Removable Exhaled-Aerosol Filter Unit for E-Cigarette Airflow Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-combustible aerosol delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes, lack the ability to filter exhaled breath effectively, leading to undesirable exhalation of aerosol in certain environments and inefficient resource utilization due to the need to discard the entire device when the filter is depleted.
Innovation Solution
A non-combustible aerosol delivery system with a removable filter unit that separates inhalation and exhalation airflow paths, allowing users to switch between filtering exhaled breath and conventional use, and a single assembly design that balances the lifespan of vapor-forming material and filter, enabling easy replacement and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter unit is integrated into the aerosol delivery system, then exhaled breath can be filtered, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerosol delivery system is divided into separate functional modules: a reusable main body and a replaceable filter unit. This segmentation allows the filter to be added as a distinct component that can be independently replaced, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining the filtration function.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter unit is designed to work with multiple types of aerosol delivery devices, creating a universal interface that accommodates different vaporizing articles. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by using a standardized filter design rather than custom filters for each device type.
2Reliability
If the entire device is discarded when the filter is depleted, then filtering function is maintained, but resource utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the filter unit from the main device body, allowing only the consumable filter portion to be discarded while retaining the reusable vaporizing article. This segmentation enables selective replacement of depleted filters without wasting the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable main body is recovered and retained after the filter is depleted, while only the disposable filter unit is discarded. This approach maximizes resource utilization by keeping the expensive electronic components and housing in use for multiple filter cycles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If inhalation and exhalation airflow paths are separated, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow paths are segmented into distinct inhalation and exhalation channels within the filter unit. This segmentation allows effective separation of breath directions while keeping the overall structure compact and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The inhalation and exhalation pathways are combined within a single integrated filter unit rather than requiring separate external components. This merging maintains filtering effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 provides flexible use in various environments by filtering exhaled aerosol, prevents reinhalation of condensed components, and extends the device's lifespan by allowing separate replacement of the filter and vapor-forming material units, enhancing user experience and resource efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a filter unit; an exhalate airflow path, adapted to convey breath from the user during an exhalation into the non-combustible aerosol delivery system to the filter unit
Implementation Method 2
a unit containing a vapour forming material; vaporisation; a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir
Implementation Method 3
a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including an active material such as nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, e.g. through vaporisation. An aerosol source for an aerosol delivery device may thus comprise an aerosol generating component such as a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example through wicking / capillary action
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided a non-combustible aerosol delivery system (100) for filtering exhaled breath, the aerosol delivery system comprising: • a power source (110); • a mouthpiece (120); • a removable filter unit (130); • wherein in a first configuration, the filter unit (130) is present and is in engagement with the non-combustible aerosol delivery system (100) to provide • an inhalate airflow path, adapted to convey vapour generated by the non-combustible aerosol delivery system (100) to the user during an inhalation, and • an exhalate airflow path, adapted to convey breath from the user during an exhalation into the non-combustible aerosol delivery system (100) to the filter unit (130); • wherein in a second configuration, the filter unit (130) is not in engagement with the non-combustible aerosol delivery system (100).