WO2022194916A1 - Inhaler - Google Patents
Inhaler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2022194916A1 WO2022194916A1 PCT/EP2022/056790 EP2022056790W WO2022194916A1 WO 2022194916 A1 WO2022194916 A1 WO 2022194916A1 EP 2022056790 W EP2022056790 W EP 2022056790W WO 2022194916 A1 WO2022194916 A1 WO 2022194916A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- evaporator
- ceramic
- inhaler
- temperature
- substance
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 163
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 77
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 40
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 abstract description 49
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 10
- 239000006200 vaporizer Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000004480 active ingredient Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 4
- 238000012864 cross contamination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000013543 active substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005245 sintering Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000020169 heat generation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001247 metal acetylides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011224 oxide ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052574 oxide ceramic Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- SOQBVABWOPYFQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen(2-);titanium(4+) Chemical class [O-2].[O-2].[Ti+4] SOQBVABWOPYFQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910010271 silicon carbide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N titanium oxide Inorganic materials [Ti]=O OGIDPMRJRNCKJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- -1 titanium oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M15/00—Inhalators
- A61M15/06—Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/44—Wicks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
- A24F40/57—Temperature control
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M11/00—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes
- A61M11/04—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
- A61M11/041—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised using heaters
- A61M11/042—Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised using heaters electrical
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/02—General characteristics of the apparatus characterised by a particular materials
- A61M2205/0211—Ceramics
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/02—General characteristics of the apparatus characterised by a particular materials
- A61M2205/0233—Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/27—General characteristics of the apparatus preventing use
- A61M2205/276—General characteristics of the apparatus preventing use preventing unwanted use
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/33—Controlling, regulating or measuring
- A61M2205/3368—Temperature
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/36—General characteristics of the apparatus related to heating or cooling
- A61M2205/3653—General characteristics of the apparatus related to heating or cooling by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/50—General characteristics of the apparatus with microprocessors or computers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/75—General characteristics of the apparatus with filters
- A61M2205/7536—General characteristics of the apparatus with filters allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/82—Internal energy supply devices
- A61M2205/8206—Internal energy supply devices battery-operated
Definitions
- 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.
- a substance for example a liquid or a powder
- the vaporizer device usually includes a receiving structure for receiving the substance to be vaporized and an electrical vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the evaporator ceramic generates heat homogeneously when supplied with electricity by means of its electrical conductivity.
- 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.
- the evaporator ceramic is electrically conductive per se.
- Ceramics made of metal oxides such as titanium oxides, or metal carbides and silicon carbides.
- 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.
- doped ceramics can be used, which become electrically conductive through doping.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the temperature determination device can determine the resistance of the evaporator ceramic separately from the electrical supply of the evaporator ceramic.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the inhaler with a container for storing a substance to be vaporized.
- the receiving structure can be refilled with substance if necessary.
- 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.
- 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.
- a predetermined dose of the substance is fed to the evaporator ceramic, which is then vaporized.
- 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.
- the evaporator device in particular the evaporator ceramic
- the evaporator device 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.
- the evaporator device can be designed for one-time use, ie it can be exchangeable.
- the evaporator device can be designed in the manner of a tablet.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the pores for taking up the substance are advantageously not introduced separately, in particular not subsequently, into the evaporator ceramic.
- 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.
- 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.
- the evaporator ceramic has pores with an average size between 0.05 ⁇ m and 50 ⁇ m.
- 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.
- the drop-shaped particles also referred to below as droplets, in the pores remain.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the liquid evaporates more quickly in this way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 ⁇ m and 25 ⁇ m, preferably between 0.15 ⁇ m and 10 ⁇ m, particularly preferably between 0.2 ⁇ m and 5 ⁇ m.
- the average pore size is between 0.1 ⁇ m and 25 ⁇ m, preferably between 0.15 ⁇ m and 10 ⁇ m, particularly preferably between 0.2 ⁇ m and 5 ⁇ m.
- the inhaler in particular the vaporizer, can be used to vaporize any substance.
- the inhaler for evaporating substances containing medicinal active ingredients.
- 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.
- solid substances are conceivable.
- the substance is advantageously liquid.
- 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.
- 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.
- Fig. 2 is an isometric view of an evaporator device
- FIG. 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.
- the inhaler 1 has an evaporator device 2, as is shown separately in FIG. 2, for example.
- the evaporator device 2 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.
- the evaporator device 2 has an electrical evaporator 4 for evaporating the substance.
- 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.
- the evaporator 4 has an electrically conductive ceramic 6, which is also referred to as evaporator ceramic 6 below.
- the evaporator 4 consists of Evaporator ceramic 6.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the evaporator ceramic 6 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.
- 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.
- the temperature determination device 9 has a temperature sensor 12 .
- the temperature determining device 9 is designed as a temperature sensor 12 .
- the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6 is determined locally, for example a section of the evaporator ceramic 6.
- the temperature is determined by means of the temperature sensor 12 without contact, in particular by means of infrared radiation.
- the temperature determination device 9 is designed to determine the electrical resistance of the evaporator ceramic 6 .
- the temperature determination device 9 of the exemplary embodiment shown accesses the current path 8 .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the container 3 it is possible for the container 3 to be held firmly in the inhaler 1 and to be refillable.
- the evaporator device 2 can also be accommodated permanently in the inhaler 1 .
- the container 3 it is possible for the container 3 to be exchangeable.
- 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.
- the control device 10 has only a communication interface 19 which is also referred to below as the control device communication interface 19 .
- 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.
- 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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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
Inhalator inhaler
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft einen Inhalator zum Inhalieren eines Aerosols, welcher eine Verdampfereinrichtung zum Verdampfen einer Substanz und somit Erzeugen des Aerosols aufweist. 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.
Mit einem Inhalator wird ein Aerosol zum Inhalieren erzeugt. Zu diesem Zweck wird eine Substanz, beispielsweise eine Flüssigkeit oder ein Pulver in einer Verdampfereinrichtung verdampft und somit ein Aerosol erzeugt und ausgegeben. Die Verdampfereinrichtung umfasst gewöhnlich eine Aufnahmestruktur zum Aufnehmen der zu verdampfenden Substanz sowie einen elektrischen Verdampfer zum Verdampfen der Flüssigkeit. 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.
Aus der DE 102016 120803 A1 ist ein Inhalator mit einer Verdampfereinrichtung bekannt. Die Verdampfereinrichtung weist einen Verdampfer aus einer dotierten und elektrisch leitfähigen Keramik auf. Die Keramik ist mit geregelten und eine vorgegebene Orientierung aufweisenden Mikrokanälen versehen, durch welche Flüssigkeit zwecks Verdampfens strömt. Die Keramik erzeugt bei elektrischer Versorgung Wärme, um die darin aufgenommene Flüssigkeit zu verdampfen. Die Verdampfereinrichtung weist ferner eine Durchflusssteuerungseinrichtung auf, welche den Durchfluss der Flüssigkeit durch die Mikrokanäle steuert. Der Inhalator weist ferner eine Steuereinrichtung sowie einen Sensor auf. Der Sensor erkennt, wenn ein Nutzer am Inhalator zieht, um zu inhalieren. Die Steuereinrichtung versorgt bei einer solchen Erkennung den Verdampfer elektrisch. 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.
Aus der WO 2004022242 A1 ist ein Inhalator bekannt, welcher eine Verdampfungseinrichtung mit einer beheizten Einzelkapillare aufweist. Der Inhalator weist ferner einen Behälter zum Bevorraten einer Flüssigkeit auf, welche zur Einzelkapillare strömen kann. Die Strömung der Flüssigkeit zur Einzelkapillare wird über ein Ventil geregelt.
Aus der US 202000022416 A1 ist ein Inhalator bekannt, der einen Behälter zum Bevorraten einer Flüssigkeit aufweist. Im Behälter ist ein Kolben geführt, der beim Verstellen Flüssigkeit aus dem Behälter auf einen Verdampfer bringt. Der Verdampfer erzeugt im Betrieb Wärme, um die auf den Verdampfer aufgebrachte Flüssigkeit zu verdampfen. Der Inhalator weist ferner einen Temperatursensor auf, um eine minimale Temperatur des Verdampfers zu bestimmen. 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.
Die vorliegende Erfindung beschäftigt sich mit der Aufgabe, für einen Inhalator der eingangs genannten Art eine verbesserte oder zumindest andere Ausführungsform anzugeben, welche sich insbesondere durch eine verbesserte Kontrolle der verdampften Substanz auszeichnet. 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.
Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch den Gegenstand des unabhängigen Anspruchs 1 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausführungsformen sind Gegenstand der abhängigen Ansprüche. 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.
Die vorliegende Erfindung beruht auf dem allgemeinen Gedanken, einen Inhalator mit einer Verdampfereinrichtung bereitzustellen, welche eine eine Aufnahmestruktur aufweisende elektrisch leitfähige Keramik aufweist, wobei die Aufnahmestruktur der Aufnahme einer zu verdampfenden Substanz dient, und wobei die elektrisch leitfähige Keramik zugleich der Erzeugung von Wärme zum Verdampfen der in der Aufnahmestruktur aufgenommenen Substanz dient, wobei die elektrische Versorgung der Keramik abhängig von einer mittels einer Einrichtung bestimmten Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik erfolgt. Die elektrisch leitfähige Keramik erzeugt dabei im Betrieb bei elektrischer Versorgung homogen Wärme. Die homogene Wärmeerzeugung der Verdampferkeramik führt zu einer homogenen Temperatur bzw. einer homogenen Wärmeverteilung im Volumen der Verdampferkeramik und folglich in der Aufnahmestruktur. Dies führt zu einer gleichmäßigen Verdampfung der Substanz in der gesamten Aufnahmestruktur.
Die homogene Temperatur der Keramik erlaubt es ferner, die Temperatur der Keramik mittels der Einrichtung, welche nachfolgend auch als Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung bezeichnet wird, sehr einfach und zuverlässig zu bestimmen. Somit erfolgt bei einer einfachen Umsetzung des Inhalators eine einfache und zuverlässige Kontrolle der Verdampfungsparameter. Dies erlaubt es insbesondere, eine vorgegebene Menge der zu verdampfenden Substanz und somit eine vorgegebene Dosis der Substanz zu verdampfen. 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.
Dem Erfindungsgedanken entsprechend weist der Inhalator die Verdampfereinrichtung mit dem Verdampfer auf. Der Verdampfer umfasst die elektrisch leitfähige Keramik, die nachfolgend auch als Verdampferkeramik bezeichnet wird. Die Verdampferkeramik dient zugleich dem Aufnehmen und Speichern der zu verdampfenden Substanz und dem Erzeugen von Wärme zum Verdampfen der Substanz. Das Speichern der Substanz erfolgt mittels der Aufnahmestruktur der Verdampferkeramik. Die Verdampferkeramik weist also die Aufnahmestruktur auf, in welcher im Betrieb die zu verdampfende Substanz aufgenommen ist. Die Verdampferkeramik ist derart ausgestaltet, dass sie mittels ihrer elektrisch leitfähigen Eigenschaft im Betrieb bei elektrischer Versorgung in der Verdampferkeramik homogen Wärme erzeugt, um die in der Aufnahmestruktur aufgenommene Substanz zu verdampfen. Der Inhalator weist ferner die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung zum Bestimmen der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik sowie eine mit der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung kommunizierend verbundene Steuereinrichtung auf. DieAccording 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
Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung ist derart ausgestaltet, dass sie im Betrieb die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik bestimmt. Die Steuereinrichtung ist derart ausgestaltet, dass sie die Verdampferkeramik abhängig von der mittels der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung bestimmten Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik elektrisch versorgt.
Zur elektrischen Versorgung des Verdampfers, insbesondere der Verdampferkeramik, weist die Verdampfereinrichtung zweckmäßig zwei elektrische Anschlüsse auf. Zwischen den beiden elektrischen Anschlüssen sowie durch die Verdampferkeramik verläuft ein Pfad des elektrischen Stroms, nachfolgend auch Strom pfad genannt. 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.
Der Verdampfer, insbesondere die Verdampferkeramik, ist für den Betrieb in einem thermischen Betriebsbereich ausgelegt, der von einer unteren Betriebsanfangstemperatur und einer oberen Betriebsendtemperatur begrenzt ist. Mit anderen Worten, zum Verdampfen der Substanz erzeugt die Verdampferkeramik bei elektrischer Versorgung Wärme im Betriebsbereich und somit zwischen der Betriebsanfangstemperatur und der Betriebsendtemperatur. Die Steuereinrichtung ist dabei zweckmäßig derart ausgestaltet, dass sie die Verdampferkeramik derart elektrisch versorgt, dass die Verdampferkeramik eine Temperatur im Betriebsbereich aufweist. 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.
Die Verdampferkeramik erzeugt, wie erwähnt, bei elektrischer Versorgung mittels ihrer elektrischen Leitfähigkeit homogen Wärme. Insbesondere ist die Verdampferkeramik ein Heizwiderstand. 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.
Die Verdampferkeramik kann eine elektrisch leitfähige Keramik beliebiger Art sein, sofern sie die Aufnahmestruktur aufweist und bei elektrische Versorgung, insbesondere beim Anliegen einer elektrischen Spannung in einem vorgegebenen Bereich, homogen Wärme im Betriebsbereich erzeugt. 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.
Vorstellbar ist es, dass die Verdampferkeramik per se elektrisch leitfähig ist. It is conceivable that the evaporator ceramic is electrically conductive per se.
Hierzu zählen beispielsweise Keramiken aus Metalloxiden, wie Titan-Oxide, oder Metallcarbide sowie Silizium-Carbide. Ebenso können Komposit-Keramiken zum Einsatz kommen, welche elektrisch leitfähige und elektrisch nicht leitfähige Netzwerke unterschiedlicher Werkstoffe aufweisen, wobei die leitfähigen
Netzwerke zweckmäßig homogen in der Keramik verteilt sind. Beispiele für solche Komposit-Keramiken sind solche mit Metalloxiden unterschiedlicher Oxidationsstufe. Auch können Mischoxid-Keramiken zum Einsatz kommen, welche durch Vermengen unterschiedlicher Ausgangwerkstoffe hergestellt werden, wobei beim Herstellen der Keramik, typischerweise beim Sintern, durch chemische Reaktionen ein neuer Werkstoff entsteht. Beispiele für die Ausgangswerkstoffe sind unterschiedliche Metalloxide. Ferner können dotierte Keramiken zum Einsatz kommen, welche durch Dotierung elektrisch leitfähig werden. Selbstverständlich können auch beliebige Kombinationen der genannten Keramiken zum Einsatz kommen, sofern die Verdampferkeramik eine elektrische leitfähige Keramik mit der Aufnahmestruktur ist, welche im Betrieb homogen Wärme erzeugt. 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.
Die Verdampferkeramik ist vorteilhaft einstückig und zusammenhängend ausgebildet. The evaporator ceramic is advantageously formed in one piece and coherently.
Denkbar ist es auch, die Verdampferkeramik zwei- oder mehrteilig auszubilden. It is also conceivable to form the evaporator ceramic in two or more parts.
Bevorzugt sind Ausführungsformen, bei denen der Verdampfer aus der Verdampferkeramik besteht, also ausschließlich die Verdampferkeramik aufweist. Dies führt zu einer vereinfachten Herstellung der Verdampfereinrichtung und zugleich einer genaueren und/oder einfachen Kontrolle der Verdampfungsparameter, insbesondere des Gesamtvolumens zur Aufnahme der zu verdampfenden Flüssigkeit und der erzeugten Wärme. 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.
Bevorzugt sind Ausführungsformen, bei denen die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung einen elektrischen Widerstand der Verdampferkeramik ermittelt und aus dem ermittelten Widerstand die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik bestimmt. Entsprechend ist die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung ausgestaltet. Insbesondere weist die
Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung eine Widerstandsmesseinrichtung auf. Aufgrund der ausgeprägten Abhängigkeit des elektrischen Widerstands der Verdampferkeramik von der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik kann somit die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik einfach und präzise bestimmt werden. Hierbei entspricht die bestimmte Temperatur aufgrund der homogen Temperatur in der Verdampferkeramik zumindest im Wesentlichen der Temperatur in der gesamten Verdampferkeramik. Somit erfolgt eine einfache und zuverlässige Bestimmung der Temperatur und elektrische Versorgung der Verdampferkeramik. 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.
Prinzipiell kann die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung den Widerstand der Verdampferkeramik von der elektrischen Versorgung der Verdampferkeramik separat ermitteln. Zu diesem Zweck können an der Verdampferkeramik für die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung vorgesehene elektrische Verbindungen vorgesehen sein. 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.
Bevorzugt erfolgt die Ermittlung des elektrischen Widerstands der Verdampferkeramik im Strompfad. Insbesondere kann der elektrische Widerstand mittels der Anschlüsse erfolgen. Daraus resultiert eine einfache Umsetzung der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung und somit des Inhalators. 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.
Alternativ oder zusätzlich, vorteilhaft alternativ, ist es bevorzugt, wenn die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung einen Temperatursensor zum Bestimmen der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik aufweist. Der Temperatursensor kann berührungslos ausgestaltet sein und die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik beispielsweise mittels Infrarotstrahlung bestimmen. Der Temperatursensor kann ebenso die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik durch physischen Kontakt ausgestaltet sein. Selbstverständlich sind auch Kombinationen der genannten Ausgestaltungen möglich.
Bevorzugt ist die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung zur lokalen Bestimmung der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik ausgelegt bzw. ausgestaltet. Das heißt, dass die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung zur Bestimmung der Temperatur eines Teilabschnitts der Verdampferkeramik, insbesondere eines Teilabschnitts der Außenfläche der Verdampferkeramik, ausgelegt ist. Somit erfolgt eine einfache Bestimmung der Temperatur. Zugleich erfolgt somit aufgrund der homogenen Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik eine zuverlässige Bestimmung der Temperatur der gesamten Verdampferkeramik. 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.
Die Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere die Verdampferkeramik, kann prinzipiell fester Bestandteil des Inhalators sein. The evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, can in principle be an integral part of the inhaler.
Bevorzugt ist die Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere die Verdampferkeramik, austauschbar im Inhalator aufgenommen. Somit kann für verschiedene Substanzen eine jeweils zugehörige Verdampfereinrichtung zum Einsatz kommen. Somit werden insbesondere Querkontaminationen zwischen unterschiedlichen Substanzen vermieden oder Querkontaminationen zumindest reduziert. 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.
Vorstellbar ist es, den Inhalator mit einem Behälter zum Bevorraten einer zu verdampfenden Substanz zu versehen. Somit kann die Aufnahmestruktur bei Bedarf mit Substanz nachgefüllt werden. 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.
Bevorzugt ist es, wenn der Behälter abgeschlossen, also nicht zerstörungsfrei mit Flüssigkeit nachfüllbar, ist. Dies führt insbesondere zur Vermeidung von Querkontaminationen von unterschiedlichen Flüssigkeiten und/oder verhindert die Verwendung nicht vorgegebener und/oder nicht zugelassener Flüssigkeiten, oder erschwert diese Verwendung zumindest. 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.
Bevorzugt bilden die Verdampfereinrichtung und der Behälter eine Einheit, die gemeinsam austauschbar im Inhalator aufgenommen sind. Somit können mit
demselben Inhalator unterschiedliche Substanzen und/oder vorgegebene Maximaldosen einer Substanz inhaliert werden. Zudem werden somit Querkontaminationen vermieden oder zumindest reduziert. 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.
Der Inhalator lässt sich sowohl kontinuierlich als auch diskontinuierlich betrieben. Entsprechend ist der Inhalator, insbesondere die Verdampfereinrichtung, ausgestaltet. The inhaler can be operated both continuously and discontinuously. The inhaler, in particular the evaporator device, is designed accordingly.
Beim kontinuierlichen Betrieb wird die Verdampferkeramik für zumindest eine begrenzte Dauer kontinuierlich mit Substanz versorgt und verdampft diese Substanz zumindest teilweise. Die Versorgung mit der Substanz kann durch eine dauerhaft fluidische Verbindung der Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere der Verdampferkeramik, mit einem die Substanz bevorratenden Behälter, realisiert sein, so dass Substanz kontinuierlich in die Verdampferkeramik nachströmt. Die Verdampfung erfolgt dabei solange die Verdampfereinrichtung elektrisch versorgt wird und im Betriebsbereich betrieben ist. Die verdampfte Menge der Substanz kann dabei bei Bedarf über die Betriebsdauer der Verdampfereinrichtung im Betriebsbereich kontrolliert werden. 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.
Beim diskontinuierlichen Betrieb wird der Verdampferkeramik eine vorgegebene Dosis der Substanz zugeführt, welche dann verdampft wird. Insbesondere ist beim diskontinuierlichen Betrieb die Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere die Verdampferkeramik, nicht kontinuierlich mit der Substanz versorgt. Somit lässt sich die verdampfte Menge insbesondere über das Volumen der Verdampferkeramik und/oder die in der Verdampferkeramik aufgenommene Menge der Substanz kontrollieren. 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.
Beim diskontinuierlichen Betrieb kann der Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere der Verdampferkeramik, Substanz zugeführt werden, nachdem die zuvor in der Verdampferkeramik aufgenommene Substanz zumindest teilweise verdampft
und/oder die Verdampfereinrichtung nicht im Betriebsbereich betrieben, insbesondere außer Betrieb, ist. Die Verdampfereinrichtung, insbesondere die Verdampferkeramik, ist also nachfüllbar. 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.
Beim diskontinuierlichen Betrieb ist es ebenso vorstellbar, die Verdampfereinrichtung bereits mit einer Dosis der Substanz zu bevorraten, die im Betrieb verdampft wird. Die Verdampfereinrichtung kann hierbei für den einmaligen Gebrauch ausgestaltet, also austauschbar sein. Insbesondere kann die Verdampfereinrichtung in der Art einer Tablette ausgestaltet sein. 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.
Selbstverständlich sind auch Mischbetriebe aus diskontinuierlichem und kontinuierlichem Betrieb möglich. Of course, mixed operations consisting of discontinuous and continuous operation are also possible.
Die Aufnahmestruktur ist vorteilhaft integral in der Verdampferkeramik ausgebildet und/oder ausgeformt. The receiving structure is advantageously formed and/or formed integrally in the evaporator ceramic.
Die Aufnahmestruktur ist zweckmäßig homogen in der Verdampferkeramik verteilt. The receiving structure is expediently distributed homogeneously in the evaporator ceramic.
Vorstellbar ist es, die Aufnahmestruktur durch nachträgliche Bearbeitung in die Verdampferkeramik einzubringen. Insbesondere ist es denkbar, in die Verdampferkeramik Kanäle, beispielsweise Mikrokanäle auszuformen, welche Bestandteil der Aufnahmestruktur sind oder die Aufnahmestruktur bilden. 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.
Bevorzugt weist die Aufnahmestruktur Poren in der Verdampferkeramik auf. Besonders bevorzugt besteht die Aufnahmestruktur aus Poren, ist also eine Porenstruktur. The receiving structure preferably has pores in the evaporator ceramic. The receiving structure particularly preferably consists of pores, ie it is a pore structure.
Vorteilhaft sind dabei Ausführungsformen, bei denen die Aufnahmestruktur Poren der Verdampferkeramik aufweist, bevorzugt aus den Poren der Verdampferkeramik besteht, und die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung derart
ausgestaltet ist, dass sie den elektrischen Widerstand der Verdampferkeramik ermittelt und aus dem Widerstand die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik bestimmt. Somit fugiert die Verdampferkeramik also zugleich als Speicher für die Substanz, als Heizer zum Verdampfen der Substanz und mittels des zur Bestimmung der Temperatur eingesetzten Widerstands als thermischer "Sensor" zur eigenen Temperaturbestimmung. 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.
Die Poren der Verdampferkeramik sind vorteilhaft bei der Herstellung der Verdampferkeramik, welche beispielsweise mittels Sintern erfolgen kann, ausgebildet. Mit anderen Worten, die Poren zum Aufnehmen der Substanz sind vorteilhaft nicht gesondert, insbesondere nicht nachträglich, in die Verdampferkeramik eingebracht. Somit erfolgt die Verwendung einer intrinsischen, durch die Herstellung gegebenen, Eigenschaft der Verdampferkeramik zum Speichern der zu verdampfenden Substanz. Dies führt zu einer einfachen und kostengünstigen Herstellung der Verdampferkeramik und somit der Verdampfereinrichtung. 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.
Zudem lässt sich durch die Herstellung der Verdampferkeramik ein durch die Poren definiertes Gesamtvolumen der Verdampferkeramik und somit Volumen der aufnehmbaren Substanz variieren und vorgeben. Dies führt zu einer weiteren, einfach ausgestalteten Kontrolle der Verdampfungsparameter. 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.
Vorteilhaft ist es, wenn die Verdampferkeramik Poren mit einer mittleren Größe zwischen 0,05 pm und 50 pm aufweist. Diese mittleren Porengrößen führen bei einer Flüssigkeit als Substanz zu einem derartigen Verhältnis zwischen der Oberfläche und dem Volumen der jeweiligen Pore, dass diese kapillaren Kräfte aufweisen, welche die gravitationsbedingt und/oder druckbedingt auf ein in dem Volumen aufgenommenes tropfenförmiges Teilchen der Flüssigkeit wirkenden Kräfte ausgleichen, vorzugsweise überwiegen. Daraus resultiert, dass die tropfenförmigen Teilchen, nachfolgend auch als Tröpfchen bezeichnet, in den
Poren verbleiben. Folglich ist ein Abfließen der Tröpfchen und folglich der Flüssigkeit aus der Verdampferkeramik verhindert oder zumindest erheblich reduziert. Somit lassen sich in der Verdampferkeramik auch niederviskose Flüssigkeiten aufnehmen und speichern. Somit ist es mit der Verdampferkeramik also möglich, eine größere Variabilität an Flüssigkeiten unterschiedlicher Viskosität aufzunehmen und zu speichern, ohne dass die Flüssigkeiten aus der Verdampferkeramik abfließen. In der Folge können die Flüssigkeiten kostengünstiger und in einem breiteren Spektrum bereitgestellt werden. Insbesondere können somit in den Flüssigkeiten aufgenommene Wirkstoffe vereinfacht und/oder mit einer genaueren Dosis bereitgestellt werden. Somit lassen sich die Verdampferkeramik und die zugehörige Verdampfereinrichtung vereinfacht für eine kontrollierbare Inhalation besagter Wirkstoffe und somit eine kontrollierbare und/oder vorgegebene Dosierung der Wirkstoffe einsetzen. Die vorstehend beschriebenen kapillaren Kräfte führen ferner dazu, dass sich die Verdampferkeramik bei einer hydraulischen Verbindung mit der zur verdampfenden Flüssigkeit ohne weitere Einwirkung, wie beispielsweise ein aktives Pumpen der Flüssigkeit in die Verdampferkeramik, mit der Flüssigkeit vollsaugt. Insgesamt können somit gesonderte Abdichtungen der Verdampferkeramik entfallen oder zumindest reduziert werden und/oder Einrichtungen zum aktiven Einbringen der Flüssigkeit in die Keramik entfallen. Somit lassen sich sowohl die Verdampferkeramik als auch eine zugehörige Verdampfereinrichtung einfach und kostengünstig umsetzen. Somit erfolgt also neben einer Erhöhung der Einsatzmöglichkeiten der Verdampferkeramik sowie der zugehörigen Verdampfereinrichtung eine vereinfachte Umsetzung derselben. 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.
Ein weiterer Vorteil der besagten mittleren Porengrößen ist darin zu sehen, dass diese zu einer Vergrößerung der mit der Verdampferkeramik in Kontakt stehenden Fläche der Tröpfchen führen. Mit anderen Worten, eine vergrößerte Fläche der Verdampferkeramik überträgt zum Verdampfen der Flüssigkeit Wärme auf die Tröpfchen. Dies führt zu einer gleichmäßigeren Verdampfung der Flüssigkeit und
somit einer verbesserten Kontrolle über die Verdampfung. Zudem kommt es auf diese Weise zu einer schnelleren Verdampfung der Flüssigkeit. 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.
Unter mittlere Porengröße ist vorliegend insbesondere das Verhältnis zwischen dem vierfachen Volumen und der Fläche der Poren, also 4V/A, wie dies insbesondere in der Norm ISO 15901 angegeben ist, zu verstehen. 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.
Wie vorstehend beschrieben, kann die Verdampferkeramik insbesondere zur Aufnahme von niederviskosen Flüssigkeiten zum Einsatz kommen. Unter niederviskose Flüssigkeiten sind dabei insbesondere Flüssigkeiten zu verstehen, welche eine Viskosität von 45 mPas und kleiner aufweisen. 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.
Bei der Flüssigkeit kann es sich um eine beliebige Flüssigkeit handeln. Insbesondere ist es möglich medizinische Wirkstoffe enthaltende Flüssigkeiten einzusetzen. The liquid can be any liquid. In particular, it is possible to use liquids containing medicinal active ingredients.
Bevorzugt ist es, wenn die Porengrößen der Poren der Porenstruktur zumindest größtenteils innerhalb der mittleren Porengröße liegen. Das heißt insbesondere, dass maximal 10 % der Poren Porengrößen aufweisen, welche größer sind als das 4-fache der mittleren Porengröße. Dies führt dazu, dass Poren mit Porengrößen oberhalb der mittleren Porengröße reduziert, vorzugsweise nicht, vorhanden sind. In der Folge sind die Auswirkungen von Poren mit Porengrößen oberhalb der mittleren Porengröße auf das Gesamtverhalten der Verdampferkeramik und folglich die Auswirkungen von Tröpfchen mit größeren Volumen in diesen Poren auf das Gesamtverhalten der in der Verdampferkeramik aufgenommenen Flüssigkeit vernachlässigbar oder zumindest reduziert. Somit lässt sich insbesondere verhindern, dass die Flüssigkeit aus der Verdampferkeramik abfließt. Dies führt ferner dazu, dass die in den Poren aufgenommenen Tröpfchen entsprechen der Größenverteilung der Poren im Wesentlichen gleiche Volumen aufweisen. Dies führt zu einer homogenen
Verteilung der in der Verdampferkeramik aufgenommenen Flüssigkeit über das Volumen der Keramik. Darüber hinaus lässt sich die Flüssigkeit auf diese Weise homogener und/oder kontrollierter verdampfen. 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.
Als vorteilhaft gelten Ausführungsformen, bei denen die mittlere Porengröße zwischen 0,1 pm und 25 pm, bevorzugt zwischen 0,15 pm und 10 pm, besonders bevorzugt zwischen 0,2 pm und 5 pm beträgt. Auf diese Weise kommt es zu einer vorteilhaften Wechselwirkung zwischen der in den Poren aufgenommenen Tröpfchen, den kapillaren Kräften sowie der Verteilung der Flüssigkeit im Volumen der Verdampferkeramik, welche zu einer verbesserten Aufnahme der Flüssigkeit in der Verdampferkeramik sowie einer verbesserten Verdampfung der in der Verdampferkeramik aufgenommenen Flüssigkeit führen. 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.
Der Inhalator, insbesondere der Verdampfer, kann prinzipiell zum Verdampfen beliebiger Substanzen zum Einsatz kommen. Insbesondere ist es möglich, den Inhalator zum Verdampfen von medizinischen Wirkstoffen enthaltenden Substanzen einzusetzen. Insbesondere erlauben die definierte und/oder kontrollierbare Dosierung eine entsprechend genaue Dosierung der Wirkstoffzuführung zu einem Patienten. 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.
Bei der Substanz handelt es sich um eine solche, die durch Erhitzen verdampft. Die Substanz ist also verdampfbar. Denkbar sind insbesondere feste Substanzen. The substance is one that vaporizes when heated. The substance is therefore vaporizable. In particular, solid substances are conceivable.
Die Substanz ist vorteilhaft flüssig. Insbesondere ist die Substanz eine Flüssigkeit. Denkbar sind sowohl zähflüssige als auch dünnflüssige Flüssigkeiten, also Flüssigkeiten mit unterschiedlichen Viskositäten. 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.
Bevorzugt handelt es sich bei dem Inhalator um einen mobilen und händisch tragbaren Inhalator, der also mitgetragen werden kann. Der Inhalator kann
bevorzugt von einem Nutzer händisch umgriffen und getragen werden. Entsprechend ist der Inhalator hinsichtlich seiner Abmessungen ausgebildet. 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.
Bevorzugt weist der Inhalator eine Batterie, vorzugsweise eine wiederaufladbare Batterie, zur elektrischen Versorgung der Verdampferkeramik auf. Dabei ist die Steuereinrichtung zweckmäßig derart ausgestaltet, dass sie die Verdampferkeramik mittels der Batterie elektrisch versorgt. 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.
Vorteilhaft ist die Steuereinrichtung mit der Verdampfereinrichtung und/oder mit dem Behälter derart kommunizierend verbunden, dass die Steuereinrichtung die im Behälter bevorratete bzw. in der Aufnahmestruktur aufgenommene Substanz übermittelt bekommt und/oder erkennt. Somit ist es insbesondere möglich, für unterschiedliche Substanzen eine zugehörige elektrische Versorgung der Verdampfereinrichtung vorzunehmen. Ferner ist es somit möglich, das Verdampfen von nicht zugelassenen und/oder freigegebenen Substanzen zu verhindern. Ebenso ist es somit möglich, einen Betrieb des Inhalators, insbesondere eine elektrische Versorgung der Verdampfungseinrichtung zum Verdampfen der Flüssigkeit, lediglich dann zuzulassen, wenn vorgegebene und/oder zugelassene Behälter und/oder Verdampfungseinrichtungen im Inhalators aufgenommen sind. Entsprechend ist die Steuereinrichtung ausgestaltet. Somit ist es also insbesondere möglich, einen Missbrauch des Inhalators zu verhindern. 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.
Die Kommunikation zwischen der Steuereinrichtung und dem Behälter und/oder der Verdampfereinrichtung ist vorteilhaft über entsprechende Kommunikationsschnittstellen realisiert. Die Steuereinrichtung weist also eine Steuereinrichtung-Kommunikationsschnittstelle auf, die kommunizierend mit einer Behälter-Kommunikationsschnittstelle des Behälters und/oder mit einer Verdampfer-Kommunikationsschnittstelle der Verdampfereinrichtung verbunden ist.
Die Kommunikation kann hierbei beliebig erfolgen. Vorstellbar ist eine kabelgebundene Kommunikation. Bevorzugt ist eine kabellose Kommunikation. 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.
Bevorzugt sind Ausführungsformen, bei denen die Einheit mit dem Behälter und der Verdampfereinrichtung eine gemeinsame Kommunikationsschnittstelle zur Kommunikation mit der Steuereinrichtung-Kommunikationsschnittstelle auf weist. 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.
Weitere wichtige Merkmale und Vorteile der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den Unteransprüchen, aus den Zeichnungen und aus der zugehörigen Figurenbeschreibung anhand der Zeichnungen. 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.
Es versteht sich, dass die vorstehend genannten und die nachstehend noch zu erläuternden Merkmale nicht nur in der jeweils angegebenen Kombination, sondern auch in anderen Kombinationen oder in Alleinstellung verwendbar sind, ohne den Rahmen der vorliegenden Erfindung zu verlassen. 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.
Bevorzugte Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung sind in den Zeichnungen dargestellt und werden in der nachfolgenden Beschreibung näher erläutert, wobei sich gleiche Bezugszeichen auf gleiche oder ähnliche oder funktional gleiche Komponenten beziehen. 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.
Fig. 1 eine stark vereinfachte, schaltplanartige Darstellung eines Inhalators, 1 shows a greatly simplified, circuit diagram-like representation of an inhaler,
Fig. 2 eine isometrische Ansicht einer Verdampfereinrichtung desFig. 2 is an isometric view of an evaporator device
Inhalators, inhaler,
Fig. 3 eine stark vereinfachte, schaltplanartige Darstellung eines Inhalators bei einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel.
Ein Inhalator 1, wie er beispielsweise in den Figuren 1 und 3 gezeigt ist, dient dem Inhalieren eines Aerosols. Zu diesem Zweck weist der Inhalator 1 eine Verdampfereinrichtung 2 auf, wie sie beispielsweise in Figur 2 separat dargestellt ist. Mit der Verdampfereinrichtung 2 wird im Betrieb bei elektrischer Versorgung eine nicht gezeigte Substanz, beispielsweise eine Flüssigkeit, verdampft. 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.
Bei dem Inhalator 1 der gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiele handelt es sich um einen mobilen und händisch tragbaren Inhalator 1, der im Gebrauch von einem nicht gezeigten Nutzer händisch umgriffen und tragbar ist. Entsprechend ist der Inhalator 1 hinsichtlich seiner Abmessungen und seines Gewichts ausgebildet. 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.
Bei der Substanz handelt es sich beispielsweise um eine solche, welche einen medizinischen Wirkstoff beinhalten kann, sodass beim Verdampfen ein den Wirkstoff enthaltender Dampf 16 (siehe Figur 1 und Figur 3) ausgegeben wird, der von einem Nutzer inhaliert wird. 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.
Wie Figur 2 entnommen werden kann, weist die Verdampfereinrichtung 2 einen elektrischen Verdampfer 4 zum Verdampfen der Substanz auf. Zur elektrischen Versorgung des Verdampfers 4 sind in den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen zwei elektrische Anschlüsse 5, beispielsweise aus einem Metall oder einer Metalllegierung, vorgesehen. Der Verdampfer 4 weist ferner eine Aufnahmestruktur 7 zum Aufnehmen der zu verdampfenden Substanz auf. Die Aufnahmestruktur 7 weist vorteilhaft ein vorgegebenes und somit bekanntes Gesamtvolumen zum Aufnehmen von Substanz auf. Der Verdampfer 4 dient also sowohl der Aufnahme und dem Speichern der zu verdampfenden Substanz als auch der homogenen Erzeugung von Wärme im Volumen der Verdampferkeramik 6 und somit in der Aufnahmestruktur 7 zwecks Verdampfens der Substanz. Zu diesem Zweck weist der Verdampfer 4 eine elektrisch leitfähige Keramik 6 auf, welche nachfolgend auch als Verdampferkeramik 6 bezeichnet wird. In den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen besteht der Verdampfer 4 aus der
Verdampferkeramik 6. Beim in Figur 2 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel ist die Verdampferkeramik 6 reinbeispielhaft zusammenhängend und quaderförmig ausgebildet. Vorstellbar sind auch ringartige Formen der Verdampferkeramik 6 (nicht gezeigt). 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.
Prinzipiell kann die Verdampfereinrichtung 2, insbesondere der Verdampfer 4, fest im Inhalator 1 verbaut sein. Bevorzugt ist die Verdampfereinrichtung 2, insbesondere der Verdampfer 4, austauschbar im Inhalator 1 aufgenommen. 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.
Die Aufnahmestruktur 7 der gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiele weist Poren (nicht gezeigt) der Verdampferkeramik 6 auf, sodass die zu verdampfende Substanz in den Poren aufgenommen wird. Vorteilhaft besteht die Aufnahmestruktur 7 aus den Poren der Verdampferkeramik 6, ist also eine Porenstruktur. Die Verdampferkeramik 6 kann zumindest ein Metalloxid enthalten. Zum Verdampfen der Substanz ist die Verdampferkeramik 6 in einem thermischen Bereich, der nachfolgend auch als Betriebsbereich bezeichnet wird, betrieben. Der Betriebsbereich wird von einer niedrigen Temperatur, nachfolgend auch als Betriebsanfangstemperatur bezeichnet, und von einer hohen Temperatur, nachfolgend auch als Betriebsendtemperatur bezeichnet, begrenzt. Das heißt, dass das Verdampfen der zu verdampfenden und in den Poren aufgenommenen Substanz im Betriebsbereich und somit zwischen der Betriebsanfangstemperatur und der Betriebsendtemperatur erfolgt. 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.
Zum Erzeugen von Wärme wird die Verdampferkeramik 6 mittels der Anschlüsse 5 elektrisch versorgt, sodass ein in Figur 2 angedeuteter Pfad 8 des elektrischen Stroms zwischen den Anschlüssen 5 und durch den Verdampfer 4 führt, wobei der Pfad 8 nachfolgend auch als Strompfad 8 bezeichnet wird. Bei elektrischer Versorgung erzeugt die Verdampferkeramik 6 mittels ihres elektrischen Widerstands Wärme zum Verdampfen der Substanz.
Wie den Figuren 1 und 3 entnommen werden kann, weist der Inhalator 1 zur Bestimmung der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik 6 eine Einrichtung 9 auf, welche nachfolgend auch als Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 bezeichnet wird. Der Inhalator 1 weist ferner eine Steuereinrichtung 10 auf, welche kommunizierend mit der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 verbunden ist. Die Steuereinrichtung 10 versorgt den Verdampfer 4 über eine, vorzugsweise wiederaufladbare, Batterie 11 des Inhalators 1 elektrisch. Entsprechend ist die Steuereinrichtung 10 ausgestaltet. Die Steuereinrichtung 10 ist ferner derart ausgestaltet, dass sie den Verdampfer 4 abhängig von der mittels der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 bestimmten Temperatur des Verdampfers 4 bzw. der Verdampferkeramik 6 elektrisch versorgt. Entsprechend ist die Steuereinrichtung 10 ausgestaltet. Zweckmäßig erfolgt die elektrische Versorgung derart, dass die Verdampferkeramik 6 eine Temperatur im Betriebsbereich aufweist. Die homogene Wärmeerzeugung in der Verdampferkeramik 6 führt dabei zu einer homogenen Wärmeverteilung bzw. Temperatur in der Verdampferkeramik. Dies erlaubt es, eine lokal bestimmte Temperatur und/oder eine gemittelte Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik 6 als die in der gesamten Verdampferkeramik 6 herrschende Temperatur heranzuziehen. Auf diese Weise erfolgt auf einfache und zuverlässige Weise eine kontrollierte und bestimmbare Verdampfung der Substanz. Somit ist es insbesondere auch möglich, eine vorgegebene Menge der zu verdampfenden Substanz und somit eine vorgegebene Dosis der Substanz zuverlässig zu verdampfen. 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.
Beim Ausführungsbeispiel der Figur 1 weist die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 einen Temperatursensor 12 auf. Insbesondere ist die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 als Temperatursensor 12 ausgebildet. Hierbei erfolgt eine lokale Bestimmung der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik 6, beispielsweise eines Teilabschnitts der Verdampferkeramik 6. Im Ausführungsbeispiel der Figur 1 erfolgt die Bestimmung der Temperatur
mittels des Temperatursensors 12 berührungslos, insbesondere mittels Infrarotstrahlung. 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.
Beim Ausführungsbeispiel der Figur 3 ist die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 zum Ermitteln des elektrischen Widerstands der Verdampferkeramik 6 ausgestaltet. Zu diesem Zweck greift die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 des gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels auf den Strompfad 8 zu. Die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung 9 weist zum Ermitteln des elektrischen Widerstands der Verdampferkeramik 6 eine entsprechend ausgestaltete Einrichtung 13 auf, welche nachfolgend auch als Widerstandmesseinrichtung 13 bezeichnet wird. Aufgrund der ausgeprägten Abhängigkeit des elektrischen Widerstands der Verdampferkeramik 6 von der Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik 6 kann somit durch das Ermitteln des elektrischen Widerstands die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik 6 einfach und zuverlässig bestimmt werden. 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.
Der Inhalator 1 weist ein in den Figuren 1 und 3 gezeigtes Gehäuse 14 auf, in welchem die Verdampfereinrichtung 2 aufgenommen ist, und welches eine Auslassöffnung 15 zum Auslassen des mittels des Verdampfers 4 erzeugten Dampfs 16 bzw. Aerosols aufweist. Ferner weist der Inhalator 1, insbesondere das Gehäuse 14, eine Einlassöffnung 17 zum Einlassen von Luft in den Inhalator 1 auf. Zudem ist die Batterie 11 im Gehäuse 14 aufgenommen. 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 .
Die Versorgung des Verdampfers 4 kann dabei derart erfolgen, dass die in der Aufnahmestruktur 7 aufgenommene Substanz gänzlich verdampft. Alternativ kann die Versorgung des Verdampfers 4 derart erfolgen, dass ein Teil der in der Aufnahmestruktur 7 aufgenommenen Substanz verdampft. In diesem Fall wird die Substanz in mehreren Schritten verdampft.
In den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen weist der Inhalator 1 rein beispielhaft ferner einen Behälter 3 auf, welcher dem Bevorraten von verdampfender Substanz dient. Dabei kann die Aufnahmestruktur 7 über den Behälter 3 mit Substanz nachgefüllt werden. Bevorzugt erfolgt dies nach dem vollständigen Verdampfen der zuvor in der Aufnahmestruktur 7 aufgenommenen Substanz. 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 den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen und bevorzugt bilden die Verdampfereinrichtung 2 und der Behälter 3 eine Einheit 18, welche austauschbar im Inhalator 1, insbesondere im Gehäuse 14, aufgenommen ist. Der Behälter 3 der gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiele ist abgeschlossen. Das heißt, dass der Behälter 3 nicht mit Substanz nachgefüllt werden kann, ohne dass der Behälter 3 beschädigt, beispielsweise aufgebohrt, gebrochen und dergleichen, wird. 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.
Alternativ ist es möglich, dass der Behälter 3 im Inhalator 1 fest aufgenommen und nachfüllbar ist. In diesem Fall kann auch die Verdampfereinrichtung 2 dauerhaft im Inhalator 1 aufgenommen sein. 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 .
Alternativ ist es möglich, dass der Behälter 3 austauschbar ist. In diesem Fall kann auch die Verdampfereinrichtung 2 dauerhaft im Inhalator 1 aufgenommen sein. 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 .
Der Inhalator 1 der gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiele ist derart ausgestaltet, dass die Steuereinrichtung 10 mit dem Behälter 3 und/oder der Verdampfereinrichtung 2 kommuniziert, um insbesondere die zu verdampfende Substanz und/oder die aufgenommene Einheit 18 zu erkennen und/oder übermittelt zu bekommen. Zu diesem Zweck weist die Steuereinrichtung 10 eine lediglich Kommunikationsschnittstelle 19 auf, welche nachfolgend auch als Steuereinrichtung-Kommunikationsschnittstelle 19 bezeichnet wird. In den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen weist ferner die Einheit 18 eine Kommunikationsschnittstelle 20 auf, welche nachfolgend auch als Einheit- Kommunikationsschnittstelle 20 bezeichnet wird. Steuereinrichtung-
Kommunikationsschnittstelle 19 und Einheit-Kommunikationsschnittstelle 20 sind beim in Inhalator 1 aufgenommenen Zustand der Einheit 18 kommunizierend, vorzugsweise kabellos kommunizierend, miteinander verbunden. Dabei sind die Einheit-Kommunikationsschnittstelle 20 und die Steuereinrichtung 10, insbesondere die Steuereinrichtung-Kommunikationsschnittstelle 19, derart ausgestaltet, dass die Steuereinrichtung 10 die Einheit 18 und/oder die Substanz erkennt und/oder übermittelt bekommt. Zu diesem Zweck kann die Einheit- Kommunikationsschnittstelle 20 entsprechende Informationen beinhalten. Ist keine zugelassene Einheit 18 und/oder keine Einheit 18 einer vorgegebenen Art im Inhalator 1 aufgenommen, ist die Steuereinrichtung 10 zweckmäßig derart ausgestaltet, dass sie einen Betrieb des Inhalators 1 verhindert. Ebenso kann die Steuereinrichtung 10 derart ausgestaltet sein, dass sie einen Betrieb des Inhalators 1 bei einer fehlenden Kommunikation mit der Einheit 18 verhindert. 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
Ansprüche Expectations
1. Inhalator (1 ) zum Inhalieren eines Aerosols, 1. Inhaler (1) for inhaling an aerosol,
- mit einer Verdampfereinrichtung (2), welche einen Verdampfer (4) zum Verdampfen einer Substanz aufweist, - with an evaporator device (2) which has an evaporator (4) for evaporating a substance,
- wobei der Verdampfer (4) eine elektrisch leitfähige Verdampferkeramik (6) mit einer Aufnahmestruktur (7) aufweist, sodass im Betrieb die zu verdampfende Substanz in der Aufnahmestruktur (7) aufgenommen ist,- 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,
- wobei die Verdampferkeramik (6) derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie im Betrieb bei elektrischer Versorgung zum Verdampfen der in der Aufnahmestruktur (7) aufgenommenen Substanz homogen Wärme erzeugt, - 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),
- mit einer Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9), welche derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie im Betrieb die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik (6) bestimmt, - 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,
- mit einer Steuereinrichtung (10), welche mit der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9) kommunizierend verbunden und derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie die Verdampferkeramik (6) abhängig von der mittels der Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9) bestimmten Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik (6) elektrisch versorgt. - 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. Inhalator nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Inhalator (1) zwei elektrische Anschlüsse (5) zur elektrischen2. Inhaler according to claim 1, characterized in that the inhaler (1) has two electrical connections (5) for electrical
Versorgung des Verdampfers (4) aufweist, wobei ein elektrischer StrompfadHaving supply of the evaporator (4), wherein an electrical current path
(8) zur elektrischen Versorgung des Verdampfers (4) durch die Anschlüsse(8) for the electrical supply of the evaporator (4) through the connections
(5) und durch die Verdampferkeramik (6) verläuft.
3. Inhalator nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9) derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie einen elektrischen Widerstand der Verdampferkeramik (6) ermittelt und aus dem Widerstand die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik (6) bestimmt. (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. Inhalator nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9) derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie den elektrischen Widerstand der Verdampferkeramik (6) im Strompfad (8) ermittelt. 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. Inhalator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Temperaturbestimmungseinrichtung (9) einen Temperatursensor (12) aufweist, welcher im Betrieb die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik (6) bestimmt. 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. Inhalator nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Temperatursensor (12) derart ausgestaltet ist, dass sie die Temperatur der Verdampferkeramik (6) lokal bestimmt. 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. Inhalator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verdampfereinrichtung (2) austauschbar im Inhalator (1) aufgenommen ist.
8. Inhalator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Inhalator (1) einen Behälter (3) zum Bevorraten der Substanz aufweist. 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. Inhalator nach Anspruch 7 und 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Behälter (3) und die Verdampfereinrichtung (2) als eine Einheit (18) ausgebildet sind, welche austauschbar im Inhalator (1) aufgenommen ist. 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. Inhalator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aufnahmestruktur (7) Poren der Verdampferkeramik (6) aufweist. 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. Inhalator nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Aufnahmestruktur (7) aus Poren der Verdampferkeramik (6) besteht.
11. The inhaler according to claim 10, characterized in that the receiving structure (7) consists of pores in the evaporator ceramic (6).
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DE102021202547.1A DE102021202547A1 (en) | 2021-03-16 | 2021-03-16 | inhaler |
DE102021202547.1 | 2021-03-16 |
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PCT/EP2022/056790 WO2022194916A1 (en) | 2021-03-16 | 2022-03-16 | Inhaler |
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US20200022416A1 (en) | 2018-07-23 | 2020-01-23 | Wellness Insight Technologies, Inc. | System for analyzing and controlling consumable media dosing information |
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