Powder inhalation device including a propellant

Abstract

A powder inhaler including a propellant according to various embodiments includes a housing pipe, a carrier chamber disposed at one end of the housing pipe and filled with the propellant, a mouthpiece portion disposed at the other end of the housing pipe, a first valve disposed between the carrier chamber and the housing pipe, and a powder supply that supplies powder to the inside of the housing pipe.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The following embodiments relate to a powder inhaler that includes a propellant. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternative products that overcome the shortcomings of traditional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for devices that generate aerosols by electrically heating cigarette sticks (e.g., cigarette-type electronic cigarettes). Therefore, research into electrically heated aerosol generating devices and cigarette sticks (or aerosol generating articles) applied thereto has been actively conducted. For example, Published Patent Application No. 10-2017-0132823 discloses a non-combustion type flavor inhaler, a flavor source unit, and an atomization unit. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] According to various embodiments, a powder inhaler device may be provided that includes a propellant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] A powder inhaler including a propellant according to various embodiments includes a housing pipe, a carrier chamber disposed at one end of the housing pipe and filled with the propellant, a mouthpiece portion disposed at the other end of the housing pipe, a first valve disposed between the carrier chamber and the housing pipe, and a powder supply that supplies powder to the inside of the housing pipe.

[0005] In one embodiment, the device may further include a second valve disposed between the mouthpiece portion and the housing pipe.

[0006] In one embodiment, the housing pipe may further include a carrier cartridge disposed at an end of the carrier chamber opposite to the end of the carrier chamber facing the housing pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment, the pressure within the carrier chamber may be greater than atmospheric pressure.

[0008] In one embodiment, the device further includes an inhalation detection sensor, which detects an inhalation action of a user and opens and closes the first valve.

[0009] In one embodiment, the powder supply can be disposed between the first valve and the second valve.

[0010] In one embodiment, the powder supply may include a powder cartridge in which powder may be contained, and a powder jet.

[0011] In one embodiment, the powder jets may be disposed at an angle towards the mouthpiece portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the powder jets may include a streamlined configuration.

[0013] In one embodiment, the excipient may include an aerosol-forming base or a flavoring agent.

[0014] In one embodiment, the powder cartridge may include a plurality of powder capsules containing powder, and the powder supply may further include a crushing unit that crushes the powder capsules supplied from the cartridge.

[0015] In one embodiment, the powder may include nicotine. Effect of the Invention

[0016] A powder inhaler including a propellant according to an embodiment can deliver nicotine to a user in the same manner as a conventional device that generates an aerosol to inhale nicotine. A powder inhaler including a propellant according to an embodiment can provide a fixed dose of a medium. The effects of a powder inhaler including a propellant according to an embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and different effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a powder inhaler including a propellant according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a powder inhaler including a propellant according to an embodiment; [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a powder jet according to an embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a powder jet according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a powder jet according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The terms used in the embodiments are selected from currently widely used general terms as much as possible while taking into consideration the functions in the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intentions of the skilled artisan or precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, the meanings of such terms will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than simply the names of the terms.

[0019] Throughout the specification, when any part "includes" any component, this does not exclude other components, but means that the other components are further included, unless otherwise specified to the contrary. In addition, the terms "unit", "module", etc. described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be embodied in hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating a powder inhaler 10 including a propellant according to one embodiment.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a powder inhaler 10 containing a propellant includes a housing pipe 11, a carrier chamber 12, a mouthpiece portion 13, a first valve 14a, a second valve 14b, and a powder supply 15.

[0025] In one embodiment, the housing pipe 11 may form a passage for transporting the propellant, excipients and / or powder to the mouthpiece portion 13. The housing pipe 11 may be in the form of a pipe that is hollow therein.

[0026] In one embodiment, the carrier chamber 12 may be disposed at one end in the length direction of the housing pipe 11. The carrier chamber 12 according to the embodiment may be filled with a propellant therein.

[0027] In one embodiment, the inside of the carrier chamber 12 may be kept in a high pressure state. The propellant filled in the inside of the carrier chamber 12 according to one embodiment may be in a gaseous state at atmospheric pressure, but may be stored in a liquid state inside the carrier chamber 12 by high pressure. The pressure inside the carrier chamber 12 may be higher than atmospheric pressure, preferably at a pressure of twice the atmospheric pressure (2 bar), and more preferably at a pressure of six times the atmospheric pressure (6 bar). The propellant according to one embodiment may be HFA-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorodthane), propylene glycol (co-solvents propylene glycol), polyethylene glycol, HAF227 (1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane), 152a (1,1-Difluoroethane), and / or ethanol, or a mixture thereof.

[0028] In an embodiment, the carrier chamber 12 may further include an excipient. The excipient according to an embodiment may include an aerosol-forming substrate and / or a flavoring agent. The aerosol-forming substrate according to an embodiment refers to a substance forming an aerosol. The aerosol may include a volatile compound. The aerosol-forming substrate may be in a solid or liquid phase. For example, a solid aerosol-forming substrate may include a solid substance based on tobacco raw materials such as sheet tobacco, cut tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate may include a liquid-phase composition based on nicotine, tobacco extract, and / or various flavoring agents. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. In one embodiment, the flavoring agent may include, for example, at least one of menthol, cis-3-hexenol, linalool, hexanal, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, guaiacol, orange oil, lemon oil, star anise oil, peppermint oil, spearmint oil, lime oil, and ginger oil.

[0029] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece portion 13 may be disposed at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing pipe 11. The other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing pipe 11 means the end opposite to the carrier chamber 12. The mouthpiece portion 13 according to one embodiment is a portion of the powder inhalation device 10 that comes into contact with the mouth of a user to inhale the powder.

[0030] In one embodiment, the first valve 14a and the second valve 14b are opened when a user of the powder inhalation device 10 begins inhaling powder, and are closed when the user stops inhaling powder.

[0031] In one embodiment, the first valve 14a may be disposed between the housing pipe 11 and the carrier chamber 12. The inside of the carrier chamber 12 according to one embodiment is preferably maintained at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and the inside pressure of the housing pipe 11 according to one embodiment is preferably lower than the inside pressure of the carrier chamber 12. In this case, when the user starts inhaling and the first valve 14a is opened, the liquid-phase propellant filled inside the carrier chamber 12 may be vaporized and moved to the housing pipe 11 through the first valve 14a.

[0032] In one embodiment, the second valve 14b may be disposed between the housing pipe 11 and the mouthpiece portion 13. In one embodiment, the second valve 14b is opened only when the user bites and inhales the mouthpiece portion 13, so that the user can inhale the powder only when desired.

[0033] In one embodiment, the powder supply 15 may supply powder to the inside of the housing pipe 11. The powder supply 15 according to one embodiment is disposed between the first valve 14a and the second valve 14b. The powder supply 15 according to one embodiment sprays powder onto the path formed by the housing pipe 11. Still referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the powder supply 15 sprays powder in a direction perpendicular to the path formed by the housing pipe 11. Referring to FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the powder supply 15 may be disposed at an angle to the path formed by the housing pipe 11. In this case, the initial spray direction of the powder supplied by the powder supply 15 and the moving direction of the propellant transported along the housing pipe 11 form an acute angle, enabling more efficient transport.

[0034] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the powder inhalation device 10 according to one embodiment may further include a carrier cartridge 16.

[0035] In one embodiment, the carrier cartridge 16 can refill the carrier chamber 12 with a propellant. The carrier cartridge 16 according to one embodiment may be disposed at the end of the carrier chamber 12 opposite to the end facing the housing pipe 11. The carrier cartridge 16 according to one embodiment may contain the same propellant material as the propellant material filled in the carrier chamber 12. The propellant according to one embodiment may be HFA-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorodthane), propylene glycol (co-solvents propylene glycol), polyethylene glycol, HAF227 (1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane), 152a (1,1-Difluoroethane) and / or ethanol or a mixture thereof.

[0036] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the powder inhaler 10 according to one embodiment may further include a control unit 17 and a switch 18.

[0037] In one embodiment, the control unit 17 can generally control the operation of the powder inhaler 10. Specifically, the control unit 17 controls the operation of the components included in the powder inhaler 10. The control unit 17 can also check the state of each component of the powder inhaler 10 to determine whether the powder inhaler 10 is in an operable state.

[0038] In one embodiment, the control unit 17 includes at least one processor. The processor may be realized by an array of multiple logic gates, or may be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present embodiment may be realized by other forms of hardware.

[0039] For example, the control unit 17 includes an inhalation detection sensor. The inhalation detection sensor according to one embodiment can detect an inhalation attempt or inhalation action by the user of the powder inhaler 10 and control opening and closing of the first valve 14a and / or the second valve 14b. In this case, since power must be supplied to the inhalation detection sensor to operate, the powder inhaler 10 may further include a battery (not shown) capable of supplying power.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first valve 14a and / or the second valve 14b may be manually opened and closed. In one embodiment, the switch 18 is located where a user would place a thumb or index finger when holding the powder inhalation device 10, and when the user clicks the switch during inhalation, the first valve 14a and / or the second valve 14b is opened and powder transfer occurs.

[0041] Various embodiments of the configuration of powder supply 15 will now be described with reference to Figures 3A, 3B and 4.

[0042] 3A, 3B and 4 are schematic diagrams of a powder supply 15 according to one embodiment.

[0043] Powder supply 15 according to one embodiment includes a powder cartridge 152 in which powder may be contained and powder jets 154 .

[0044] 3A and 3B, in one embodiment, the powder cartridge 152 can contain powder particles (MP). The powder particles (MP) include a medium to be transferred to a user. In one embodiment, the powder cartridge 152 can contain a powder, which in one embodiment can include a dose of a nicotine medium or more than one dose of a nicotine medium.

[0045] In one embodiment, the powder cartridge 152 may include an opening through which the powder particles (MP) are released. The powder particles (MP) are transferred to the powder jet 154 through the opening of the powder cartridge 152.

[0046] In one embodiment, the powder jet 154 may include an opening through which the powder particles (MP) are emitted. Through the opening of the powder jet 154, the powder particles (MP) are transported into the interior of the housing pipe 11.

[0047] 3A, the powder jet 154 according to one embodiment includes a streamlined structure. Since the powder jet 154 according to one embodiment is inserted and disposed on the path formed by the housing pipe 11, it is preferable for the powder jet 154 to have a streamlined structure in order to minimize resistance caused by the powder jet 154 when the propellant is transported toward the mouthpiece portion 13.

[0048] 3B, the powder jet 154 according to one embodiment may include a tubular shape formed in the longitudinal direction. It is preferable for the powder jet 154 to have a narrow and long tubular shape in order to minimize resistance caused by the powder jet 154 on the path along which the propellant is transported toward the mouthpiece portion 13.

[0049] The powder jet 154 according to one embodiment may be disposed at an angle to the path formed by the housing pipe 11 (see FIG. 2). In this case, the initial jet direction of the powder supplied by the powder supply 15 and the moving direction of the propellant transported along the housing pipe 11 form an acute angle, enabling more efficient transport.

[0050] 4, one embodiment of the powder supply 15 includes a powder cartridge 152 and a powder jet 154. One embodiment of the powder cartridge 152 may include a plurality of powder capsules (MC) containing a powder material. One embodiment of the powder cartridge 152 includes an opening through which the powder capsules (MC) are released. The powder capsules (MC) can be transferred to the powder jet 154 through the opening of the powder cartridge 152.

[0051] 4, the powder supply 15 according to an embodiment may further include a crusher 156. In an embodiment, the crusher 156 crushes the powder capsule (MC) released from the powder cartridge 152. The powder contained in the powder capsule (MC) crushed by the crusher 156 according to an embodiment is transferred to the inside of the housing pipe 11 while being released.

[0052] The powder material sprayed by the powder sprayer 154 according to the various embodiments can move toward the mouthpiece unit 13 together with the propellant discharged from the carrier chamber 12. Here, the propellant is a highly volatile material and is quickly vaporized and / or evaporated as soon as it is discharged from the high-pressure carrier chamber 12. Through this process, only the powder material and excipients reach the mouthpiece unit 13 and can be inhaled by the user.

[0053] 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.

[0054] Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but should be defined by the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. 1. A powder inhaler including a propellant, A housing pipe; a carrier chamber disposed at one end of the housing pipe and filled with the propellant; A mouthpiece portion disposed at the other end of the housing pipe; a first valve disposed between the carrier chamber and the housing pipe; a powder supply for supplying powder to an interior of the housing pipe; a carrier cartridge disposed at an end portion of the carrier chamber opposite to an end portion of the carrier chamber facing the housing pipe; 13. A powder inhalation device comprising:

2. A powder inhaler including a propellant, the powder inhaler comprising: A housing pipe; a carrier chamber disposed at one end of the housing pipe and filled with the propellant; A mouthpiece portion disposed at the other end of the housing pipe; a first valve disposed between the carrier chamber and the housing pipe; a powder supply for supplying powder to an interior of the housing pipe; Including, The powder supply includes a powder cartridge in which powder can be contained, and a powder ejector. the powder cartridge includes a plurality of powder capsules containing a powder; The powder supply further includes a crushing unit that crushes the plurality of powder capsules supplied from the powder cartridge. Powder inhalation device.

3. 3. The powder inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising a second valve disposed between the mouthpiece portion and the housing pipe.

4. 3. The powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the pressure inside the carrier chamber is greater than atmospheric pressure.

5. Further comprising an inhalation detection sensor; The powder inhaler of claim 1 , wherein the inhalation detection sensor detects an inhalation action of a user and opens and closes the first valve.

6. The powder inhaler of claim 3 , wherein the powder supply is disposed between the first valve and the second valve.

7. The powder inhaler according to claim 2 , wherein the powder jet is disposed obliquely toward the mouthpiece portion.

8. 3. The powder inhaler of claim 2, wherein the powder jet comprises a streamlined structure.

9. the carrier chamber and the carrier cartridge further comprising an excipient; The powder inhalation device of claim 1 , wherein the excipient comprises an aerosol-forming base or a flavoring agent.

10. 3. The powder inhaler of claim 1, wherein the powder contains nicotine.

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