WO2022194916A1

WO2022194916A1 - Inhaler

Info

Publication number: WO2022194916A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/056790
Authority: WO
Inventors: André GEILEN; Simon GEISS; Ralf Martin Rieß
Original assignee: Alveon GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-16
Filing date: 2022-03-16
Publication date: 2022-09-22
Also published as: DE102021202547A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inhaler (1) for inhaling an aerosol, comprising an evaporator (2) for evaporating a liquid. The evaporator (4) has an electrically conductive ceramic (6) for receiving and evaporating the substance to be evaporated, and a control device (10) of the inhaler (1) supplies the ceramic (6) with power according to the temperature of the ceramic (6) measured by means of a temperature measuring unit (9), thereby allowing improved control of the aerosol produced.

Description

inhaler

The present invention relates to an inhaler for inhaling an aerosol, which has an evaporator device for evaporating a substance and thus generating the aerosol.

An inhaler creates an aerosol for inhalation. For this purpose, a substance, for example a liquid or a powder, is vaporized in an evaporator device and an aerosol is thus generated and emitted. The vaporizer device usually includes a receiving structure for receiving the substance to be vaporized and an electrical vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid.

An inhaler with an evaporator device is known from DE 102016 120803 A1. The evaporator device has an evaporator made of a doped and electrically conductive ceramic. The ceramic is provided with controlled and oriented microchannels through which liquid flows for evaporation. When supplied with electricity, the ceramic generates heat in order to vaporize the liquid contained therein. The evaporator device also has a flow control device which controls the flow of the liquid through the microchannels. The inhaler also has a control device and a sensor. The sensor detects when a user pulls on the inhaler to inhale. In the event of such a detection, the control device supplies the evaporator with electricity.

An inhaler is known from WO 2004022242 A1, which has a vaporization device with a heated individual capillary. The inhaler also has a container for storing a liquid which can flow to the single capillary. The flow of the liquid to the individual capillary is controlled by a valve. An inhaler is known from US 202000022416 A1, which has a container for storing a liquid. A piston is guided in the container, which brings liquid from the container onto an evaporator when it is adjusted. The evaporator generates heat during operation to vaporize the liquid applied to the evaporator. The inhaler also has a temperature sensor to determine a minimum temperature of the vaporizer.

The present invention is concerned with the task of specifying an improved or at least different embodiment for an inhaler of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in particular by improved control of the vaporized substance.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 . Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea of providing an inhaler with an evaporator device which has an electrically conductive ceramic having a receiving structure, the receiving structure serving to receive a substance to be vaporized and the electrically conductive ceramic at the same time generating heat for vaporization the substance accommodated in the receiving structure is used, with the ceramic being supplied with electricity as a function of a temperature of the evaporator ceramic which is determined by means of a device. The electrically conductive ceramic generates homogeneous heat during operation with an electrical supply. The homogeneous heat generation of the evaporator ceramic leads to a homogeneous temperature or a homogeneous heat distribution in the volume of the evaporator ceramic and consequently in the receiving structure. This leads to an even evaporation of the substance throughout the receiving structure. The homogeneous temperature of the ceramic also allows the temperature of the ceramic to be determined very easily and reliably using the device, which is also referred to below as the temperature determination device. Thus, with a simple conversion of the inhaler, the vaporization parameters can be checked easily and reliably. In particular, this makes it possible to vaporize a predetermined quantity of the substance to be vaporized and thus a predetermined dose of the substance.

According to the idea of the invention, the inhaler has the evaporator device with the evaporator. The evaporator includes the electrically conductive ceramic, which is also referred to below as the evaporator ceramic. At the same time, the evaporator ceramic serves to receive and store the substance to be evaporated and to generate heat for evaporating the substance. The substance is stored by means of the absorption structure of the evaporator ceramic. The evaporator ceramic thus has the receiving structure in which the substance to be evaporated is received during operation. The evaporator ceramic is designed in such a way that, by means of its electrically conductive property, it generates heat homogeneously in the evaporator ceramic during operation when there is an electrical supply, in order to vaporize the substance accommodated in the receiving structure. The inhaler also has the temperature determining device for determining the temperature of the evaporator ceramic and a control device which is connected in a communicating manner to the temperature determining device. the

Temperature determination device is designed in such a way that it determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic during operation. The control device is designed in such a way that it electrically supplies the evaporator ceramic depending on the temperature of the evaporator ceramic determined by means of the temperature determination device. For the electrical supply of the evaporator, in particular the evaporator ceramic, the evaporator device expediently has two electrical connections. A path for the electrical current runs between the two electrical connections and through the evaporator ceramics, also referred to below as the current path.

The evaporator, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is designed for operation in a thermal operating range that is limited by a lower initial operating temperature and an upper final operating temperature. In other words, for evaporating the substance, the evaporator ceramic generates heat in the operating range and thus between the initial operating temperature and the final operating temperature when electrically supplied. The control device is expediently designed in such a way that it electrically supplies the evaporator ceramic in such a way that the evaporator ceramic has a temperature in the operating range.

As mentioned, the evaporator ceramic generates heat homogeneously when supplied with electricity by means of its electrical conductivity. In particular, the evaporator ceramic is a heating resistor.

The evaporator ceramic can be an electrically conductive ceramic of any type, as long as it has the receiving structure and generates heat homogeneously in the operating range when there is an electrical supply, in particular when an electrical voltage is applied in a predetermined range.

It is conceivable that the evaporator ceramic is electrically conductive per se.

These include, for example, ceramics made of metal oxides, such as titanium oxides, or metal carbides and silicon carbides. Likewise, composite ceramics can be used, which have electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive networks of different materials, the conductive Networks are expediently distributed homogeneously in the ceramic. Examples of such composite ceramics are those with metal oxides of different oxidation states. Mixed oxide ceramics can also be used, which are produced by mixing different starting materials, with a new material being created by chemical reactions during the production of the ceramic, typically during sintering. Examples of the starting materials are different metal oxides. Furthermore, doped ceramics can be used, which become electrically conductive through doping. Of course, any combination of the ceramics mentioned can also be used, provided the evaporator ceramic is an electrically conductive ceramic with the receiving structure, which generates heat homogeneously during operation.

The evaporator ceramic is advantageously formed in one piece and coherently.

It is also conceivable to form the evaporator ceramic in two or more parts.

Embodiments are preferred in which the evaporator consists of the evaporator ceramic, ie only has the evaporator ceramic. This leads to a simplified production of the evaporator device and at the same time a more precise and/or simple control of the evaporation parameters, in particular the total volume for accommodating the liquid to be evaporated and the heat generated.

Embodiments are preferred in which the temperature determination device determines an electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic and determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic from the resistance determined. The temperature determination device is designed accordingly. In particular, the Temperature determination device on a resistance measuring device. Due to the pronounced dependency of the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic on the temperature of the evaporator ceramic, the temperature of the evaporator ceramic can thus be determined simply and precisely. In this case, the specific temperature corresponds at least essentially to the temperature in the entire evaporator ceramic due to the homogeneous temperature in the evaporator ceramic. In this way, the temperature and electrical supply of the evaporator ceramic can be determined easily and reliably.

In principle, the temperature determination device can determine the resistance of the evaporator ceramic separately from the electrical supply of the evaporator ceramic. For this purpose, electrical connections provided for the temperature determination device can be provided on the evaporator ceramic.

The electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic is preferably determined in the current path. In particular, the electrical resistance can take place by means of the connections. This results in a simple implementation of the temperature determination device and thus of the inhaler.

Alternatively or additionally, advantageously alternatively, it is preferred if the temperature determination device has a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the evaporator ceramic. The temperature sensor can be designed without contact and can determine the temperature of the evaporator ceramic, for example by means of infrared radiation. The temperature sensor can also be designed to measure the temperature of the evaporator ceramic by physical contact. Of course, combinations of the configurations mentioned are also possible. The temperature determination device is preferably designed or configured for local determination of the temperature of the evaporator ceramic. This means that the temperature determination device is designed to determine the temperature of a section of the evaporator ceramic, in particular a section of the outer surface of the evaporator ceramic. Thus, a simple determination of the temperature takes place. At the same time, the temperature of the entire evaporator ceramic is reliably determined due to the homogeneous temperature of the evaporator ceramic.

The evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, can in principle be an integral part of the inhaler.

The evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is preferably accommodated in the inhaler in an exchangeable manner. Thus, a respectively associated evaporator device can be used for different substances. In this way, in particular, cross-contamination between different substances is avoided or at least reduced.

It is conceivable to provide the inhaler with a container for storing a substance to be vaporized. Thus, the receiving structure can be refilled with substance if necessary.

It is preferred if the container is closed, ie cannot be refilled with liquid in a non-destructive manner. In particular, this leads to the avoidance of cross-contamination from different liquids and/or prevents the use of non-specified and/or non-approved liquids, or at least makes this use more difficult.

The evaporator device and the container preferably form a unit which is accommodated in the inhaler in a mutually exchangeable manner. So can with different substances and/or predetermined maximum doses of a substance are inhaled in the same inhaler. In addition, cross-contamination is thus avoided or at least reduced.

The inhaler can be operated both continuously and discontinuously. The inhaler, in particular the evaporator device, is designed accordingly.

In the case of continuous operation, the evaporator ceramic is continuously supplied with substance for at least a limited period of time and at least partially evaporates this substance. The substance can be supplied by a permanent fluidic connection of the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, with a container storing the substance, so that the substance flows continuously into the evaporator ceramic. The evaporation takes place as long as the evaporator device is supplied with electricity and is operated in the operating range. The vaporized quantity of the substance can be controlled, if necessary, over the operating time of the vaporizer device in the operating range.

In discontinuous operation, a predetermined dose of the substance is fed to the evaporator ceramic, which is then vaporized. In particular, in discontinuous operation, the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is not continuously supplied with the substance. The evaporated quantity can thus be controlled in particular via the volume of the evaporator ceramic and/or the quantity of the substance taken up in the evaporator ceramic.

In the case of discontinuous operation, the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, can be supplied with substance after the substance previously taken up in the evaporator ceramic has at least partially evaporated and/or the evaporator device is not operated in the operating range, in particular is not in operation. The evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, can therefore be refilled.

In the case of discontinuous operation, it is also conceivable to already store a dose of the substance in the evaporator device, which is evaporated during operation. The evaporator device can be designed for one-time use, ie it can be exchangeable. In particular, the evaporator device can be designed in the manner of a tablet.

Of course, mixed operations consisting of discontinuous and continuous operation are also possible.

The receiving structure is advantageously formed and/or formed integrally in the evaporator ceramic.

The receiving structure is expediently distributed homogeneously in the evaporator ceramic.

It is conceivable to introduce the receiving structure into the evaporator ceramic by subsequent processing. In particular, it is conceivable to form channels, for example microchannels, in the evaporator ceramic, which are part of the receiving structure or form the receiving structure.

The receiving structure preferably has pores in the evaporator ceramic. The receiving structure particularly preferably consists of pores, ie it is a pore structure.

Embodiments are advantageous in which the receiving structure has pores of the evaporator ceramic, preferably consists of the pores of the evaporator ceramic, and the temperature determination device is of this type is designed such that it determines the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic and determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic from the resistance. Thus, the evaporator ceramic also functions as a storage medium for the substance, as a heater for evaporating the substance and, by means of the resistance used to determine the temperature, as a thermal "sensor" for its own temperature determination.

The pores of the evaporator ceramic are advantageously formed during the production of the evaporator ceramic, which can take place, for example, by means of sintering. In other words, the pores for taking up the substance are advantageously not introduced separately, in particular not subsequently, into the evaporator ceramic. Thus, an intrinsic property of the evaporator ceramic, given by the production, is used for storing the substance to be evaporated. This leads to a simple and inexpensive production of the evaporator ceramic and thus the evaporator device.

In addition, a total volume of the evaporator ceramic, defined by the pores, and thus the volume of the substance that can be absorbed, can be varied and specified by the production of the evaporator ceramic. This leads to a further, simply designed control of the evaporation parameters.

It is advantageous if the evaporator ceramic has pores with an average size between 0.05 μm and 50 μm. In the case of a liquid as the substance, these average pore sizes lead to such a ratio between the surface area and the volume of the respective pore that these have capillary forces, which compensate for the forces due to gravitation and/or pressure acting on a drop-shaped particle of the liquid contained in the volume, preferably predominate. As a result, the drop-shaped particles, also referred to below as droplets, in the pores remain. As a result, the droplets, and consequently the liquid, are prevented from flowing out of the evaporator ceramic or are at least significantly reduced. This means that even low-viscosity liquids can be absorbed and stored in the evaporator ceramic. It is thus possible with the evaporator ceramic to absorb and store a greater variability of liquids of different viscosities without the liquids flowing out of the evaporator ceramic. As a result, the liquids can be provided more cost-effectively and in a wider range. In particular, active ingredients taken up in the liquids can thus be simplified and/or provided with a more precise dose. The evaporator ceramic and the associated evaporator device can thus be used in a simplified manner for controllable inhalation of said active substances and thus for controllable and/or predetermined dosing of the active substances. The capillary forces described above also lead to the evaporator ceramic being saturated with the liquid in the case of a hydraulic connection to the liquid to be evaporated without any further action, such as, for example, active pumping of the liquid into the evaporator ceramic. Overall, separate seals for the evaporator ceramic can be omitted or at least reduced and/or devices for actively introducing the liquid into the ceramic can be omitted. Thus, both the evaporator ceramic and an associated evaporator device can be implemented simply and inexpensively. Thus, in addition to an increase in the possible uses of the evaporator ceramic and the associated evaporator device, there is a simplified implementation of the same.

A further advantage of the said mean pore sizes is that they lead to an increase in the area of the droplets that is in contact with the evaporator ceramic. In other words, an increased surface area of the evaporator ceramic transfers heat to the droplets to vaporize the liquid. This leads to a more even evaporation of the liquid and thus an improved control over the evaporation. In addition, the liquid evaporates more quickly in this way.

In the present case, mean pore size is to be understood in particular as meaning the ratio between four times the volume and the area of the pores, ie 4V/A, as specified in particular in the ISO 15901 standard.

As described above, the evaporator ceramic can be used in particular to hold low-viscosity liquids. Low-viscosity liquids are to be understood in particular as liquids which have a viscosity of 45 mPas and less.

The liquid can be any liquid. In particular, it is possible to use liquids containing medicinal active ingredients.

It is preferred if the pore sizes of the pores of the pore structure are at least largely within the mean pore size. This means in particular that a maximum of 10% of the pores have pore sizes that are larger than four times the average pore size. This means that pores with pore sizes above the mean pore size are reduced, preferably not present. As a result, the effects of pores with pore sizes above the average pore size on the overall behavior of the evaporator ceramic and consequently the effects of droplets with larger volumes in these pores on the overall behavior of the liquid absorbed in the evaporator ceramic are negligible or at least reduced. In this way, it is possible in particular to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the evaporator ceramic. This also means that the droplets taken up in the pores have essentially the same volume, corresponding to the size distribution of the pores. This leads to a homogeneous Distribution of the liquid absorbed in the evaporator ceramic over the volume of the ceramic. In addition, the liquid can be evaporated in a more homogeneous and/or controlled manner in this way.

Embodiments are considered advantageous in which the average pore size is between 0.1 μm and 25 μm, preferably between 0.15 μm and 10 μm, particularly preferably between 0.2 μm and 5 μm. In this way, there is an advantageous interaction between the droplets absorbed in the pores, the capillary forces and the distribution of the liquid in the volume of the evaporator ceramic, which leads to improved absorption of the liquid in the evaporator ceramic and improved evaporation of the liquid absorbed in the evaporator ceramic to lead.

In principle, the inhaler, in particular the vaporizer, can be used to vaporize any substance. In particular, it is possible to use the inhaler for evaporating substances containing medicinal active ingredients. In particular, the defined and/or controllable dosing allows a correspondingly precise dosing of the active ingredient supply to a patient.

The substance is one that vaporizes when heated. The substance is therefore vaporizable. In particular, solid substances are conceivable.

The substance is advantageously liquid. In particular, the substance is a liquid. Both viscous and low-viscosity liquids, ie liquids with different viscosities, are conceivable.

The inhaler is preferably a mobile and hand-portable inhaler, which can therefore be carried along. The inhaler can are preferably gripped and carried by hand by a user. The dimensions of the inhaler are designed accordingly.

The inhaler preferably has a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery, for the electrical supply of the evaporator ceramic. The control device is expediently designed in such a way that it supplies the evaporator ceramic with electricity by means of the battery.

Advantageously, the control device communicates with the evaporator device and/or with the container in such a way that the control device receives and/or recognizes the substance stored in the container or received in the receiving structure. It is thus possible, in particular, to carry out an associated electrical supply of the evaporator device for different substances. Furthermore, it is thus possible to prevent the evaporation of substances that are not permitted and/or released. It is thus also possible to allow operation of the inhaler, in particular electrical supply of the vaporization device for vaporizing the liquid, only when specified and/or approved containers and/or vaporization devices are accommodated in the inhaler. The control device is designed accordingly. It is thus possible in particular to prevent the inhaler from being misused.

The communication between the control device and the container and/or the evaporator device is advantageously implemented via appropriate communication interfaces. The control device thus has a control device communication interface which is connected in a communicating manner to a container communication interface of the container and/or to an evaporator communication interface of the evaporator device. The communication can take place in any way. Wired communication is conceivable. Wireless communication is preferred.

Embodiments are preferred in which the unit with the container and the evaporator device has a common communication interface for communication with the control device communication interface.

Further important features and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, with the same reference symbols referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

1 shows a greatly simplified, circuit diagram-like representation of an inhaler,

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of an evaporator device

inhaler,

3 shows a greatly simplified representation of an inhaler in the manner of a circuit diagram in another exemplary embodiment. An inhaler 1, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 3, is used to inhale an aerosol. For this purpose, the inhaler 1 has an evaporator device 2, as is shown separately in FIG. 2, for example. With the evaporator device 2, a substance that is not shown, for example a liquid, is evaporated during operation with an electrical supply.

The inhaler 1 of the exemplary embodiments shown is a mobile and hand-portable inhaler 1 which, when in use, is gripped by hand by a user (not shown) and is portable. The inhaler 1 is designed accordingly with regard to its dimensions and its weight.

The substance is, for example, one that can contain a medical active ingredient, so that when it evaporates, a vapor 16 containing the active ingredient (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is emitted, which is inhaled by a user.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the evaporator device 2 has an electrical evaporator 4 for evaporating the substance. In the exemplary embodiments shown, two electrical connections 5 , for example made of a metal or a metal alloy, are provided for the electrical supply of the evaporator 4 . The vaporizer 4 also has a receiving structure 7 for receiving the substance to be vaporized. The receiving structure 7 advantageously has a predetermined and therefore known total volume for receiving substance. The evaporator 4 is therefore used both for receiving and storing the substance to be evaporated and for the homogeneous generation of heat in the volume of the evaporator ceramic 6 and thus in the receiving structure 7 for the purpose of evaporating the substance. For this purpose, the evaporator 4 has an electrically conductive ceramic 6, which is also referred to as evaporator ceramic 6 below. In the embodiments shown, the evaporator 4 consists of Evaporator ceramic 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator ceramic 6 is designed to be continuous and cuboid, purely by way of example. Ring-like shapes of the evaporator ceramic 6 (not shown) are also conceivable.

In principle, the evaporator device 2 , in particular the evaporator 4 , can be permanently installed in the inhaler 1 . The evaporator device 2, in particular the evaporator 4, is preferably accommodated in the inhaler 1 in an exchangeable manner.

The receiving structure 7 of the exemplary embodiments shown has pores (not shown) of the evaporator ceramic 6, so that the substance to be evaporated is received in the pores. The receiving structure 7 advantageously consists of the pores of the evaporator ceramic 6, ie it is a pore structure. The evaporator ceramic 6 can contain at least one metal oxide. To vaporize the substance, the evaporator ceramic 6 is operated in a thermal range, which is also referred to below as the operating range. The operating range is limited by a low temperature, also referred to below as the initial operating temperature, and by a high temperature, also referred to below as the final operating temperature. This means that the substance to be vaporized and absorbed in the pores is vaporized in the operating range and thus between the initial operating temperature and the final operating temperature.

In order to generate heat, the evaporator ceramic 6 is supplied with electricity by means of the connections 5, so that a path 8 of the electric current indicated in FIG. With an electrical supply, the evaporator ceramic 6 generates heat for evaporating the substance by means of its electrical resistance. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the inhaler 1 has a device 9 for determining the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6, which is also referred to below as the temperature determining device 9. The inhaler 1 also has a control device 10 which is connected to the temperature determination device 9 in a communicative manner. The control device 10 supplies the evaporator 4 with electricity via a preferably rechargeable battery 11 of the inhaler 1 . The control device 10 is designed accordingly. The control device 10 is also designed in such a way that it supplies the evaporator 4 with electricity depending on the temperature of the evaporator 4 or the evaporator ceramic 6 determined by means of the temperature determination device 9 . The control device 10 is designed accordingly. The electrical supply is expediently such that the evaporator ceramic 6 has a temperature in the operating range. The homogeneous generation of heat in the evaporator ceramic 6 leads to a homogeneous heat distribution or temperature in the evaporator ceramic. This makes it possible to use a locally determined temperature and/or an average temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6 as the temperature prevailing in the entire evaporator ceramic 6 . In this way, a controlled and determinable evaporation of the substance takes place in a simple and reliable manner. It is thus also possible, in particular, to reliably vaporize a predetermined quantity of the substance to be vaporized and thus a predetermined dose of the substance.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the temperature determination device 9 has a temperature sensor 12 . In particular, the temperature determining device 9 is designed as a temperature sensor 12 . In this case, the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6 is determined locally, for example a section of the evaporator ceramic 6. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the temperature is determined by means of the temperature sensor 12 without contact, in particular by means of infrared radiation.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, the temperature determination device 9 is designed to determine the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic 6 . For this purpose, the temperature determination device 9 of the exemplary embodiment shown accesses the current path 8 . To determine the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic 6 , the temperature determination device 9 has a correspondingly designed device 13 , which is also referred to below as a resistance measuring device 13 . Due to the pronounced dependency of the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic 6 on the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6, the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6 can thus be determined simply and reliably by determining the electrical resistance.

The inhaler 1 has a housing 14, which is shown in FIGS. Furthermore, the inhaler 1 , in particular the housing 14 , has an inlet opening 17 for letting air into the inhaler 1 . In addition, the battery 11 is accommodated in the housing 14 .

The vaporizer 4 can be supplied in such a way that the substance received in the receiving structure 7 vaporizes completely. Alternatively, the evaporator 4 can be supplied in such a way that part of the substance accommodated in the receiving structure 7 evaporates. In this case, the substance is vaporized in several steps. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the inhaler 1 also has, purely by way of example, a container 3 which is used to store evaporating substance. The receiving structure 7 can be refilled with substance via the container 3 . This preferably takes place after the substance previously received in the receiving structure 7 has completely evaporated.

In the exemplary embodiments shown and preferably, the evaporator device 2 and the container 3 form a unit 18 which is accommodated in the inhaler 1, in particular in the housing 14, in an exchangeable manner. The container 3 of the illustrated embodiments is closed. This means that the container 3 cannot be refilled with substance without the container 3 being damaged, for example being drilled open, broken and the like.

Alternatively, it is possible for the container 3 to be held firmly in the inhaler 1 and to be refillable. In this case, the evaporator device 2 can also be accommodated permanently in the inhaler 1 .

Alternatively, it is possible for the container 3 to be exchangeable. In this case, the evaporator device 2 can also be accommodated permanently in the inhaler 1 .

The inhaler 1 of the exemplary embodiments shown is designed in such a way that the control device 10 communicates with the container 3 and/or the vaporizer device 2 in order in particular to recognize and/or to have the substance to be vaporized and/or the received unit 18 recognized and/or transmitted. For this purpose, the control device 10 has only a communication interface 19 which is also referred to below as the control device communication interface 19 . In the exemplary embodiments shown, the unit 18 also has a communication interface 20 which is also referred to below as the unit communication interface 20 . controller When the unit 18 is in the inhaler 1, the communication interface 19 and the unit communication interface 20 communicate, preferably wirelessly, with one another. The unit communication interface 20 and the control device 10, in particular the control device communication interface 19, are designed in such a way that the control device 10 recognizes the unit 18 and/or the substance and/or receives it. For this purpose, the unit communication interface 20 can contain appropriate information. If no approved unit 18 and/or no unit 18 of a predetermined type is accommodated in the inhaler 1, the control device 10 is expediently designed in such a way that it prevents the inhaler 1 from being operated. Likewise, the control device 10 can be designed in such a way that it prevents operation of the inhaler 1 if there is no communication with the unit 18 .

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Claims

Expectations

1. Inhaler (1) for inhaling an aerosol,

- with an evaporator device (2) which has an evaporator (4) for evaporating a substance,

- wherein the evaporator (4) has an electrically conductive evaporator ceramic (6) with a receiving structure (7), so that the substance to be vaporized is received in the receiving structure (7) during operation,

- wherein the evaporator ceramic (6) is designed in such a way that it generates heat homogeneously during operation with an electrical supply for evaporating the substance accommodated in the receiving structure (7),

- with a temperature determination device (9), which is designed in such a way that it determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic (6) during operation,

- with a control device (10), which is connected in communication with the temperature determination device (9) and is designed in such a way that it supplies the evaporator ceramic (6) with electricity depending on the temperature of the evaporator ceramic (6) determined by the temperature determination device (9).

2. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) has two electrical connections (5) for electrical

Having supply of the evaporator (4), wherein an electrical current path

(8) for the electrical supply of the evaporator (4) through the connections

(5) and runs through the evaporator ceramic (6). 3. The inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature determination device (9) is designed such that it determines an electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic (6) and determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic (6) from the resistance.

4. The inhaler according to claim 3, characterized in that the temperature determination device (9) is designed in such a way that it determines the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic (6) in the current path (8).

5. The inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the temperature determination device (9) has a temperature sensor (12) which determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic (6) during operation.

6. The inhaler according to claim 5, characterized in that the temperature sensor (12) is designed such that it determines the temperature of the evaporator ceramic (6) locally.

7. The inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the evaporator device (2) is accommodated in the inhaler (1) in an exchangeable manner. 8. The inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inhaler (1) has a container (3) for storing the substance.

9. The inhaler according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the container (3) and the evaporator device (2) are designed as a unit (18) which is accommodated in the inhaler (1) in an exchangeable manner.

10. The inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the receiving structure (7) has pores in the evaporator ceramic (6).

11. The inhaler according to claim 10, characterized in that the receiving structure (7) consists of pores in the evaporator ceramic (6).