Liquid-phase inhalant for use with surface wave atomizer, cartridge containing same, and aerosol generating device

Abstract

The present invention provides a liquid phase inhalant for a surface wave atomizer, the liquid phase inhalant having a viscosity of 1.0 to 120 mPa s at 20°C, comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline, the content of the glycerin being 50% by weight or more relative to the total weight of the propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline, and a cartridge and an aerosol generating device including the liquid phase inhalant.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to liquid phase inhalant formulations for use in surface wave atomizers, cartridges containing same, and aerosol generating devices. [Background technology]

[0002] As an alternative to the shortcomings of combustion-type cigarettes, a method of generating aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating substance in a cigarette or a cartridge, rather than by burning a cigarette, is widely used and the demand for such a method is increasing, so research into heat-not-burn (non-combustion) cigarettes or heat-not-burn (non-combustion) aerosol generating systems is actively being conducted.

[0003] Specifically, the aerosol generating system has a form similar to that of a conventional combustion cigarette, and generates mainstream smoke containing an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material within a heated (non-combustion) cigarette or cartridge using a method such as a heater or ultrasonic vibration.

[0004] Among liquid-phase aerosol generators, electric heating aerosol generators that vaporize liquid by boiling it have fast heat conduction and high atomization efficiency. However, they can denature functional inhalation materials in the liquid. For example, harmful substances such as aldehydes can be released by high temperature heat, which can pose a great risk to health.

[0005] Meanwhile, there is a method of using ultrasonic waves to atomize liquid without boiling it, but this method also causes temperature rise during the vibration process, and even if a cooling method is used to lower the temperature, it is difficult to continue to stably atomize liquid without failure due to the high viscosity of the liquid phase, and the efficiency is low because of the large consumption of atomization power and the slow speed.

[0006] In light of the current situation, there is a demand for the development of a liquid-phase inhalant that utilizes a surface wave (SAW) atomizer that can continuously and stably generate aerosols while atomizing through vibration without problems of temperature rise and breakdown due to high viscosity liquid phase, as well as a cartridge and liquid-phase aerosol generator that include the same. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In order to overcome the problems and / or limitations of the existing technologies as described above, the present invention aims to provide a liquid-phase inhalation formulation for use in a surface wave atomizer, a cartridge containing the same, and an aerosol generating device.

[0008] However, the problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and further problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary skill in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid phase inhalation formulation for a surface wave atomizer, comprising: The viscosity at 20°C is 1.0 to 120 mPa s. Contains one or more selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline; The liquid phase inhalant is characterized in that the content of the glycerin is 50% by weight or more based on the total weight of the propylene glycol, glycerin and physiological saline.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cartridge containing the liquid phase inhalation dosage form.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device, comprising a cartridge containing the liquid phase inhalation formulation, and a control unit. Effect of the Invention

[0012] By using the liquid-phase inhalant for use with the surface wave atomizer according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to continuously and stably atomize even in a higher viscosity range, so that liquids with a wide viscosity range can be used in the aerosol generating device. In addition, by using the liquid-phase inhalant of the present invention, it is possible to see the atomization abundantly and to facilitate pulmonary delivery. In addition, a flavoring can be mixed into the liquid-phase inhalant, and a functional substance (solid phase, liquid phase) can be mixed into the saline solution and inhaled.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a cartridge and an aerosol generating device including a liquid-phase inhalant for use in a surface wave atomizer can stably and continuously atomize even a high-viscosity liquid phase without failure by using vibrations without increasing the temperature of the liquid phase through the use of surface waves.

[0014] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, but should be understood as including all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description of the present invention or the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the change in viscosity (20° C.) depending on the composition and the content of a functional material (VIT B3) of a liquid-phase inhalation formulation for a surface wave atomizer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the change in surface tension (25° C.) depending on the composition and the content of a functional ingredient (VIT B3) of a liquid-phase inhalation formulation for a surface wave atomizer according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the change in liquid density (25° C.) depending on the composition and functional material (VIT B3) content of a liquid-phase inhalation formulation for a surface wave atomizer according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various modifications may be made to the embodiments, and the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by such embodiments. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the patent.

[0017] The terms used in the embodiments are merely used for the purpose of explanation and are not to be construed as being limiting. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "include" or "have" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as ideal or overly formal unless expressly defined in this specification.

[0019] In addition, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the description of the embodiments, if a detailed description of related known technology is determined to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the embodiments, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0020] In addition, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are used to distinguish the components from other components, and do not limit the essence, order, or sequence of the components.

[0021] Components having a common function to components included in any of the embodiments will be described using the same names in the other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the description of any of the embodiments will be applied to the other embodiments, and detailed description will be omitted to the extent that they overlap.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a liquid inhalant for use in a surface wave atomizer, the liquid inhalant having a viscosity of 1.0 to 120 mPa s at 20°C, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline, wherein the content of the glycerin is 50% by weight or more based on the total weight of the propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline.

[0023] An atomizer refers to an operation that vaporizes a liquid into droplets in a gas. For example, an atomizer can be realized with an electric heater including a coil for resistive (Joule) heating, a resistive wire formed into other shapes, or a susceptor for inductive heating, and a porous element with capillary or walking capabilities adjacent to the heater that absorbs liquid from a liquid phase storage and transports it to the electric heater.

[0024] Surface waves may propagate along the liquid surface, and the energy is mainly concentrated on the surface of the medium, and the amplitude inside the medium exponentially decays with the distance from the surface. The characteristics of surface waves can be used to generate aerosols on the liquid surface. The specific concentration of energy direction can increase the atomization efficiency and continuously and stably generate aerosols with uniform particle size, which is more suitable for atomizing high-viscosity tobacco solutions than ultrasound. The frequency of surface waves is usually 10MHz to 500MHz, which is higher than that of ultrasound. Therefore, compared with ultrasound, aerosols generated by surface waves have smaller particle size, do not easily remain on the oral mucosa or tongue surface, have stronger suction power, and have a richer, mellower and softer aroma.

[0025] The liquid-phase inhalation formulation, which is an aerosol-forming formulation, may be a mixture of diol and glycerin, and in the present invention, diol may be propylene glycol. In the present invention, propylene glycol is understood as propane-1,2-diol, and glycerin is understood as propane-1,2,3-triol.

[0026] The viscosity of the liquid inhalant is important for stable atomization by the aerosol generator. Generally, a liquid composition with a viscosity of 10 mPa·s or more is considered to have a high viscosity, and when such a high-viscosity liquid composition is used in an electrically heated or ultrasonic aerosol generator, there are problems such as the device easily breaking down and stable atomization being difficult.

[0027] The surface tension of the liquid phase inhalation formulation according to one embodiment of the present invention may be 50 to 70 dyne at 25° C. If the surface tension is higher than the above range (50 to 70 dyne), the size of the droplets will become smaller. However, in order to increase the surface tension, a large amount of ethanol must be added, which is harmful to the human body and poses a process hazard.

[0028] The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to one embodiment of the present invention has a density of 0.995 to 1.164 g / cc as measured after storage at 25° C. for one day.

[0029] The mass ratio of propylene glycol and glycerin in the liquid phase inhalation formulation according to one embodiment of the present invention may be 1:3 to 1:5.

[0030] The ratio of propylene glycol and glycerin affects the viscosity of the liquid inhalation dosage form, and when the mass ratio of propylene glycol and glycerin is 1:3 to 1:5, the viscosity of the liquid inhalation dosage form may be 1.0 to 120 mPa·s (20°C).

[0031] The liquid phase inhalation formulation may have a saline to glycerin mass ratio of 4:5 to 1:7, preferably a saline to glycerin mass ratio of 4:5 to 2:6, and a density at 25° C. of 1.125 to 1.164 g / cc.

[0032] The physiological saline in the form of a liquid phase inhalant according to one embodiment of the present invention may contain a functional inhalation material. The functional inhalation material may be liquid or solid. The functional inhalation material may be contained in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight of the physiological saline. Examples of the functional inhalation material include nicotine, caffeine, vitamins, and natural product extract materials. Examples of the natural extract material include rosemary, pine needles, peppermint, spearmint, coffee, pineapple, chamomile, orange, eucalyptus, thyme, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lemongrass, pine needles, clover, sage, taxol, bergamot, basil, thyme, valerian, hyssop, tea tree, myrrh, and juniper. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the examples given above.

[0033] A flavor can be mixed into the liquid phase inhalation formulation according to one embodiment of the present invention by adding propylene glycol. The flavor may be one or more selected from the group consisting of mint, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, licorice, coriander, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, maltol, ethyl maltol, eucalyptol, acetic acid, breath freshener fragrance, bergamot oil, rosemary, geranium oil, lemon oil, orange oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, mint oil, ginger oil, isosweet, and fruit fragrance components, but is not limited to the above. If the condition is unscented, propylene glycol may not be included.

[0034] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a cartridge containing the liquid phase inhalation formulation and a control unit.

[0035] The aerosol generating device means a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the lungs of a user through the mouth of the user. In the case of the aerosol generating device of the present invention, a liquid-phase inhalable agent is aerosolized using a surface wave atomizer.

[0036] The cartridge may include a liquid phase containment portion which typically contains a liquid phase inhalation dosage form.

[0037] The liquid phase storage portion may be cylindrical with a hollow space formed therein, and the hollow space may be an inlet port through which the vapor can be provided to a user.

[0038] The control unit generally includes a battery for supplying power to operate the aerosol generating device, a control unit for controlling the operation of the system, etc. Power is transferred from the battery to activate a heater included in the atomizer, and the heater vaporizes the liquid transferred from the liquid phase storage unit, and the vaporized liquid is inhaled by the user.

[0039] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the following embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0040] Test Example 1: Viscosity measurement and atomization observation of liquid-phase inhalation

[0041] The inventors measured the viscosity of the liquid phase inhalation formulation at 20°C using a Brookfield viscometer. The spindle was used 0 times, the rotation speed was 4-100 rpm, and a water bath was used to maintain the temperature. The measurement was repeated 3 times, and the results were submitted to the Polymer Research Institute for analysis and self-analysis (mutual check). The results are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1 below.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] EMBODIMENT 1 A liquid phase inhalation formulation having a mass ratio of saline:propylene glycol (PG):glycerin (VG) of 4:1:5. EMBODIMENT 2 A liquid inhalation formulation with a saline:propylene glycol (PG):glycerin (VG) mass ratio of 2:2:6.

[0044] EMBODIMENT 3 A liquid inhalation formulation with a mass ratio of saline:propylene glycol (PG):glycerin (VG) of 1:2:7.

[0045] Comparative Example -Liquid phase inhalation formulations containing only saline.

[0046] If the viscosity exceeds 120 mPa·s, many giant droplets with diameters of 200 μm or more may be produced. It is presumed that more wave energy is required to vibrate the surface of a highly viscous liquid, which increases the irregularity of the surface vibration and results in the production of many giant droplets. Giant droplets may adhere to the inner wall of the airflow tube, blocking the airflow path, or be expelled outside the airflow tube, causing discomfort to the smoker and preventing smooth aerosolization. Storage problems may also occur due to changes in temperature and humidity.

[0047] Furthermore, to observe whether stable atomization occurs within the above viscosity range, a surface wave general element used for frequency filtering in smartphones and a solution wetted with a cigarette paper filter were used. As a result of atomizing the above solution, it was confirmed that a uniform aerosol was continuously and stably generated within the above viscosity range. Therefore, the liquid phase inhalation formulation according to the present invention is capable of stable and continuous atomization up to a high viscosity range of 120 mPa s.

[0048] Test Example 2: Observation of the surface tension of liquid-phase inhalation formulations

[0049] To obtain the results shown in Table 2 below, measurements were taken using a tensiometer (plate type) at 25° C. The results are shown in Table 2 below and FIG.

[0050] [Table 2]

[0051] Test Example 3: Density Observation of Liquid Phase Inhalation Formulations

[0052] In order to measure the density of the liquid inhalation dosage form at 25°C, a certain volume of the liquid was measured in a measuring cylinder, and its weight was measured to four significant digits and calculated. The results are shown in Table 3 below and Figure 3.

[0053] [Table 3]

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and a person having ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different from that described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a form different from that described, or may be replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents to achieve appropriate results.

[0055] Accordingly, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents of the claims are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A liquid-phase inhalation formulation for a surface wave atomizer, The viscosity at 20°C is 1.0 to 120 mPa·s, One or more selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerin, and saline; The liquid phase inhalant has a glycerin content of 50% by weight or more based on the total weight of the propylene glycol, glycerin and physiological saline.

2. 2. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 1, which has a surface tension of 50 to 70 dynes at 25°C.

3. 2. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 1, having a density of 0.995 to 1.164 g / cc at 25°C.

4. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio of propylene glycol and glycerin is 1:3 to 1:

5.

5. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 4, wherein the mass ratio of the saline and glycerin is 4:5 to 1:

7.

6. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 4, wherein the mass ratio of the saline and glycerin is 4:5 to 2:6, and the density at 25°C is 1.125 to 1.164 g / cc.

7. The liquid phase inhalant formulation according to claim 1, wherein the physiological saline contains a functional inhalant material.

8. The liquid phase inhalant according to claim 7, wherein the functional inhalant material is contained in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight relative to physiological saline.

9. The liquid-phase inhalation formulation according to claim 7, wherein the functional inhalation material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nicotine, caffeine, vitamins, and natural product extracts.

10. The liquid inhalation formulation of claim 9, wherein the natural product extract material comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of rosemary, pine needles, peppermint, spearmint, coffee, pineapple, chamomile, orange, eucalyptus, thyme, geranium, jasmine, lavender, lemongrass, pine needle, clover, sage, taxol, bergamot, basil, thyme, valerian, hyssop, tea tree, myrrh, and juniper.

11. 2. The liquid inhalation formulation of claim 1, wherein the propylene glycol contains a flavoring agent.

12. The liquid phase inhalation formulation according to claim 11, wherein the flavoring is at least one selected from the group consisting of mint, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, licorice, coriander, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, maltol, ethyl maltol, eucalyptol, acetic acid, breath freshener, bergamot oil, rosemary, geranium oil, lemon oil, orange oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, mint oil, ginger oil, isosweet, and fruit fragrance components.

13. A cartridge comprising a liquid phase inhalation formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A cartridge containing the liquid phase inhalation formulation according to any one of claims 1 to 12; A control unit; An aerosol generating device comprising:

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