Aerosol inhaler containing a nicotine transfer element

Abstract

The present invention provides an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer unit, the nicotine transfer unit including a first container filled with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant, and a second container coupled to the first container and filled in the liquid phase of the first container, the propellant being present in both the liquid and gas phases in the first container, the nicotine transfer unit predicting an amount of nicotine transfer and enabling adjustment so that the actual amount of nicotine transfer does not deviate significantly from the predicted value.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol inhaler that includes a nicotine transfer portion.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0109832 filed on August 20, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Inhalation devices, such as electronic cigarettes, have been developed that heat a liquid phase containing a nicotine solution to vaporize it and inhale the vaporized aerosol. Many users smoke through these inhalation devices, and the number of inhalation device users is increasing. In related fields, new types of aerosol inhalers have been developed that improve upon conventional smoking articles and aerosolize nicotine-related substances without combustion or heating. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-125797 discloses a non-heating tobacco flavor inhaler.

[0004] A propellant is a substance that delivers a nicotine source, such as a nicotine-related substance or an aerosol generated by the reaction of a nicotine-related substance with an organic acid substance, to the user's oral cavity, and an inhaler using a propellant has various advantages, such as being non-heated, non-electronic, simple in structure, and not requiring a battery. When using a propellant to inhale a nicotine liquid medium into the human body, a technology that delivers the appropriate amount of nicotine with each puff can be important.

[0005] In the case of propellant-based inhalers, the behavior can be largely determined by the propellant, but it is difficult to control the velocity, pressure, and flow rate using the device (especially the valve structure). Therefore, the art continues to explore ways to control the amount of nicotine delivered in the aerosol. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2001-0080091 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems in aerosol inhalers using a propellant, the present invention aims to provide an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer section that can predict the amount of nicotine transferred and adjust the actual amount of nicotine transferred so that it does not deviate significantly from the predicted value. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, The present invention provides an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer unit, the nicotine transfer unit including a first container filled with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant, and a liquid transfer valve connected to the first container to transfer the liquid in the first container. Filled with phase The present invention provides an aerosol inhaler comprising a second container filled with the propellant, the propellant being present in both the liquid and gas phases within the first container.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the propellant is a substance having a vapor pressure of 60 psig to 100 psig at 21°C.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the nicotine-containing solution is filled in the first container in an amount of 1% by weight to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the propellant.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the volume of the liquid phase containing the nicotine-containing solution and the liquid phase propellant in the first container is 85% by volume or less based on the internal volume of the first container.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the first container is filled with the nicotine-containing solution and the propellant, and just prior to filling the second container with the liquid phase, the vapor phase propellant is 5% by weight or less, based on the total weight of the propellant.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second container is filled with the liquid phase in the first container and is separated from the first container after it is completely filled.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second container has an internal space that contracts and relaxes depending on the amount of liquid phase filled in the first container.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aerosol inhaler further includes an aerosol generating unit that is connected to a second container separated from the first container, receives the liquid phase filled in the second container, and generates aerosol until the liquid phase is completely consumed.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of liquid phase filled in the second container is such that the aerosol generated through the aerosol generating unit can be completely consumed by 5 to 15 puffs.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the liquid phase filled in the second container is completely consumed, the second container is separated from the aerosol generating unit and connected to the first container to replenish the liquid in the first container. Filled with phase The repeated process of filling and depleting the liquid phase is stopped when the volume of the liquid phase in the first container is 15% by volume or less based on the volume inside the first container.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the liquid phase in the first container is sufficient to fill the second container 15 to 25 times before filling is discontinued. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The aerosol inhaler according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a nicotine transfer section, which will be described later, thereby solving the problem of the amount of nicotine transferred varying greatly each time a user uses the aerosol inhaler, and can adjust the change in the amount of nicotine transferred to within 5% until the entire aerosol inhaler is used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of a nicotine transfer moiety according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer portion according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that, when assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, identical components are assigned the same numerals as much as possible even when they are displayed in different drawings. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments, if a detailed description of related known configurations or functions is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0022] Furthermore, when describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish a component from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. When a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component can be directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that other components can also be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between each other.

[0023] Components having common functions with components included in one embodiment will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the description of one embodiment can be applied to other embodiments, and detailed description will be omitted to the extent that it overlaps.

[0024] The present invention relates to an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer section, and aims to provide an aerosol inhaler that can uniformly transfer nicotine through the nicotine transfer section in an inhaler that uses a propellant for effective nicotine transfer. As used herein, the term "aerosol inhaler" refers to a device that aerosolizes a nicotine-containing solution described below and delivers it to the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0025] An aerosol inhaler according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a nicotine transfer unit, the nicotine transfer unit including a first container filled with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant, and a nicotine transfer unit connected to the first container to transfer the liquid in the first container. Filled with phase The second container is filled with the second liquid.

[0026] The term "nicotine-containing solution" as used herein refers to a liquid phase containing a certain level of nicotine. The components constituting the liquid phase, excluding nicotine, include alcohol, flavorings, and the like, and may be substances commonly used in the art. The nicotine may be provided in the form of nicotine-related substances, including nicotine, nicotine salts, nicotine alkaloids, nicotine derivatives, and the like, and may be effectively dispersed in the nicotine-containing solution by the alcohol contained in a large amount. The alcohol may be any alcohol commonly used in the art. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols, dihydric alcohols, trihydric alcohols, and combinations thereof, the monohydric alcohol being ethanol, the dihydric alcohol being glycol or glycol ether being selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, and combinations thereof, and the trihydric alcohol being glycerol. The total weight of nicotine contained in the nicotine-containing solution can be adjusted according to technical standards and product specifications, but according to one embodiment of the present invention, the nicotine concentration in the nicotine-containing solution is 1 wt% to 10 wt%, specifically 1.5 wt% to 8 wt%, more specifically 2 wt% to 6 wt%. Aerosols generated within this nicotine concentration range can enhance user satisfaction.

[0027] The propellant serves to deliver the aerosol generated from the nicotine-containing solution to the user's oral cavity and is generally a compound with no adverse effects on the body. The propellant exists in liquid and gas phases under the pressure within the first container. The liquid propellant is uniformly mixed with the nicotine-containing solution, and when the liquid phase in the first container is filled into the second container, the liquid phase of a uniform composition with the remainder in the first container is filled into the second container. The propellant can be selected from substances with a certain level of vapor pressure to separate into liquid and gas phases within the first container. If such a substance has low affinity with the nicotine-containing solution, the original functionality of the propellant can be maintained when subsequently generating aerosol. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the propellant is a substance with a vapor pressure of 60 psig to 100 psig at 21°C, specifically 65 psig to 95 psig, more specifically 70 psig to 90 psig. If the propellant has a vapor pressure lower than this range, its aerosol delivery function may be impaired, and if the propellant has a vapor pressure higher than this range, excessive pressure is required to liquefy it above a certain level. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the propellant is a fluorinated alkane, specifically fluorinated ethane, fluorinated propane, or fluorinated butane, more specifically 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane. Specific conditions for inhalation propellants may follow the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).

[0028] The ratio of the nicotine-containing solution to the propellant filled in the first container can be adjusted so that the functionality of the nicotine-containing solution and the propellant can be maintained when the liquid phase is filled in the second container. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the nicotine-containing solution is filled in the first container at 1 wt% to 10 wt%, specifically 1 wt% to 7 wt%, more specifically 1 wt% to 4 wt%, based on the total weight of the propellant. If the content of the nicotine-containing solution is lower than this range, the amount of nicotine delivered per puff during use of the aerosol inhaler may be insufficient. If the content of the nicotine-containing solution is higher than this range, the amount of propellant may be insufficient, and nicotine delivery may not proceed effectively.

[0029] In order to completely liquefy the propellant, which is a gas at room temperature, excessive pressure is required in the first container, which may make the first container more easily damaged by external impact and cause the liquid phase inside to leak. Therefore, it is preferable to manage the liquid phase in the first container so that it does not exceed a certain level. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the volume of the liquid phase containing the nicotine-containing solution and the liquid propellant in the first container is 85% by volume or less, specifically 83% by volume or less, and more specifically 81% by volume or less, based on the volume inside the first container. If the volume of the liquid phase filled in the first container exceeds 85% by volume, the above-mentioned liquid phase leakage problem may occur, and the stability of the formation of a uniform liquid phase composition may be reduced due to the small volume of the initial gas phase and the large volume change rate of the gas phase caused by filling the second container. Since the volume of the liquid phase in the first container gradually decreases as the second container is filled with the liquid phase, the aforementioned upper limit on the volume of the liquid phase may be importantly applied when the first container is initially filled with the nicotine-containing solution and propellant.

[0030] In order to increase the proportion of liquid propellant actually filled into the second container and usable, and to prevent the first container from becoming unnecessarily large, it is preferable to fill the first container with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant, and immediately before filling the second container with the liquid (i.e., a state in which the liquid and gas phases of the first container are in dynamic equilibrium), so that the volume of the liquid phase in the first container exceeds a certain level. According to one embodiment of the present invention, immediately before filling the first container with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant and filling the second container with the liquid, the volume of the liquid phase in the first container is 50% by volume or more, specifically 55% by volume or more, and more specifically 60% by volume or more, based on the internal volume of the first container. If the volume of the liquid phase in the first container is less than 50% by volume, the usability of the filled propellant may be significantly reduced, as described above.

[0031] The first container is pressurized at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure so that the propellant filled in the container can separate into a liquid phase and a gas phase. Because the liquid propellant is filled into the second container and plays a direct role in transporting the aerosol, the first container is pressurized immediately after filling so that the liquid propellant is present in a larger amount than the gas phase propellant. The gas phase propellant ultimately remains in the first container and provides the driving force when the liquid phase of the first container is filled into the second container. It is sufficient that the first container behaves at a level that can be predicted by the formula for composition described below, and this amount can be adjusted taking into account the range of volumetric proportion of the liquid phase in the first container described above. According to one embodiment of the present invention, after the nicotine-containing solution and propellant are filled into the first container and immediately before the liquid phase is filled into the second container (i.e., when the liquid and gas phases of the first container are in dynamic equilibrium), the gas phase propellant is 5% by weight or less, specifically 3% by weight or less, more specifically 1% by weight or less, based on the total weight of the propellant. If the gaseous propellant exceeds 5% by weight, the content of the liquid propellant filled in the second container will be reduced, and the functionality of aerosol delivery by adding the propellant will be reduced.

[0032] The composition of the liquid phase in the first container can be predicted using the ideal gas equation of state. The nicotine-containing solution filled with the propellant exists in the liquid phase at room temperature, and therefore has a significantly lower vapor pressure than the propellant, which exists in the gas phase at room temperature. Furthermore, because the propellant has low affinity with the nicotine-containing solution, the composition of the liquid phase in the first container predicted based on the vapor pressure of the propellant does not deviate significantly from the actual measured value. Because the composition of the nicotine-containing solution does not change significantly depending on the pressure in the first container, the composition of the liquid phase in the first container can be determined by calculating the amount of liquid-phase propellant. First, the volume of the gas-phase propellant can be calculated using the following calculation formula 1.

[0033] [Formula 1]

number

[0034] where V vis the volume of the gaseous propellant (ml), m is the propellant charge (g), V is the capacity of the first container (ml), and V l2 is the volume of the nicotine-containing solution (ml), ρ is the density of the liquid propellant (kg / m), M is the molecular weight of the propellant (g / mol), and P sat is the saturated vapor pressure (atm), R is the gas constant 0.082 (atm / mol·K), and T is the temperature (K).

[0035] Based on the volume of the gaseous propellant calculated above, the volume of the liquid propellant can be calculated using the following equation 2.

[0036] [Formula 2]

number

[0037] where V, V l2 and V v is the same as defined in the above formula 1, and V l is the volume of the liquid propellant (ml).

[0038] Based on the volume of the liquid propellant calculated above, the mass of the liquid propellant can be calculated using the following equation 3.

[0039] [Formula 3]

number

[0040] where ρ l and V l is the same as defined in the above formulas 1 and 2, and m l is the mass of the liquid propellant (g).

[0041] Based on the mass of the liquid propellant calculated above, the liquid mass of the first container can be calculated using the following equation 4.

[0042] [Formula 4]

number

[0043] where m l is the same as defined in the above formula 3, and m l2 is the mass of the nicotine-containing solution (g), and m l3 is the liquid phase mass (g) of the first container.

[0044] As confirmed in the following examples, the amount of nicotine in the second container does not change significantly over the course of approximately 20 refills. Considering this, an aerosol inhaler according to one embodiment of the present invention can freely design the amount of nicotine delivered by changing the composition of the liquid phase. The above design conditions are supported within the expected range when the aerosol inhaler is actually implemented.

[0045] This specification provides Figures 1 and 2 to more specifically explain an aerosol inhaler according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a nicotine transfer unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an aerosol inhaler including a nicotine transfer unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, but these structures are merely exemplary structures and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 1, the nicotine transfer section 100 includes a first container 10 and a second container 20, and the first container 10 and the second container 20 are connected by a connecting section 11. The first container 10 is filled with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant, and after the liquid phase and the gas phase inside the first container 10 reach a dynamic equilibrium, the connecting section 11 is opened and the liquid phase moves to the second container 20 through the connecting section 11, and the second container 20 receives the liquid in the first container. Filled with phase After the second container 20 is completely filled, the connecting part 11 is closed and the second container 20 is separated from the first container 10. Means for opening and closing the connecting part 11 may be any means generally known in the art, such as a valve or a stopper.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the second container 20 is filled with the liquid phase from the first container, the internal space thereof contracts and relaxes depending on the amount of liquid phase filled in the first container 10 so that air or the like from the second container does not flow into the first container 10. The contraction and relaxation of the internal space can be achieved by the container itself, which can be achieved by a contraction / relaxation means 30 if the container itself is fixed, as shown in FIG. 1. The contraction / relaxation means 30 in FIG. 1 moves downward to relax the internal space of the second container 20, thereby filling the second container 20 with the liquid phase from the first container, and moves upward to contract the internal space of the second container 20, thereby discharging the liquid phase filled in the second container 20. The liquid phase filled in the second container 20 can be discharged via a transfer pipe 40 connected to an aerosol generator 50, which will be described later. When the liquid phase is filled into the second container 20, the connection part 11 between the first container and the second container is opened, and the connection part 21 between the second container and the transfer pipe is closed. Conversely, when the liquid phase is released into the second container 20, the connection part 11 between the first container and the second container is closed, and the connection part 21 between the second container and the transfer pipe is opened. As in Fig. 1, the contraction / relaxation means 30 moves downward, and only the liquid phase B, not the gas phase A, can be filled into the second container 20.

[0048] 2, the aerosol inhaler 200 further includes an aerosol generating unit 50. The aerosol generating unit 50 is connected to a second container 20 separated from the first container 10, receives the liquid phase filled in the second container, and generates aerosol until the liquid phase is completely consumed. As described above, the aerosol generating unit 50 can be connected to the second container 20 via a transfer pipe 40, and can be connected to or separated from the second container by opening or closing a connection part 21 between the second container and the transfer pipe.

[0049] The second container 20 may contain an amount of liquid phase suitable for one-time use by a user. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the amount of liquid phase filled in the second container 20 is an amount that can be completely consumed by 5 to 15 puffs, specifically 7 to 14 puffs, and more specifically 8 to 12 puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generator. This range is close to the standard used by a user in one time in the art.

[0050] When the liquid phase filled in the second container 20 is completely consumed, the second container 20 is separated from the aerosol generating unit 50 and connected to the first container 10 to replenish the liquid in the first container. Filled with phase The second container 20 is filled with the liquid phase. The filling and depletion of the liquid phase may be repeated several to several tens of times. However, if the second container 20 is continuously filled with the liquid phase until the liquid phase in the first container 10 is completely consumed, the liquid phase filled in the second container 20 when the liquid phase in the first container 10 is completely consumed may have a significantly different liquid phase composition from the predicted value calculated using the ideal gas equation described above. Therefore, it is preferable to stop filling the second container 20 when the liquid phase in the first container 10 is consumed below a predetermined level. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the repeated process of filling and depleting the liquid phase is stopped when the volume of the liquid phase in the first container 10 is 15% by volume or less, specifically 13% by volume or less, more specifically 11% by volume or less, based on the volume inside the first container. By stopping the filling of the second container 20 within this range, it is possible to adjust the amount of nicotine transferred to prevent a large change each time the second container 20 is filled. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid phase in the first container is an amount that allows the second container to be filled 15 to 25 times before filling is interrupted. Adjusting the amount of liquid phase in the first container within this range is preferable in terms of the usability of the aerosol inhaler.

[0051] Example A 19 ml cylindrical canister (approximately 21 mm in diameter and 53 mm in height) was filled with 18.679 g of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (Xiamen Juda Chemical & Equipment Co., Ltd.) and 0.321 g of a nicotine-containing liquid phase, and then sealed. The nicotine-containing liquid phase was prepared by mixing 13.5 mg of nicotine (JH Chemical Co., Ltd.) with a mixture of ethanol (Sigma-Aldrich Co., Ltd.) and glycerol (SK Co., Ltd.) in a 3:1 weight ratio. After the liquid and gas phases in the sealed canister reached dynamic equilibrium, 0.8 g of the liquid phase was extracted and filled into an imitation cigarette receptacle.

[0052] After the liquid phase filled into the imitation cigarette reservoir was inhaled and completely consumed, 0.8 g of liquid phase (an amount that can be inhaled in 10 to 12 puffs) was extracted from the sealed canister, where the liquid and gas phases had once again reached dynamic equilibrium, and filled into the imitation cigarette reservoir for the second time. After filling the imitation cigarette a total of 20 times according to the above process, the components of the cylindrical canister (Table 1) and the extracted liquid phase (Table 2) were analyzed for each filling, and the results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. For reference, the liquid phase volume in the initial canister was 81% by volume, and the liquid phase volume in the canister after 20 fillings was 11% by volume. [Table 1] [Table 2]

[0053] According to Tables 1 and 2, as the number of refills of the imitation tobacco receptacle increases, the amount of liquid propellant with a higher content in the liquid phase decreases more rapidly, and as a result, the amount of propellant in the extracted liquid phase also decreases, and the amount of nicotine-containing liquid phase increases. Nevertheless, when comparing the nicotine content in the liquid phase composition extracted for the first time with that extracted for the 20th time, the increase is only 0.025 mg (approximately 4.4%), from 0.571 mg in the first time to 0.596 mg in the 20th time. Thus, when the nicotine transfer portion is designed, a 5% change in the amount of nicotine transferred allows for metered inhalation.

[0054] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and variations may be made to the above description. For example, the described elements may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the described system, structure, device, circuit, or other components may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or may be substituted or replaced by other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10: First container 11: Connection between the first container and the second container 20: Second container 21: Connection between the second container and the transfer pipe 30: Contraction / relaxation means (for the internal space of the second container) 40:Transfer pipe 50: Aerosol generating unit 100: Nicotine transition zone 200: Aerosol inhaler A: Gas phase B: Liquid phase

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol inhaler comprising a nicotine transfer portion, The nicotine transfer portion is a first container filled with a nicotine-containing solution and a propellant; and a second vessel connected to the first vessel and filled with the liquid phase in the first vessel; the propellant is in a liquid phase and a gas phase within the first container; The second container is filled with the liquid phase in the first container and is separated from the first container after it is completely filled; The aerosol inhaler further includes an aerosol generating unit, the aerosol generating unit is connected to the second container separated from the first container, receives the liquid phase filled in the second container, and generates aerosol until the liquid phase is completely consumed; When the liquid phase filled in the second container is completely consumed, the second container is separated from the aerosol generating unit, connected to the first container, and filled with the liquid phase in the first container; The repeated process of filling and depleting the liquid phase in the first container is stopped when the volume of the liquid phase in the first container is 15% by volume or less based on the volume inside the first container.

2. 10. The aerosol inhaler of claim 1, wherein the propellant is a substance having a vapor pressure of 60 psig to 100 psig at 21°C.

3. 2. The aerosol inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the nicotine-containing solution is filled in the first container in an amount of 1% to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the propellant.

4. 2. The aerosol inhaler of claim 1, wherein the volume of the liquid phase in the first container, including the nicotine-containing solution and liquid phase propellant, is 85% by volume or less based on the volume within the first container.

5. An aerosol inhaler as described in claim 1, wherein immediately before filling the first container with the nicotine-containing solution and the propellant and filling the second container with the liquid phase, the gas phase propellant is 5% by weight or less based on the total weight of the propellant.

6. The aerosol inhaler according to claim 1 , wherein the second container has an internal space that contracts and relaxes depending on the amount of the liquid phase filled in the first container.

7. 2. The aerosol inhaler of claim 1, wherein the amount of the liquid phase filled in the second container is such that the aerosol generated through the aerosol generating unit can be completely consumed by 5 to 15 puffs.

8. 2. The aerosol inhaler of claim 1, wherein the liquid phase in the first container is sufficient to fill the second container 15 to 25 times before the filling is discontinued.

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