Electronic devices for aerosolizing and inhaling liquid having an enclosed interior air passageway with diaphragm and pressure sensor
Inventors
Danek, Mario • Betts, Kassie • Kovacevich, Ian D. • BANSANSINE, Nouphone J. • Walsh, Joseph Gene • Cheng, Christopher Kar-Heng • Breen, Chris • RIGBERG, Josh • Granger, Toriono • RAWASHDEH, Muawea • Hall, Ryan • CHARLES, Tonya • COKER, Jacquelyn
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12279650-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electronic device includes a hand held base assembly that includes circuitry including memory and firmware executed by a processor or microcontroller of the circuitry; and a cartridge assembly that includes memory that is read by the firmware of the handheld base assembly. The cartridge assembly and the handheld base assembly are configured to removably couple together to define the electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person. An enclosed air passageway is defined by the cartridge assembly and by the handheld base assembly, which isolates the airflow from the electronics of the device. The enclosed air passageway extends between the opening of the mouthpiece for taking a breath and a diaphragm of the handheld base assembly, movement of the diaphragm changing the air pressure within an enclosed interior space having a pressure sensor for trigging the pressure sensor when a breath is taken.
Core Innovation
The invention is an electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person, comprising a cartridge assembly and a handheld base assembly removably coupled with the cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge housing, a bladder contained within the cartridge housing, a pressure ring, and a mesh assembly located at a top of a distal end of the cartridge housing, and a mouthpiece attached to the distal end defines an enclosed interior space extending over the mesh assembly.
The mouthpiece defines a mouthpiece opening through which the aerosolized liquid is suctioned from the enclosed interior space into a mouth of a person when a breath is drawn, and further defines a port in a side of the mouthpiece leading into an antechamber. An interior opening between the antechamber and the enclosed interior space facilitates airflow through the port and antechamber into and through the enclosed interior space and out of the mouthpiece opening when the breath is drawn. The cartridge housing defines an enclosed air channel extending from the antechamber to an opening in a bottom surface of a proximal end of the cartridge housing.
The handheld base assembly includes a protuberance extending through the opening in the bottom surface of the proximal end into the enclosed air channel defined by the cartridge housing. The protuberance defines an enclosed air passageway leading to a diaphragm that seals off the air passageway and is located proximate a pressure sensor contained within the handheld base assembly, and a change in pressure in the enclosed air channel enables breath-actuated control of aerosol production in the sealed air path.
In disclosed embodiments, the base electronics and cartridge airpath are arranged so that internal airflow spaces are isolated from electronic components, and the removability can be achieved by magnetic coupling. A cartridge and base arrangement also supports cartridge memory and dose tracking/authentication, while base electronics include a processor, firmware, memory, display, and wireless transceiver for dose tracking and user interaction.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set centers on a breath-actuated aerosol inhalation device with a fully enclosed cartridge airpath and a handheld base that detects pressure changes to initiate metered aerosolization, for a total of 1 independent claim with multiple dependent refinements.
Breath-actuated sealed cartridge aerosol airflow architecture
A cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge housing, a bladder contained within the cartridge housing, a pressure ring, and a mesh assembly located at a top of a distal end of the cartridge housing, the mesh assembly being sandwiched between a mouth of the bladder and the pressure ring and held in sealing engagement with the bladder; a mouthpiece attached to the distal end of the cartridge housing in opposing facing relation to the mesh assembly such that an enclosed interior space is defined by and between the mouthpiece and the distal end of the cartridge housing, the enclosed interior space extending over the mesh assembly; the mouthpiece further defining a mouthpiece opening through which the aerosolized liquid is suctioned from the enclosed interior space into a mouth of a person when a breath is drawn, a port in a side of the mouthpiece leading into an antechamber defined by and between the mouthpiece, the pressure ring, and the cartridge housing, and an interior opening between the antechamber and the enclosed interior space for facilitating airflow through the port and antechamber into and through the enclosed interior space and out of the mouthpiece opening when the breath is drawn; wherein the cartridge housing defines an enclosed air channel extending from the antechamber to an opening in a bottom surface of a proximal end of the cartridge housing.
Handheld base protuberance to diaphragm-pressure sensor enclosed air passageway
A handheld base assembly removably coupled with the cartridge assembly and comprising a protuberance extending through the opening in the bottom surface of the proximal end of the cartridge housing into the enclosed air channel, the protuberance defining an enclosed air passageway leading to a diaphragm that seals off the air passageway and is located proximate a pressure sensor contained within the handheld base assembly, by which a change in pressure in the enclosed air channel is detected by the pressure sensor.
Airtight sealing around the base protuberance opening
The handheld base assembly includes a sealing component that seals an opening on a bottom surface of a proximal end of the cartridge housing in an airtight manner around a protuberance extending into the opening.
Electronic components not exposed to enclosed internal airflow spaces
The electronic components are not exposed to the enclosed interior space, the antechamber, the enclosed air channel, or the enclosed air passageway.
Magnetic coupling between handheld base and cartridge
The handheld base assembly is magnetically coupled with the cartridge assembly.
Pressure sensor mounted on a printed circuit board
A pressure sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board of the handheld base assembly.
Across the independent structure and dependent refinements, the claims focus on a sealed cartridge that produces aerosolized liquid into an enclosed interior space with an airflow structure including a mouthpiece opening and an antechamber/port arrangement, combined with a handheld base protuberance that forms an enclosed air passageway to a diaphragm adjacent a pressure sensor for detecting pressure changes. Dependent claims further specify airtight sealing around the base-to-cartridge interface, exposure limitations for electronic components, magnetic coupling, and pressure-sensor mounting on a printed circuit board.
Stated Advantages
Breath-actuation by detecting a change in pressure in the enclosed air channel.
Reduced exposure by arranging a fully sealed medical-grade airpath that isolates electronics from internal airflow spaces.
Orientation-agnostic operation based on the enclosed air channel and pressure sensing arrangement.
Compliance with medical airpath/biocompatibility standards by using medical-grade materials in the disclosed sealed air path.
App-enabled dosing data tracking and authentication plus user interaction via display and wireless transceiver; haptic feedback is described.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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