Electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person

Abstract

An electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation has a mouthpiece and an elongate housing. The mouthpiece attaches to an upper end of the housing. The housing contains a liquid container and a mesh assembly with mesh material that vibrates when actuated for aerosolizing liquid from the container. The mouthpiece covers the mesh assembly at the upper end of the housing, and the aerosol produced by the mesh assembly may be inhaled through the mouthpiece by a person. The housing contains circuitry and a power supply, preferably are located in a lower half of the housing, for actuating vibration of the mesh material. Electrical pathways connect the mesh assembly with the circuitry and power supply. The power supply may comprise one or more batteries located at the lower end of the housing. The aerosol is produced without smoldering of the liquid and without using a compressed gas.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is a U.S. nonprovisional patent application of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(e) to, U.S. provisional patent application 62 / 721,310, filed Aug. 22, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.COPYRIGHT STATEMENT[0002]Any new and original work of authorship in this document—including any source code—is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. Reproduction by anyone of this document as it appears in official governmental records is permitted, but otherwise all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The invention generally relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person, whether intended for personal or recreational use or for the administration of medicines.[0004]Vaping has been rapidly increasing in popularity, primarily because vaping provi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is an electronic device that produces an aerosol for inhalation by a person. It includes a mouthpiece and an elongate housing with a mesh assembly and a liquid container. The mesh assembly vibrates when actuated to aerosolize the liquid. The device does not require a heating element or compressed gas to aerosolize the liquid. It produces a fine particle, low velocity aerosol for central and deep lung deposition. The device may be powered by batteries and operates by causing the liquid to come into contact with the vibrating mesh material. It may also include a pump system to push the liquid towards the mesh material. The device is designed to be easily gripped and held by hand during use.

Problems solved by technology

It is believed that while promoted as healthier than traditional cigarette use, vaping actually may be more dangerous.

Unfortunately, at high temperatures propylene glycol converts into tiny polymers that can wreak havoc on lung tissue.

Many things are safe to eat but dangerous to breathe.

An earlier toxicology review warned that propylene glycol, ubiquitous in hairsprays, could be harmful because aerosol particles lodge deep in the lungs and are not respirable.

Moreover, when propylene glycol is heated, whether by a red-hot metal coil of a heating element of a vaporizer or otherwise, the potential harm from inhalation exposure increases.

Prevalent in nicotine e-cig products and present in some vape oil cartridges, FDA-approved flavoring agents pose additional risks when inhaled rather than eaten.

In that sense, most of the vaporizers that have flooded the commercial market may not be true vaporizers.

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