JP7543535B2 - Non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler and cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler and cartridge.

A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler is known that uses power supplied from a power source to heat and atomize an aerosol source without combustion, passes the generated aerosol through a tobacco source containing tobacco-derived components to transfer the tobacco-derived components to the aerosol, and supplies the tobacco-derived components to a user (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2). The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler may include, for example, a cartridge including an aerosol source and an atomization means for heating and atomizing the aerosol source, a power supply unit for supplying power to the atomization means, and a flavoring cartridge including a tobacco source arranged downstream of the cartridge. The aerosol source may also include a flavoring component such as menthol. A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler that does not include a flavoring cartridge and instead includes a tobacco-derived component in the aerosol source is also known.

International Publication No. 2015/046420 Special table 2020-519276 publication

However, in the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, tobacco-derived components such as nicotine and flavor components such as menthol contained in the aerosol may be deposited and lost at the mouthpiece. In addition, when the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler is equipped with a flavor imparting cartridge, the tobacco-derived components and flavor components transferred to the aerosol may also be deposited and lost within the flavor imparting cartridge. When such losses occur within the aerosol path, the amount of flavor components delivered to the user decreases.

The present invention aims to provide a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler in which loss of flavor components in the aerosol path is suppressed, and a cartridge for use in the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler.

The present invention includes the following embodiments.
[1] An aerosol source comprising a compound represented by the following formula (1):

(In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.)
an atomizing means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler including:

[2] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in [1], wherein the compound represented by formula (1) is tributyl citrate.

[3] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in [1] or [2], wherein the aerosol source further contains triethyl citrate.

[4] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the aerosol source further contains at least one of propylene glycol and glycerin.

[5] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in any one of [1] to [4], wherein the aerosol source further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of nicotine, nicotine salts, and flavoring components.

[6] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in [5], wherein the flavor component includes menthol.

[7] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler described in any one of [1] to [6], further comprising a tobacco source arranged downstream of the aerosol source.

[8] A cartridge for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, comprising an aerosol source containing a compound represented by the following formula (1):

(In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.)

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler in which loss of flavor components in the aerosol path is suppressed, and a cartridge for use with the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cartridge in which a flavoring cartridge is incorporated. 1 is a graph showing the amount of nicotine delivered in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1. 1 is a graph showing the amount of nicotine delivered in Examples 6 to 9 and Comparative Example 2. 1 is a graph showing the amount of menthol delivered in Examples 6 to 9 and Comparative Example 2. 1 is a graph showing the amount of nicotine delivered in Examples 10 to 13 and Comparative Example 3. 1 is a graph showing the amount of menthol delivered in Examples 14 to 17 and Comparative Example 4.

The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of this embodiment includes an aerosol source containing a compound represented by the following formula (1), and an atomization means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol.

(In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.)

In the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment, when the aerosol source is atomized to generate the aerosol, the compound represented by the formula (1) is transferred to the aerosol. Since the compound represented by the formula (1) has a high boiling point, when the compound represented by the formula (1) is contained in the aerosol, the aerosol particles are less likely to evaporate and are stabilized. In addition, the compound represented by the formula (1) has a high solubility of tobacco-derived components such as nicotine and flavor components such as menthol. Therefore, by containing the compound represented by the formula (1) in the aerosol particles, the aerosol particles can contain more of the tobacco-derived components and the flavor components, and the tobacco-derived components and the flavor components are less likely to be released outside the aerosol particles. As a result, it is believed that the loss of flavor components in the aerosol path is suppressed in the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment.

The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment includes, but is not limited to, an aerosol source containing the compound represented by formula (1) and an atomizing means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol, and may include other components in addition to the aerosol source and the atomizing means. Examples of other components include a tobacco source containing tobacco-derived components that is disposed downstream of the aerosol source.

(Aerosol Source)
The aerosol source according to the present embodiment includes a compound represented by the formula (1). In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. When R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are alkyl groups having 3 or more carbon atoms, the boiling point of the compound represented by the formula (1) is increased, and the aerosol particles are stabilized. When R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are alkyl groups having 6 or less carbon atoms, the temperature required to vaporize the compound represented by the formula (1) can be lowered, and the temperature when the aerosol source is atomized can be lowered. In the formula (1), it is preferable that R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms. In particular, it is preferable that the compound represented by the formula (1) is tributyl citrate (TBC). The aerosol source may include one type of compound represented by the formula (1), or may include two or more types of compounds.

The content of the compound represented by formula (1) in the aerosol source is preferably 5 to 70% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the aerosol source. When the content is 5% by mass or more, the aerosol particles are sufficiently stabilized, and the loss of flavor components in the aerosol path can be sufficiently suppressed. Furthermore, when the content is 70% by mass or less, the content of other components such as the aerosol generator described below can be maintained. The content is more preferably 5 to 60% by mass, and even more preferably 10 to 50% by mass.

It is preferable that the aerosol source further contains triethyl citrate (TEC) in addition to the compound represented by formula (1). By further adding triethyl citrate, the amount of the compound represented by formula (1) added can be reduced while maintaining the effect of suppressing the loss of flavor components in the aerosol path. This can reduce the characteristic odor derived from the compound represented by formula (1). In addition, the compound represented by formula (1) can express the body feeling and three-dimensional feeling of tobacco-derived components such as nicotine when used, and triethyl citrate can reduce unpleasant sensations such as irritation derived from the tobacco-derived components. In addition, the compound represented by formula (1) can express the body feeling and three-dimensional feeling of flavor components such as menthol when used, and triethyl citrate can express the characteristics of the flavor components such as brightness. Therefore, by using both in combination, the sensation based on the tobacco-derived components and the flavor components when used can be further improved. Note that when the aerosol source does not contain the compound represented by formula (1) and contains only triethyl citrate, the effect according to this embodiment cannot be obtained.

When the aerosol source contains triethyl citrate, the content of triethyl citrate in the aerosol source is preferably 3 to 50 mass%, more preferably 5 to 40 mass%, and even more preferably 10 to 30 mass%, relative to 100 mass% of the aerosol source, from the viewpoint of sufficiently obtaining the above-mentioned effects. In addition, the content ratio of the compound represented by formula (1) and triethyl citrate (compound represented by formula (1) : triethyl citrate (mass ratio)) is preferably 50 to 90: 10 to 50, more preferably 50 to 70: 30 to 50, and even more preferably 50 to 60: 40 to 50.

The aerosol source may include an aerosol generating agent. The aerosol generating agent is atomized by heating to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generating agent is not particularly limited as long as it can be atomized by heating to generate an aerosol, and may be selected from various extracts from natural products and their components. Examples of the aerosol generating agent include glycerin (G), propylene glycol (PG), 1,3-butanediol, polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol, and triacetin. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, at least one of propylene glycol and glycerin is preferable as the aerosol generating agent, from the viewpoint of higher solubility of tobacco-derived components such as nicotine and flavor components such as menthol, and of being able to retain more of the tobacco-derived components and the flavor components in the aerosol particles.

The content of the aerosol generating agent in the aerosol source is preferably 30 to 95% by mass, more preferably 40 to 90% by mass, and even more preferably 45 to 75% by mass, relative to 100% by mass of the aerosol source, from the viewpoint of ensuring a sufficient amount of aerosol generated and sufficient delivery of the tobacco-derived components and the flavor components.

It is preferable that the aerosol source further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of nicotine, a nicotine salt, and a flavor component. When the aerosol source contains nicotine, a nicotine salt, and/or a flavor component, these components are contained in the aerosol when the aerosol is generated. Since the aerosol contains the compound represented by formula (1), the aerosol particles are stabilized, and the components are not easily released outside the aerosol particles. As a result, loss of the components in the aerosol path is further suppressed.

The nicotine and nicotine salt may be a liquid containing both nicotine and a nicotine salt. Examples of nicotine salts include nicotine salts produced by mixing nicotine with citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, levulinic acid, benzoic acid, etc. When the aerosol source contains nicotine and/or a nicotine salt, the content of nicotine and/or a nicotine salt in the aerosol source is preferably 1 to 15% by mass, more preferably 2 to 10% by mass, and even more preferably 3 to 5% by mass, relative to 100% by mass of the aerosol source.

The fragrance component is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include terpenes such as menthol and linalool, aromatic aldehydes such as furfural, and aldehydes such as nonanal. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When the aerosol source contains the fragrance component, the content of the fragrance component in the aerosol source is preferably 1 to 15% by mass, more preferably 2 to 10% by mass, and even more preferably 3 to 5% by mass, relative to 100% by mass of the aerosol source.

The aerosol source according to this embodiment may contain other components such as water in addition to the above-mentioned components. The aerosol source may be disposed, for example, in a cartridge, as described below. In this embodiment, the compound represented by formula (1) must be contained in the aerosol source. For example, if the compound represented by formula (1) is contained in a tobacco source disposed downstream of the aerosol source, the compound represented by formula (1) will not be sufficiently transferred to the aerosol, and the effect according to this embodiment will not be obtained.

(Atomization Means)
The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment includes an atomizing means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol. The atomizing means is not particularly limited as long as it can atomize the aerosol source to generate an aerosol, and can be, for example, a heating atomizing means. Specifically, it can be a heating resistor such as a heating wire that generates heat by power supplied from a power source as described later. The atomizing means can be disposed, for example, in a cartridge as described later.

(Tobacco Source)
The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment may further include a tobacco source containing tobacco-derived components, which is disposed downstream of the aerosol source. When the aerosol generated by atomization of the aerosol source passes through the tobacco source, the tobacco-derived components contained in the tobacco source are transferred to the aerosol and supplied to the user. Examples of the tobacco-derived components include nicotine. Since the tobacco-derived components contained in the tobacco source are transported by the aerosol, it is not necessary to heat the tobacco source itself during use. In addition, the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to the present embodiment may not include a tobacco source, and in this case, the aerosol source may contain tobacco-derived components. For example, the aerosol source may contain tobacco-derived components by immersing the tobacco source in the aerosol source, mixing liquid tobacco-derived components extracted from the tobacco source with the aerosol source, mixing tobacco-derived components obtained by chemical synthesis with the aerosol source, or the like.

The tobacco source can be composed of raw material pieces that impart tobacco-derived components to the aerosol generated by atomization of the aerosol source. The size of the raw material pieces is preferably 0.2 to 1.2 mm, and more preferably 0.2 to 0.7 mm. The smaller the size of the raw material pieces, the greater the specific surface area, and therefore the easier it is for the tobacco-derived components to be released from the raw material pieces. Therefore, the amount of raw material pieces can be reduced when imparting a desired amount of tobacco-derived components to the aerosol. As the raw material pieces, cut tobacco, a molded product obtained by molding the tobacco raw material into granules, a molded product obtained by molding the tobacco raw material into a sheet, etc. can be used.

Here, the raw material pieces are obtained by sieving in accordance with JIS Z 8815 using, for example, a stainless steel sieve conforming to JIS Z 8801. For example, using a stainless steel sieve with a mesh size of 0.71 mm, the raw material pieces are sieved for 20 minutes by a dry mechanical shaking method to obtain raw material pieces that pass through the stainless steel sieve with a mesh size of 0.71 mm. Next, using a stainless steel sieve with a mesh size of 0.212 mm, the raw material pieces are sieved for 20 minutes by a dry mechanical shaking method to remove the raw material pieces that pass through the stainless steel sieve with a mesh size of 0.212 mm. That is, the raw material pieces are raw material pieces that pass through the stainless steel sieve (mesh size = 0.71 mm) that defines the upper limit and do not pass through the stainless steel sieve (mesh size = 0.212 mm) that defines the lower limit. Therefore, the upper limit of the size of the raw material pieces is defined by the opening of the stainless steel sieve that defines the upper limit, and the lower limit of the size of the raw material pieces is defined by the opening of the stainless steel sieve that defines the lower limit.

The tobacco source may contain flavor components in addition to the tobacco-derived components. For example, the raw material pieces may contain flavor components in addition to the tobacco-derived components. Examples of the flavor components include the flavor components described above, and preferably contain menthol. The raw material pieces may also contain plants other than tobacco, such as mint and herbs.

The tobacco source may be disposed within a flavoring cartridge, for example downstream of the cartridge, as described below.

(cartridge)
The cartridge according to this embodiment includes an aerosol source containing the compound represented by formula (1). The cartridge is detachably attached to a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler. The cartridge may include an atomizing means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol, as described below.

(Configuration of non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler)
An example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to this embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a device for inhaling flavor components without combustion, and has a shape extending along a predetermined direction A, which is a direction from the non-suction end toward the suction end. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a cartridge 111 in Fig. 1 with a flavor imparting cartridge 130 built in. Note that, hereinafter, the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 100 may be simply referred to as a flavor inhaler 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the flavor inhaler 100 has an inhaler body 110 and a flavoring cartridge 130 including a tobacco source. The inhaler body 110 constitutes the main body of the flavor inhaler 100 and has a shape that allows the flavoring cartridge 130 to be connected. Specifically, the inhaler body 110 has an inhaler housing 110X, and the flavoring cartridge 130 is connected to the mouth end of the inhaler housing 110X. The inhaler body 110 has a cartridge 111 including an aerosol source and atomization means according to the present embodiment, configured to atomize the aerosol source without combustion, and a power supply unit 112.

The cartridge 111 has a first cylindrical body 111X that constitutes a part of the inhaler housing 110X. As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge 111 has a reservoir 111P, a wick 111Q, and a mist generating means 111R. The reservoir 111P, the wick 111Q, and the mist generating means 111R are housed in the first cylindrical body 111X. The first cylindrical body 111X has a cylindrical shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) extending along a predetermined direction A. The reservoir 111P holds the aerosol source according to this embodiment. For example, the reservoir 111P is a porous body made of a material such as a resin web. The wick 111Q is an example of a liquid holding member that holds the aerosol source supplied from the reservoir 111P. For example, the wick 111Q is made of glass fiber. The mist generating means 111R mists the aerosol source held by the wick 111Q. The atomizing means 111R can be configured, for example, by a heating resistor (for example, a heating wire) wound around the wick 111Q at a predetermined pitch.

An absorbing member 111S that absorbs condensed aerosol is provided on the wall surface exposed to the flow path of the aerosol generated by the atomizing means 111R. The wall surface exposed to the aerosol flow path is, for example, the inner surface of the first cylindrical body 111X exposed to the aerosol flow path, the outer surface of the reservoir 111P exposed to the aerosol flow path, etc. Here, when the absorbing member 111S is not in contact with the reservoir 111P, it is preferable that the aerosol (condensed aerosol) absorbed by the absorbing member 111S is guided from the absorbing member 111S to the atomizing means 111R using capillary action. On the other hand, when the absorbing member 111S is in contact with the reservoir 111P, it is preferable that the aerosol (condensed aerosol) absorbed by the absorbing member 111S is guided from the absorbing member 111S to the reservoir 111P. The absorption member 111S may be any member that has the function of absorbing condensed aerosol, and may be made of, for example, the same material as the reservoir 111P (resin web) or the same material as the wick 111Q (glass fiber).

The power supply unit 112 has a second cylindrical body 112X that constitutes a part of the inhaler housing 110X. The power supply unit 112 has an inlet 112A. Air flowing in from the inlet 112A is guided to the cartridge 111 (atomization means 111R) as shown in FIG. 2. In detail, the power supply unit 112 has a power supply 10, a suction sensor 20, a push button 30, a light-emitting element 40, and a control circuit 50. The power supply 10, the suction sensor 20, the push button 30, and the control circuit 50 are housed in the second cylindrical body 112X. The second cylindrical body 112X has a cylindrical shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) extending along a predetermined direction A.

The power source 10 is, for example, a lithium ion battery. The power source 10 stores the power required for the operation of the flavor inhaler 100. For example, the power source 10 stores power to be supplied to the suction sensor 20 and the control circuit 50. The power source 10 also stores power to be supplied to the cartridge 111 (atomization means 111R).

The suction sensor 20 detects the fluid flow in the suction path that continues from the inlet 112A to the outlet 130A. The suction sensor 20 detects suction (suction state) when the fluid flow from the inlet 112A to the outlet 130A side is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The suction sensor 20 detects non-suction (non-suction state) when the fluid flow from the inlet 112A to the outlet 130A side is less than a predetermined threshold.

The push button 30 is configured to be pushed from the outside to the inside of the flavor inhaler 100. The push button 30 is provided at the non-suction end of the flavor inhaler 100 and is configured to be pushed in the direction from the non-suction end to the suction end (i.e., the predetermined direction A). For example, when the push button 30 is pressed continuously a predetermined number of times in a state where the flavor inhaler 100 is not powered on, the flavor inhaler 100 may be powered on. On the other hand, when the push button 30 is pressed continuously a predetermined number of times in a state where the flavor inhaler 100 is powered on, the flavor inhaler 100 may be powered off. Alternatively, when a predetermined time has passed since the puffing operation was performed without the puffing operation being performed, the flavor inhaler 100 may be powered off.

The light-emitting element 40 is a light source such as an LED or an electric lamp. The light-emitting element 40 is provided on a side wall extending along a predetermined direction. The light-emitting element 40 is preferably provided on a side wall near the non-suction end. This allows the user to easily see the light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting element 40 during the puffing operation, compared to when the light-emitting element is provided only on the end face of the non-suction end on the axis line of the predetermined direction A. The light-emitting pattern of the light-emitting element 40 is a pattern that notifies the user of the state of the flavor inhaler 100. The light-emitting element 40 may constitute a notification unit that notifies the user that a desired amount of aerosol can be supplied. Here, the light-emitting element 40 may continuously notify the user that a desired amount of aerosol can be supplied from the start to the end of the period during which the desired amount of aerosol can be supplied. Alternatively, the light-emitting element 40 may constitute a notification unit that notifies the user that a desired amount of aerosol cannot be supplied. Here, the light-emitting element 40 may continuously notify the fact that the desired amount of aerosol cannot be supplied from the start to the end of the period in which the desired amount of aerosol cannot be supplied.

The control circuit 50 controls the operation of the flavor inhaler 100. Specifically, the control circuit 50 controls the power output to the cartridge 111 (atomization means 111R). The control circuit 50 also controls the light-emitting element 40.

The flavoring cartridge 130 is configured to be connectable to the inhaler body 110 that constitutes the flavor inhaler 100. The flavoring cartridge 130 is provided downstream of the cartridge 111 on the flow path of the gas (hereinafter, air) inhaled from the mouthpiece. In other words, the flavoring cartridge 130 does not necessarily need to be provided on the mouth side of the cartridge 111 in terms of physical space, but only needs to be provided downstream of the cartridge 111 on the aerosol flow path that guides the aerosol generated from the cartridge 111 to the mouthpiece side.

Specifically, the flavoring cartridge 130 has a flavoring cartridge housing 131, a tobacco source 132, a mesh 133A, and a filter 133B. The flavoring cartridge 130 also has an outlet 130A provided at the mouthpiece.

The flavoring cartridge housing 131 has a tubular shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) extending along a predetermined direction A. The flavoring cartridge housing 131 accommodates a tobacco source 132. Here, the flavoring cartridge housing 131 is configured to be inserted into the inhaler housing 110X along the predetermined direction A.

The tobacco source 132 is provided on the suction path that continues from the inlet 112A to the outlet 130A (mouthpiece) side of the cartridge 111. The tobacco source 132 imparts tobacco-derived components to the aerosol generated from the aerosol source. In other words, the tobacco-derived components imparted to the aerosol by the tobacco source 132 are transported to the outlet 130A (mouthpiece). The tobacco source according to the present embodiment described above can be used as the tobacco source 132.

The mesh 133A is provided so as to block the opening of the flavoring cartridge housing 131 upstream of the tobacco source 132. The filter 133B is provided so as to block the opening of the flavoring cartridge housing 131 downstream of the tobacco source 132. The mesh 133A has a roughness such that the raw material pieces constituting the tobacco source 132 do not pass through. The roughness of the mesh 133A has an opening of, for example, 0.077 to 0.198 mm. The filter 133B is made of a material having air permeability. The filter 133B is preferably, for example, an acetate filter. The filter 133B has a roughness such that the raw material pieces constituting the tobacco source 132 do not pass through.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to examples, but the present embodiment is not limited to these examples. The amount of nicotine and menthol delivered during use of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler produced was measured by the following method.

[Method for measuring the amount of nicotine and menthol delivered]
The mouth end of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was inserted into a filter holder in which a component collection filter was set, and the downstream part of the filter holder was connected to a smoking device. By inhaling with the smoking device, the aerosol emitted from the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was collected in the filter holder. The inhalation condition was 55cc/puff for 3 seconds, and repeated 5 times at 30 second intervals, so that 5 puffs of aerosol were collected in the filter holder. After collection, the filter was removed from the filter holder, and the components were shaken and extracted with methanol, and the amount of nicotine and/or menthol was quantified by GC.

[Example 1]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler having the configuration shown in Figure 1 was produced. As the aerosol source, a solution containing 45.0 mass% propylene glycol (PG), 45.0 mass% glycerin (G), and 10.0 mass% tributyl citrate (TBC) was used. As the tobacco source, a tobacco source containing tobacco-derived components such as nicotine and not containing menthol (M) was used. The amount of nicotine delivered during use of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was measured by the above method. The results are shown in Figure 3.

[Examples 2 to 5, Comparative Example 1]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that an aerosol source having the composition shown in Table 1 was used as the aerosol source, and the amount of nicotine delivered during use was measured. The results are shown in Figure 3. In Table 1, "PG" stands for propylene glycol, "G" stands for glycerin, "TEC" stands for triethyl citrate, "TBC" stands for tributyl citrate, and "M" stands for menthol.

As shown in FIG. 3, in Comparative Example 1, in which the aerosol source does not contain tributyl citrate, an increase in the amount of nicotine delivered was observed in Examples 1 and 2, in which tributyl citrate was added to the aerosol source, and the amount of delivered nicotine increased with an increase in the amount of tributyl citrate added. In addition, the results of Examples 3 and 4, in which glycerin was replaced with triethyl citrate and tributyl citrate, confirmed that the amount of nicotine delivered was equal to or greater than that of Example 2, even if the content of tributyl citrate was reduced by using triethyl citrate in combination. In addition, the results of Example 5 confirmed that the amount of nicotine delivered was slightly higher than that of Comparative Example 1, even when only tributyl citrate was used as the aerosol source. However, since the amount of nicotine delivered was smaller than that of Examples 2 to 4, it was found that the amount of nicotine delivered was further increased by adding a compound represented by the formula (1) such as tributyl citrate, or both a compound represented by the formula (1) and triethyl citrate in the presence of an aerosol generator such as propylene glycol or glycerin.

A sensory evaluation was also conducted by a panel of five expert evaluators for the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalers of Comparative Example 1 and Examples 2 to 4. The sensory evaluation was conducted by the five expert evaluators using the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalers in the same manner as in normal use and providing comments freely. The five expert evaluators had been thoroughly trained in the sensory evaluation of non-combustion heating type flavor inhalers, and it was confirmed that the evaluation thresholds were equal and standardized among the panelists.

In the sensory evaluation, it was confirmed that the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 2 reduces the nicotine stimulation, produces a good nicotine sensation as it passes through the throat, and produces a more full-bodied and three-dimensional sensation of nicotine compared to Comparative Example 1. On the other hand, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were slightly felt. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 3 reduces the nicotine stimulation compared to Comparative Example 1, but the nicotine stimulation was stronger than in Examples 2 and 4. On the other hand, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were reduced more than in Example 2. It was confirmed that the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 4 produces the same reduction in nicotine stimulation, full-bodied sensation, and three-dimensional sensation as Example 2. Furthermore, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were reduced more than in Example 2.

[Examples 6 to 9, Comparative Example 2]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that an aerosol source having the composition shown in Table 1 was used as the aerosol source, and a tobacco source to which menthol (M) was added was used as the tobacco source, and the amount of nicotine and menthol delivered during use was measured. The results are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the amount of nicotine delivered was increased in Examples 6 and 7 in which tributyl citrate was added to the aerosol source compared to Comparative Example 2 in which the aerosol source did not contain tributyl citrate. In addition, the results of Examples 8 and 9 in which glycerin was replaced with triethyl citrate and tributyl citrate confirmed that the amount of nicotine delivered was comparable to that of Example 7 even if the content of tributyl citrate was reduced by using triethyl citrate in combination. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the amount of menthol delivered was significantly increased in Examples 6 and 7 in which tributyl citrate was added to the aerosol source compared to Comparative Example 2 in which the aerosol source did not contain tributyl citrate, and the amount of delivered increased with an increase in the amount of tributyl citrate added.

In addition, the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalers of Comparative Example 2 and Examples 7 to 9 were subjected to a sensory evaluation by five expert evaluation panels similar to that described above. In the sensory evaluation, it was confirmed that the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 7 expressed a stronger menthol feeling, and expressed a stronger body feeling and three-dimensional feeling of menthol and nicotine, compared to Comparative Example 2. On the other hand, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were slightly felt. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 8 expressed a stronger menthol feeling compared to Comparative Example 2, but to a lower degree than Example 9. In addition, the body feeling and three-dimensional feeling of menthol and nicotine were lower than Examples 7 and 9. On the other hand, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were reduced compared to Example 7. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler of Example 9 expressed a stronger menthol feeling compared to Examples 7 and 8, and the body feeling and three-dimensional feeling of menthol and nicotine were about the same as Example 7. Furthermore, the characteristic odor and bitterness of tributyl citrate were reduced more than in Example 7.

[Example 10]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler similar to that shown in FIG. 1 was produced except that it did not have a flavoring cartridge 130. A solution containing 43.0% by mass of propylene glycol (PG), 43.0% by mass of glycerin (G), 9.6% by mass of tributyl citrate (TBC), and 4.5% by mass of nicotine (NIC) was used as the aerosol source. The amount of nicotine delivered during use of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was measured by the above method. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

[Examples 11 to 13, Comparative Example 3]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was prepared in the same manner as in Example 10, except that an aerosol source having the composition shown in Table 2 was used as the aerosol source, and the amount of nicotine delivered during use was measured. The results are shown in Figure 6.

6, in comparison with Comparative Example 3 in which the aerosol source does not contain tributyl citrate, in Examples 10 and 11 in which tributyl citrate was added to the aerosol source, an increase in the amount of nicotine delivered was observed, and the amount of delivered increased with an increase in the amount of tributyl citrate added. In addition, from the results of Examples 12 and 13 in which glycerin was replaced with triethyl citrate and tributyl citrate, it was confirmed that the amount of nicotine delivered was equal to or greater than that of Example 11, even if the content of tributyl citrate was reduced by using triethyl citrate in combination. Therefore, it was found that it is preferable to add both the compound represented by the formula (1) and triethyl citrate even in a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler that does not have a tobacco source and instead contains tobacco-derived components as the aerosol source.

[Examples 14 to 17, Comparative Example 4]
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler was prepared in the same manner as in Example 10, except that an aerosol source having the composition shown in Table 2 was used as the aerosol source, and the amount of menthol delivered during use was measured. The results are shown in FIG.

As shown in Figure 7, a significant increase in the amount of menthol delivered was confirmed in Examples 14 to 17, in which tributyl citrate or tributyl citrate and triethyl citrate were added to the aerosol source, compared to Comparison Example 4, in which the aerosol source did not contain tributyl citrate.

100 Non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler 111 Cartridge 112 Power supply unit 130 Flavoring cartridge 132 Tobacco source 111P Reservoir 111R Atomization means

Claims (7)

An aerosol source comprising a compound represented by the following formula (1):
(In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.)
an atomizing means for atomizing the aerosol source to generate an aerosol;
A non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler comprising:
The content of the compound represented by formula (1) in the aerosol source is 10 to 70 mass %,
The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, wherein the aerosol source further comprises 13.7 to 50 mass % of triethyl citrate . The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the compound represented by formula (1) is tributyl citrate. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the aerosol source further comprises at least one of propylene glycol and glycerin. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the aerosol source further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of nicotine, a nicotine salt, and a flavoring component. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to claim 4 , wherein the flavor ingredient includes menthol. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler according to claim 1 , further comprising a tobacco source disposed downstream of the aerosol source. A cartridge for a non-combustion heating type flavor inhaler, comprising an aerosol source containing a compound represented by the following formula (1):
(In the formula (1), R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₃ are each independently an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms.)
The content of the compound represented by formula (1) in the aerosol source is 10 to 70 mass %,
The cartridge, wherein the aerosol source further comprises 13.7 to 50% by weight of triethyl citrate.