DE102009029768A1 - Device for delivering nicotine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for dispensing nicotine with a body 12 for receiving a nicotine depot 40, an electrical heating device 30 which generates heat to release nicotine from the nicotine depot 40 to an air flow through the body 12 when activated, a voltage supply for operating the Heating device 30 and a control unit 28 for activating the heating device 30 when air is sucked in through the body 12, the control unit 28 being coupled to a sensor 16 for detecting the flow pressure acting in the body 12, the sensor 16 continuously measuring the flow pressure acting in the body 12 detected and a signal U, based on the detected flow pressure, generated and the control unit 28, the heating power of the heating device 30, based on the course of the signal U generated by the sensor 16 varies.

Description

The The invention relates to a device for delivering nicotine with a Body for taking a nicotine depot, an electric Heating device used to release nicotine from the nicotine depot to an air flow through the body when activating heat generated, a power supply for operating the heater and a control unit for activating the heater when Aspiration of air through the body.

Various Medical studies have shown that nicotine is a positive Effect in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's disease) are ill. The biggest effect achieved doing the administration of nicotine when it's directly from the lungs, d. H. the alveoli in addition to the upstream Mucous membranes is recorded.

Out For this reason, alternative dosage forms have long been used examined by nicotine.

One Another area of application is the replacement of known cigarettes. Commercial cigarettes usually consist of paper or a tobacco leaf wrapped tobacco and one on the mouthpiece attached filter element. By lighting the cigarette the tobacco burns out and releases nicotine, which gets through the smoke inhaled by the smoker becomes entrained. In the Combustion of tobacco, nicotine and other substances are released or harmful to health, such as tar, arsenic and cadmium-containing compounds, as well as carcinogenic compounds such as hydrazine, chrysene, formaldehyde, Nietrosamine and the like.

since For some time now, so-called smokeless cigarettes are being tried to establish the market.

at these smokeless cigarettes are provided with a device in which an artificial nicotine depot is used. The Nicotine depot contains nicotine as well as necessary Flavorings and / or, if necessary, at least a vehicle for nicotine and flavoring or flavoring agents as further auxiliaries. The nicotine depot is with the help of the device so far heated that the nicotine released together with the excipients.

A working on this second principle smoke-free cigarette is for example in the DE 10 2008 011 120 A1 described. The smokeless cigarette has an electric heater that generates heat upon activation and heats a stream of air passed therethrough. The heated air stream is passed through the artificial nicotine depot, where the heat releases the nicotine and other excipients from the nicotine depot. In this known smokeless cigarette, the heater is activated by the suction of air through the cigarette by means of a sensor. The deactivation of the heater takes place only after a predetermined time.

task the invention is to provide a device for delivering nicotine, which is improved compared to the prior art, national Compliance with standards, in a simple and cost-effective manner is to produce.

According to the invention this object by a device for delivering nicotine with the features of claim 1 and in particular solved by that the control unit with a sensor for detecting the air flow is coupled through the body, which in the body acting flow pressure continuously detected and a Generates signal U based on the detected flow pressure, wherein the control unit based on the heating power of the heater varies on the course of the signal U generated by the sensor.

at the device according to the invention for the delivery of Nicotine, it is possible the nicotine release rates, d. H. Delivery of a certain amount of nicotine per unit time, train or Application, to different nicotine depots or different Cans, easy to customize. It is also possible extend the useful life of the nicotine delivery device, since the heating power directly with the detected flow pressure correlates and so realizes a safe shutdown of the heater can be.

there On the one hand, the sensor used detects whether and how much of the sensor Device is sucked in to deliver nicotine. For this purpose takes the sensor has a physical parameter, such as the the suction in a defined section of the device for Delivery of nicotine-acting flow pressure or the occurring Flow noise, and gives the detected value as a signal to the control unit. The control unit controls the Heating device based on the signal emitted by the sensor.

On the one hand, the sensors detecting the flow pressure have the advantage that they can detect relatively accurately how the device for delivering nicotine is sucked, and show a correspondingly accurate signal course. On the other hand, such sensors are comparatively simple in design and correspondingly inexpensive to purchase, which is the case with a mass-produced product such as the device according to the invention for dispensing Nicotine is essential. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to use other suitable sensors which are able to deliver a clearly interpretable signal curve, with which the suction behavior on the device for delivering nicotine can be represented, for example sensors which at least partially sucked the Detecting air volume, sensors that detect a flow noise or sensors that detect a differential pressure.

At least one predetermined threshold for the detected signal is stored in the control unit. If the detected signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, the heater is activated for heat generation for nicotine release. On the other hand, if the detected signal falls below the threshold, the heater is deactivated. It is also possible to specify a plurality of threshold values, upper threshold value U ₀ , lower threshold value U _U , in order to introduce a hysteresis between the threshold values. By selecting or adjusting the threshold value or threshold values, it is possible to specify how much the nicotine depot is to be heated to release nicotine. To release the nicotine, the heater either heats the air supplied to the nicotine depot or it heats the nicotine depot immediately.

The Thresholds can also vary depending on be varied the sensor signal. Through the dynamic adaptation the thresholds, activation of the heater can be shortened, without restricting nicotine delivery. this leads to to a further energy saving.

By the interaction of the sensor with the control unit can so for the corresponding nicotine release rates to be generated amount of heat to be specifically adapted. For example, the nicotine depots are different in the composition of the nicotine content or in the composition the used excipients, so that the various nicotine depots different levels of release of the same amount of nicotine this must be warmed up by the appropriate Choice of threshold guaranteed. Also possible the inventive device for dispensing Nicotine, that nicotine depots with different nicotine content can be used, so that at about the same duration of use, For example, the smoke duration of a conventional Cigarette oriented, different amounts of nicotine are released become.

Constant nicotine delivery can also be achieved by making the control unit, the sensor and the heater a closed loop. Depending on the area of application / case, a P, I, D, PI, PD, PID, PI ² or other suitable controlled system can be mapped.

In In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is for detecting of the flow pressure to be detected in the nicotine delivery device a microphone. The use of microphones has the advantage that Microphones in various shapes and sizes are present, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing the device can be significantly reduced for the delivery of nicotine.

The used microphones can be used as a sensor for detecting a Flow pressure and / or as a sensor for detecting a Flow noise can be used.

One Another advantage of using a microphone as a sensor is the high dynamics of the microphone. This makes it possible the size to be measured much more accurate and faster capture. Conventional pressure sensors have a certain Inertia, d. H. they require a registered Pressure change either a certain reset time or an opposite pressure change.

In It should also be noted that this is the case in the device according to the invention for dispensing Nicotine depot used by nicotine is both an artificial one Nicotine depot as well as at least partially with conventional Tobacco stock, tobacco distillate or similar stuffed Nicotine depot can act. With with conventional tobacco filled nicotine depots are said to be warming up just the nicotine as well as the flavors and aromas be released to the tobacco without the tobacco burns. Preferably it is an artificial disposable nicotine depot with a custodian who has at least one in a given Temperature range of for example 50 ° C to 100 ° C. at least partially present in its gas phase excipient for containing nicotine and in that only by heating the nicotine together with the excipient at least partially gaseous is present. It should also be noted that the device for dispensing of nicotine itself may be designed as a disposable device at the nicotine depot is firmly absorbed in the body.

Further advantageous developments emerge from the description, the dependent claims and the drawings.

If a particularly accurate adjustment of the heating power is desired, it is further proposed that the control unit control the heating power of the heating device in response to a change in the course varies the signal of the sensor, so for example, with an increase in the flow pressure or the intake air quantity, the heating power can not be increased linearly, but according to a change coefficient. In the reverse case, the heating power can be reduced more than the amount by which the flow pressure or the intake air quantity decreases. This achieves a faster response of the heater to the flow change. It is also possible to use an average value of the variation of the course of the signal as a basis for the activation of the heating device.

Further it is beneficial if the preset threshold from the outside is adjustable, for example by a on the device for Delivery of nicotine intended, coupled with the control device Setting device. In this way, for example at the manufacturer of the nicotine delivery device for different applications, therapies, countries different thresholds adjusted and possibly varied. Especially advantageous It is in this development, if the actuator if necessary is also provided on the device for delivering nicotine, that they can be adjusted from the outside for the user which then sets the threshold to individual needs can change accordingly. Instead of an adjusting device it is also conceivable to provide a microcomputer as a control unit, operated with a manufacturer-adjustable computer program becomes.

are on the cigarette intake openings for the air flow provided, it is particularly advantageous if the sensor directly is arranged adjacent to these to determine the duration between detection of the suction process, transmission of the signal from the sensor to the control unit and evaluation of the signal as possible to keep it short.

Preferably the heater indirectly heats the nicotine depot, in which the heater heats the air flow to the Nicotine release is supplied to the nicotine depot. hereby may contaminate the heater through secretions be avoided from the nicotine depot. In this embodiment For example, the heater heats the sucked air to temperatures of up to 200 ° C. After heating of the nicotine depot and the release of nicotine and, if necessary Provided auxiliaries is to offset the temperature of nicotine Air flow dropped as far as that from the mouthpiece the cigarette body exiting air flow still a temperature of about 50 ° C. In an alternative embodiment the heater is in direct heat-conducting Contact with the nicotine depot. In this alternative embodiment the heating power of the heater is correspondingly lower.

at Both embodiments, it is advantageous if the heater together with the nicotine depot in a cigarette body provided heating chamber is received, which with the cigarette body trained suction and one on the cigarette body provided mouthpiece in fluid communication stands. In this way, the actual work space in which the Nicotine is released from the section of the cigarette in which the control unit and the power supply are included, separated, whereby the latter before the arising heat and are protected from contamination.

In order to the power required to operate the heater As low as possible, it is also proposed, the heating chamber heat-insulated against the body, to minimize the heat loss during heating to keep low.

If the device for the delivery of nicotine are used several times is, it is advantageous if a rechargeable Accumulator is used. By the invention Switching on and off of the heater, the accumulator comparatively be small in size. So is suitable as an accumulator, for example a lithium battery with a nominal capacity of 150 up to 250 mAh, rated voltage in the range of 3.4 to 4.0 V and a maximum permissible current in a range of 350 to 1200 mA. The weight of the entire accumulator is just a few grams.

The device for delivering nicotine is preferably designed as a reusable device in which the nicotine depot and possibly also the mouthpiece can be replaced. This has the particular advantage that the user can select from different nicotine depots with different nicotine contents and / or different excipients. Furthermore, for the same nicotine delivery device, mouthpieces with different draw resistances can be offered. As mouthpieces, for example, made in a conventional manner made of paper-coated acetate fiber bundles mouthpieces, in which the draw resistance is determined by the density of the Acetatfaserbündels and the air permeability of the paper. Here again, the advantage of the device according to the invention for dispensing nicotine, in which the heating power of the heater in a simple manner, optionally by the user or therapist, also to the draw resistance and sucked through the paper of the mouthpiece to additional amount of air, which serves to cool the heated air stream, can be adjusted.

The Nicotine deposit is preferably integral with a mouthpiece trained, so formed as a disposable unit, and together with the mouthpiece detachable with the body the multiple-use device for delivering nicotine to connect.

To the releasably holding the unit from mouthpiece and Nicotine deposit is suggested at the end of the body provide open heating chamber, in which at least the nicotine depot introduced and in this under formation of a press fit is kept detachable.

In Another preferred embodiment is in the device for delivery of nicotine the sensor immediately adjacent to the Body formed intake ports arranged through which the air to be heated in the body flows. In this case, the suction openings be formed such that a predetermined draw resistance between the suction and a body provided Mouthpiece is generated.

It it is also possible to design the intake openings in such a way that the pressure drop between the intake ports and a provided on the body mouthpiece a predetermined Value does not exceed.

The draw resistance and / or the pressure drop are preferably in a range at the mouthpiece of a volume flow of 10 ml / s-25 ml / s, preferably 12 ml / s-22 ml / s, more preferably 15 ml / s-20 ml / s, more preferably 17.5 ml / s is generated (according to DIN ISO 3308: 2000 . DIN ISO 3402 ).

It is furthermore advantageous if draw resistance and / or the pressure drop is within a range such that a tensile volume of 20-50 ml, preferably 25-45 ml, more preferably 30-40 ml, more preferably 35.0 +/- 0.3 ml is reached (according to DIN ISO 3308: 2000 . DIN ISO 3402 ).

In Another preferred embodiment is the device for the delivery of nicotine a smoke-free cigarette.

In Another preferred embodiment is the device for the delivery of nicotine an inhaler for nicotine therapy.

following the invention is based on an embodiment below Referring to the drawing explained in more detail. It shows:

1 a longitudinal section through an inventive device in an enlarged view;

2 an end view on the in 1 left end of the device shown in which the contact points of the accumulator of the device are shown; and

3 a diagram in which the waveform of a sensor used in the device for determining the flow pressure relative to the time is shown.

In 1 is a longitudinal section through a device according to the invention 10 shown. The device 10 is shown enlarged and has in reality approximately the dimensions of a conventional filter cigarette.

The device 10 has a hollow cylindrical body 12 made of plastic. The body 12 has starting from his in 1 On the left side, at the level of about 2/3 of its length, there are a number of circumferentially evenly distributed intake openings 14 ,

In the in 1 left open end of the body shown on the left 12 are a sensor 16 , a control device 18 and an accumulator 20 introduced as a functional unit and in the body 12 kept safe.

The sensor 16 is in a hollow cylindrical carrier 22 the control device 18 held so that it to form an annular gap 24 at a distance from the inner peripheral surface of the body 12 in the area of the intake openings 14 is positioned. Furthermore, in the hollow cylindrical carrier 22 a circuit board 26 with a control unit provided 28 attached. As a control unit 28 is a microcomputer, which is connected to electronic control elements (not shown), which in the board 26 integrated or attached to this. At the sensor 16 opposite end of the hollow cylindrical support 22 is the accumulator 20 attached. As will be explained later, evaluates the control unit 28 one from the sensor 16 output signal U and controls the through the accumulator 20 provided power supply serving as a heater, also in the body 12 held heating coil 30 , The operation of the heating coil 30 is with one in the control unit 28 stored computer program controlled.

The heating coil 30 is at a directly on the sensor 16 adjacent, in the body 12 held ceramic disc 32 attached. The ceramic disc 32 is on its cylindrical lateral surface with several recesses 34 provided, over the air, through the intake ports 14 in the annular gap 24 flows in, at the sensor 16 past the ceramic disc 30 delimited area can continue to flow.

The on the ceramic disc 32 fixed heating coil 30 protrudes into a heating chamber 36 by one in the body 12 attached ceramic sleeve 38 is thermally insulated. The ceramic sleeve 38 is at a short distance to the ceramic disc 30 held, allowing air through the ruts 34 in the heating chamber 36 can flow in.

In the open end of the heating chamber 36 is a cylindrical nicotine deposit 40 introduced, which is in the heating chamber 36 is held securely under formation of a press fit. The nicotine depot 40 is integral with a mouthpiece 42 formed, which is attached to the open end of the body 12 flush connects. The mouthpiece 42 is with a filter cartridge 44 made of acetate fibers.

In the nicotine depot 40 are nicotine as well as flavorings and flavorings and optionally at least one carrier substance as adjuvants. The excipients go over from a temperature of about 50 ° C in the gas phase and are capable of that in the nicotine depot 40 contained nicotine with from the nicotine depot 40 dissipate.

When using the device 10 the user takes the cigarette 10 as usual, with the mouthpiece 42 in the mouth and sucks on the mouthpiece 42 at. Air flows through the intake ports 14 on the sensor 16 passing through the annular gap 24 and the recesses 34 in the heating chamber 36 , The air flow creates a pressure change in the annular gap 24 that from the sensor 16 detected and in the form of a signal U to the control unit 28 is forwarded.

In 3 is the waveform 46 of the signal U in millivolts (mV) expressed in milliseconds (ms). Like the waveform 46 shows the self-evident idealized is shown, the signal U increases initially, at times runs at least approximately parallel to the horizontal axis of time and finally falls off sharply.

In the computer program of the control unit 26 is an upper threshold U _O predetermined for a threshold voltage with that of the sensor 16 transmitted signal U is continuously compared. As soon as the signal U exceeds the upper threshold U _O , in 3 at time t ₁ , activates the control device 28 the heating coil 30 in which they supply the power through the accumulator 20 unlocks. The heating coil 30 heats up and warms them into the heating chamber 36 inflowing air to temperatures of up to 200 ° C. The heated air then hits the nicotine depot 40 , which is gas permeable, so that in the nicotine depot 40 contained nicotine as well as the excipients are partially released by the heated air. Subsequently, the enriched with nicotine, flavor and flavored air flows into the mouthpiece 42 A, is filtered while cooled to temperatures of about 40 to 50 ° C. The nicotine, carrier and flavor enriched and cooled air then enters the user's mouth.

Once the user stops at the mouthpiece 42 the cigarette 10 pulls, the flow pressure drops in the annular gap 24 and thus also the signal U of the sensor 16 from. If the signal U falls below the predetermined lower threshold U _U , in 3 at time t ₂ , the control unit switches 28 the power supply of the heating coil 30 back off, allowing further heating of the air in the heating chamber 36 is prevented.

In the cigarette according to the invention 10 It is easily possible to customize the heating process individually to the different conventions and also different nicotine doses, dosage duration, etc., in which the threshold value U _O , U _U are set accordingly. This setting is usually done in the control software of the control unit. Advantageously, these threshold values can only be adapted to the various applications during the production of the cigarette or the device for delivering nicotine.

In a modified embodiment of the device 10 becomes the heating coil 30 after the first pull on the mouthpiece 42 continued with a low standby temperature to the heating process at a new pull on the mouthpiece 42 To shorten. To overheat the heating coil 30 To prevent this is the time interval within which the heating coil 30 is kept at standby temperature, limited, so that the heating coil 30 is switched off after the time interval.

Because the device 10 has to be used repeatedly, the accumulator has 20 , as 2 shows at his from the open end of the body 12 pointing end face two contact points 48 for charging the accumulator 20 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption for the delivery of nicotine

12

body

14

suction

16

sensor

18

control device

20

accumulator

22

hollow cylindrical carrier

24

annular gap

26

circuit board

28

control unit

30

heating coil

32

ceramic disc

34

recesses

36

heating chamber

38

ceramic sleeve

40

nicotine depot

42

mouthpiece

44

filter cartridge

46

waveform

UO

Oberer threshold

UU

lower threshold

48

Contact points

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008011120 A1 [0007]

Cited non-patent literature

• - DIN ISO 3308: 2000 [0034]
• - DIN ISO 3402 [0034]
• DIN ISO 3308: 2000 [0035]
• - DIN ISO 3402 [0035]

Claims (13)

Device for delivering nicotine with - a body ( 12 ) to take up a nicotine depot ( 40 ), - an electric heater ( 30 ), which release nicotine from the nicotine depot ( 40 ) to a flow of air through the body ( 12 ) generates heat upon activation, - a power supply for operating the heating device ( 30 ), and - a control unit ( 28 ) for activating the heating device ( 30 ) when sucking air through the body ( 12 ), the control unit ( 28 ) with a sensor ( 16 ) for detecting the in the body ( 12 ) is coupled by the fact that - the sensor ( 16 ) in the body ( 12 ) continuously detects flow pressure and generates a signal (U) based on the detected flow pressure, and - the control unit ( 28 ) the heating power of the heater ( 30 ) based on the history of the sensor ( 16 ) signal (U) varies. Device for the delivery of nicotine according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) the heating power of the heater ( 30 ) in response to a change in the signal (U) of the sensor ( 16 ) varies. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) the heating device ( 30 ) is activated when an upper threshold value (U _O ) of the signal (U) is exceeded and deactivated when it falls below a lower threshold value (U _U ) of the signal (U). Nicotine delivery device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) adjusts the threshold values (U _O , U _U ) of the signal (U) based on the course of the signal (U). Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a threshold value (U _O , U _U ) of the signal (U) is preferably adjustable by the user. Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ), the sensor ( 16 ) and the heater ( 30 ) form a control loop. Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) for detecting the in the body ( 12 ) acting flow pressure is a microphone. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) detects a flow noise. Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) immediately adjacent to the body ( 12 ) formed intake openings ( 14 ) is arranged, through which air into the body ( 12 ) flows in. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 9, characterized in that the suction openings ( 14 ) are formed such that a predetermined draw resistance between the intake openings ( 14 ) and one on the body ( 12 ) provided mouthpiece ( 42 ) is produced. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pressure drop between the suction openings ( 14 ) and one on the body ( 12 ) provided mouthpiece ( 42 ) does not exceed a predetermined value. Device for delivering nicotine after one of previous claims, characterized in that the device is a smokeless cigarette. Device for delivering nicotine after one of Claims 1-12, characterized in that the Device is an inhaler.

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