Liquid metering dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A liquid metering dispensing apparatus has a cartridge (2) having a chamber (12) within which is reciprocally mounted a heating element (4). The heating element is arranged to draw and temporarily retain a metered dose of a liquid from a reservoir. The metered dose of liquid is evenly distributed over the heating element by a wiper (13) and the heating element is subsequently activated to vaporize the liquid.

Description

[0001] LIQUID METERING DISPENSING APPARATUS

[0002] This invention relates to a liquid metering dispensing apparatus and in particular, although not exclusively, for use as an inhaler or vaping device.

[0003] With a medicinal inhaler, it is required to dispense a precise, metered, quantity of a liquid.

[0004] It is known from US-A-7222755 to provide a liquid metered dispensing squeezable bottle containing a dip tube and a one-way valve system at the bottom of the dip tube. The dip tube includes a leg that is flexible to permit folding of the leg toward the container for insertion into a standard neck or narrow neck container.

[0005] US-A-7040513 discloses a valve body and a valve member which is slidably mounted within the body between rest and dispensing positions. The valve has a metering chamber to contain a metered quantity of liquid each time the valve is activated, the valve being formed by a diagonal hole with the valve member.

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus in which a uniform dose is metered from a liquid reservoir and to prevent the reservoir from exposure to the heating process.

[0007] According to this invention there is provided a liquid metering dispensing apparatus including a cartridge having a chamber within which is located a reciprocally mounted heating element, said heating element being arranged to draw and temporarily retain a metered dose of a liquid from a reservoir and, at an opposite end of said cartridge from said reservoir, is a mouthpiece for a user to suck and inhale said vaporized droplets from liquid vaporized by said heating element, wherein the heating element is arranged to be electrically driven or mechanically retracted into the chamber in a direction toward said reservoir and return means is provided to move said heating element past the dispensing ports, the amount of movement past the dispensing ports controlling the volume of the dose metered onto the heating element.

[0008] Preferably, said heating element contains capillary pockets or channels for drawing and retaining said metered dose until it is vaporized.

[0009] Conveniently, said cartridge is arranged to be releasably attached to the reservoir containing said liquid.

[0010] Preferably, channels are provided in the cartridge to dispensing ports for passage of the liquid from the reservoir onto said heating element.

[0011] Advantageously, a seal is provided between the heating element and the chamber.

[0012] Conveniently, a circumferential wiper is mounted in an inner housing of the cartridge to provide an even coverage of the metered dose of liquid onto the heating element and into micro holes forming capillary pockets in the heating element.

[0013] Conveniently, the return means is a compression spring or an electrical actuator.

[0014] In a currently preferred embodiment, when the heating element is moved past the dispensing ports, the heating element is activated by a user’s breath to vaporize said liquid.

[0015] Conveniently, the heating element includes an energy source to heat said heating element.

[0016] Advantageously, said heating element is made of an electrically resistive material such as doped ceramics, molybdenum disilicide carbon, graphite, metal, quartz or composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material.

[0017] Conveniently, the heating element is an infrared heating element, a photonic source or an inductive heating element.

[0018] Preferably, the heating element is arranged to convert the metered dose into droplets of 2 - 5microns, or less than 2 microns for systematic absorption.

[0019] Advantageously, the heating element has a temperature in the range 20°C -

[0020] 200°C, usually in the range 30°C - 90°C, and, preferably, 60°C. Preferably, the liquid is a medicament, or nicotine, plus an excipient including propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, or an organic solvent such as ethanol.

[0021] Advantageously, the heating element is activated by a manual control, e.g., a button, or by a pressure transducer when a user sucks on the mouthpiece, to vaporize the liquid.

[0022] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figures la - 4a show schematic cross-sections of a liquid metering dispensing cartridge in accordance with this invention in differing operational positions thereof, and

[0024] Figures lb - 4b show respective orthogonal schematic cross-sections of the liquid metering dispensing cartridge shown in Figures 1 a - 4a.

[0025] In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

[0026] The liquid metering dispensing apparatus shown in the Figures has a cartridge 1 having an outer housing 2 within which is an inner housing 3. The inner housing forms a cylinder within which is reciprocally located a heating element 4. In the embodiment shown, the heating element contains two arrays of micro holes 5 forming capillary pockets arranged on opposing sides of the heating element, but in alternative embodiments the pockets may be disposed around the entire surface of the heating element and / or replaced by channels or an absorbent surface, all for drawing and retaining a metered dose of liquid. The size and quantity of holes is dependent upon the metered dose volume and capillary tension requirements of the liquid. The heating element is made of an electrically-resistive material, such as doped ceramics, molybdenum disilicide carbon, graphite, metal, quartz or composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material. The heating element may be an infrared element, a photonic source or an inductive heating element. The heating element is preferably coated with a capacitive coating to prevent the heating element material from heating during inhalation without liquid on the heating element. The heating element is arranged to convert the metered dose into droplets of 2 - 5 microns or less than 2 microns for systematic absorption. The heating element typically has a temperature in the range 20°C - 200°C, usually in the range 30°C - 90°C and, preferably, 60° C. The heating element includes an energy source (not shown) to heat the element.

[0027] Mounted on top of the outer housing 2 is a mouthpiece 6 having an internal orifice 7.

[0028] Mounted at the opposite end of the cartridge 1 from the mouthpiece 6 is a reservoir (not shown) containing liquid to be vaporized. The cartridge is arranged to be releasably attached to the reservoir containing liquid. The liquid may be a medicament or nicotine, plus an excipient including propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, or an organic solvent such as ethanol.

[0029] The heating element 4 is mounted on a piston 8 having arms 18 that is slidingly mounted in the cylinder formed by the inner housing 3and arranged to be electrically driven or mechanically retracted, such as in a dial-a-dose syringe, into a chamber 12 in a direction toward the reservoir. A return means (not shown), which may be a compression spring or an electrical actuator, is connected to the arms 18 so as to move the piston 8 and heating element 4 in an upwards direction (as shown in the Figures) past dispensing ports 9.

[0030] Interconnecting the ports 9 to the liquid reservoir are micro-fluidic channels 10 to allow passage of liquid onto the heating element 4.

[0031] At an upper (as shown in the Figures) end of the heating element is circumferentially surrounding rubber or synthetic seal 11. A circumferential wiper 13, made of rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics material, is mounted in the cartridge inner housing 3 to provide an even coverage of the metered dose onto the heating element 4 and into the holes 5, capillary action holding the liquid in the holes.

[0032] In operation, with the heating element in the position shown in Figures la and lb, the apparatus is ready to meter a dose of liquid from the reservoir. The piston 8 is moved downwardly (as shown in Figures 2a and 2b) into the chamber 12.

[0033] As with a dial-a-dose syringe, liquid is pumped into the channels 10 and through the ports 9 onto the heating element which draws and temporarily retains the liquid. As the piston 8 moves the heating element 4 upwardly (as shown in Figures 3a and 3b), so the wiper 13 wipes off excess drug preventing drug build-up and creating a consistent film of drug for homogenous heating and controlling the dose into the heating element; the piston being returned upwardly by the compression spring or electrical actuator (not shown). It will be understood that the area of the heating element covered by the liquid determines the metered dose.

[0034] When the heating element has returned to the position shown in Figures 4a and 4b, the ports 9 are closed and the heating element is activated, by a manual control, e.g., a button, or by a pressure transducer when a user sucks on the mouthpiece, to vaporize the liquid and, when the liquid has been vaporized, a signal, which may be visual or audible, may be provided to a user to indicate that vapour is ready for inhalation.

[0035] It is envisaged that the cartridge and the liquid reservoir may be made of plastics / polymer, metal, metal alloy or polycarbonate.

[0036] In this specification, an apparatus / method / product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

[0037] Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A liquid metering dispensing apparatus including a cartridge (1) having a chamber (12) within which is located a reciprocally mounted heating element (4), said heating element being arranged to draw and temporarily retain a metered dose of a liquid from a reservoir and, at an opposite end of said cartridge from said reservoir, is a mouthpiece (6) for a user to suck and inhale said vaporized droplets from liquid vaporized by said heating element, wherein the heating element (4) is arranged to be electrically driven or mechanically retracted into the chamber (12) in a direction toward said reservoir and return means is provided to move said heating element past dispensing ports (9), the amount of movement past the dispensing ports controlling the volume of the dose metered onto the heating element.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said heating element contains capillary pockets or channels (5) for drawing and retaining said metered dose until it is vaporized.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said cartridge is arranged to be releasably attached to the reservoir containing said liquid.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein channels are provided in the cartridge to dispensing ports (9) for passage of the liquid from the reservoir onto said heating element.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a seal (11) is provided between the heating element and the chamber.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a circumferential wiper (13) is mounted in an inner housing of the cartridge to provide an even coverage of themetered dose of liquid onto the heating element and into micro holes (5) forming capillary pockets in the heating element.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the return means is a compression spring or an electrical actuator.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the heating element (4) is moved past the dispensing ports, the heating element is activated by a user’s breath to vaporize said liquid.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (4) includes an energy source to heat said heating element.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said heating element (4) is made of an electrically resistive material such as doped ceramics, molybdenum disilicide carbon, graphite, metal, quartz or composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (4) is an infrared heating element, a photonic source or an inductive heating element.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (4) is arranged to convert the metered dose into droplets of 2 - 5microns, or less than 2 microns for systematic absorption.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (4) has a temperature in the range 20°C - 200°C, usually in the range 30°C - 90°C, and, preferably, 60°C.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liquid is a medicament, or nicotine, plus an excipient including propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, or an organic solvent such as ethanol.

15. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (4) is activated by a manual control, e.g., a button, or by a pressure transducer when a user sucks on the mouthpiece, to vaporize the liquid.

Images