsulated forms such as micelles or liposomes, and is described with a preference for an aqueous solution such as 0.9% saline. Production is described as using a microfluidizing machine with temperature control to reduce harmful byproducts, and the disclosure recites constraints related to particle size, polydispersity index, and pH, for improved deposition and shelf-life.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim includes multiple inventive features that define a piezoelectric vibrating mesh aerosol generator integrated with a silicone bladder cartridge and a removably mounted base housing that provides circuitry and power supply, with the cartridge liquid formulation further refined in dependent claims through nanoemulsion nanoparticle encapsulation.

Across the independent claim and dependent refinements, the coverage centers on a cartridge with a silicone bladder and a mouthpiece, a sealed interface to a piezoelectric mesh that vibrates to generate inhalable aerosol, a removably mounted powered base housing with magnetic cartridge attachment, and delivery formulations using nanoemulsion nanoparticles with encapsulation and additional constraints for mesh and bladder characteristics.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications