Aerosol Device Refilling Interfaces With UV Sterilisation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refilling electronic aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes, is difficult and prone to leakage and microbial growth, leading to unsatisfactory user experiences.
Innovation Solution
A system with a sterilization component, including UV light emitters and anti-microbial coatings, is integrated into the refilling process to prevent or reduce microbial growth at the interfaces and storage portions of the aerosol provision device and refilling device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If refillable reservoirs are provided to reduce material wastage and disposal, then environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness are improved, but the refilling process becomes difficult and prone to leakage and microbial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs sterilisation of the aerosol-generating material and storage portion before the refilling process occurs. The sterilisation component (UV light emitter or chemical sterilant) is activated to sterilise the material and storage portion in advance, preventing microbial growth during subsequent storage and use, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining refillability
Solution Approach 2:
A sterilisation component acts as an intermediary between the refilling process and the storage of aerosol-generating material. This intermediary (UV light emitter or chemical sterilant) specifically targets and eliminates microorganisms at the interface and in the storage portion, preventing contamination without interfering with the refilling operation itself
2Ease of operation
If refilling process is simplified to improve ease of operation, then user convenience is improved, but microbial growth and leakage risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service sterilisation where the sterilisation component is automatically activated during or after the refilling process without requiring additional user action. The UV light emitter or chemical sterilant automatically sterilises the aerosol-generating material and storage portion, protecting against microbial growth while maintaining simple user operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-sterilising the aerosol-generating material and storage portion before any potential contamination can occur. The sterilisation component is activated in advance to eliminate microorganisms, creating a sterile environment that prevents harmful factors while allowing simple refilling operation
3Ease of operation
If components are exposed to environment during refilling to facilitate access, then ease of refilling is improved, but microbial growth in certain areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilisation component is activated before the refilling process to pre-sterilise the interface areas and storage portion. This preliminary sterilisation ensures that even though components are exposed to the environment during refilling, microorganisms are already eliminated, preventing growth while maintaining accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilisation component serves as a protective intermediary between the exposed interfaces and the environment. UV light emitters or chemical sterilants create a sterile barrier at the interface areas, allowing components to be accessible during refilling while preventing microbial contamination from the environment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces microbial growth, ensuring hygiene and preventing unsatisfactory user experiences by maintaining the integrity of the aerosol-generating material and device interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
the sterilisation component comprises a UV light emitter arranged to direct UV light towards the at least one of the refill device interface and the aerosol provision device interface
Implementation Method 2
electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporise source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user
Implementation Method 3
a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example through wicking / capillary action
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
Described is a system including: an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol-generating material storage portion for storing an aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device arranged to aerosolise aerosol-generating material stored in the aerosol-generating material storage portion, and a refill device interface fluidly coupled to the aerosol-generating material storage portion; a refilling device comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring aerosol-generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol-generating material storage portion when the aerosol provision device is coupled to the refilling device, and an aerosol provision device interface fluidly coupled to a source of aerosol-generating material of the refilling device; and a sterilisation component. The aerosol provision device is configured to couple to the refilling device via engagement of the refill device interface with the aerosol provision device interface such that aerosol-generating material is capable of being transferred to the aerosol-generating material storage portion from the refilling device via the coupled interfaces. The sterilisation component is configured to prevent or reduce microbial growth at at least one of the refill device interface and the aerosol provision device interface. Also described is an aerosol provision device, a refilling device and a method for reducing or preventing microbial growth.