WO2022243270A1

WO2022243270A1 - Mouthpiece with capillary channel for an aerosol-generating device

Info

Publication number: WO2022243270A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/063240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rui Nuno BATISTA; Ricardo CALI; Thomas Christopher TSANG
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2021-05-21
Filing date: 2022-05-17
Publication date: 2022-11-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device comprising a body having a mouth end and a distal end, wherein the body comprises a capillary channel. The invention also relates to a vaporization unit for an aerosol-generating device comprising such mouthpiece. The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising a mouthpiece and optionally a vaporization unit. The invention also relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating device.

Description

MOUTHPIECE WITH CAPILLARY CHANNEL FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a mouthpiece, a vaporizing unit and an aerosol generating device comprising the vaporizing unit and the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece comprises at least one capillary channel.

This disclosure generally relates to an aerosol-generating device, in particular to an electronically operated aerosol-generating device. Such aerosol-generating devices typically comprise electronic circuitry that may be used to control operation of the aerosol-generating systems. Such control may be carried out based on various input parameters. Such input parameters may be provided by users in advance of a user experience.

Input parameters may also be obtained dynamically from sensor data acquired during the user experience. Sensors that are useful for such purpose may determine ambient conditions during the user experience. Sensors may also detect human biomarkers in a user’s saliva.

In nicotine delivering aerosol-generating devices a biomarker sensor may include a nicotine metabolite sensor. The nicotine metabolite sensor can be coupled to electronics of the aerosol-generating device to provide feedback to a smoker, and to adjust nicotine delivery accordingly. Quantities of the nicotine metabolite can preferably be related to nicotine exposure levels of a user.

Biomarkers such as nicotine or its metabolic derivatives such as cotinine or 3- hydroxy-cotinine, may be used to determine the nicotine exposure of the user. Some nicotine metabolic derivatives may be detectable in a user’s saliva for more than 40 hours after use.

Thus, by monitoring the biomarker level of a regular user of nicotine delivering products, the nicotine intake can be influenced. Incentives may be provided to keep a user’s nicotine intake at a constant or continuously decreasing level.

It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device offering increased functionalities, in particular with respect to monitoring user behaviour.

It would be further desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device offering such increased functionality, which is easy to handle, which can be used for an extended time period and which at the same time offers a high hygienic standard.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece comprises a body having a mouth end and a distal end. The body of the mouthpiece comprises a capillary channel.

As used herein, an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article. The generated aerosol may be an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating device may be a holder for holding an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device may be an electrically heated aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating chamber. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element. The electric circuitry and the power supply are preferably arranged in the main body of the aerosol-generating device.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-generating article’ refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be an aerosol-generating article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating article may be disposable. An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco may be referred to as a tobacco stick.

The aerosol-generating article may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The aerosol generating article may be substantially elongate. The aerosol-generating article may have a length and a circumference substantially perpendicular to the length. The aerosol-forming substrate may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The aerosol-forming substrate may be substantially elongate. The aerosol-forming substrate may also have a length and a circumference substantially perpendicular to the length.

The aerosol-generating article may have a total length between approximately 30 mm and approximately 100 mm. The aerosol-generating article may have an external diameter between approximately 5 mm and approximately 12 mm. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a filter plug. The filter plug may be located at a downstream end of the aerosol generating article. The filter plug may be a cellulose acetate filter plug. The filter plug is approximately 7 mm in length in one aspect, but may have a length of between approximately 5 mm to approximately 10 mm.

In one aspect, the aerosol-generating article may have a total length of approximately 45 mm. The aerosol-generating article may have an external diameter of approximately 7.2 mm. Further, the aerosol-forming substrate may have a length of approximately 10 mm. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may have a length of approximately 12 mm. Further, the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate may be between approximately 5 mm and approximately 12 mm. The aerosol-generating article may comprise an outer paper wrapper. Further, the aerosol-generating article may comprise a separation between the aerosol-forming substrate and the filter plug. The separation may be approximately 18 mm, but may be in the range of approximately 5 mm to approximately 25 mm. The heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device may have an elongate shape. The heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device may have a cross-section that corresponds to the cross-section of the aerosol-generating article that is to be used with and inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid or a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

The aerosol-forming substrate is a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol forming substrate.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one aspect, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium- Iron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise an atomizer. An atomizer is provided to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol, which can subsequently be inhaled by a user. The atomizer may comprise a heating element, in which case the atomizer will be denoted as a vaporiser. Generally, the atomizer may be configured as any device which is able to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the atomizer may comprise a nebulizer or an atomizer nozzle based on the Venturi effect to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, the atomization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be realized by a non-thermally aerosolization technique. A mechanically vibrating vaporiser with vibrating elements, vibrating meshes, a piezo-driven nebulizer or surface acoustic wave aerosolization may be used.

Preferably, the atomizer is configured as a vaporiser comprising a heater for heating the supplied amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater may be any device suitable for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and vaporize at least a part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in order to form an aerosol. The heater may exemplarily be a coil heater, a capillary tube heater, a mesh heater or a metal plate heater. The heater may exemplarily be a resistive heater which receives electrical power and transforms at least part of the received electrical power into heat energy. Alternatively, or in addition, the heater may be a susceptor that is inductively heated by a time varying magnetic field. The heater may comprise only a single heating element or a plurality of heating elements. The temperature of the heating element or elements is preferably controlled by electric circuitry.

As used herein, the term mouth end refers to a portion of the mouthpiece of an aerosol-generating device that is taken into the user's mouth during a user experience.

As used herein, the terms ‘upstream’, ‘downstream’, ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘front’ and ‘rear’, are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device in relation to the direction of the air flow caused by a user inhaling at the mouthpiece of an aerosol-generating device during use thereof.

The body of the mouthpiece may be elongate. The body of the mouthpiece may have a tubular shape. The body of the mouthpiece may have two opposing ends, a mouth end and a distal end. The body may define an air flow path between the mouth end and the distal end of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be a part of the aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece may also be a part of an aerosol-generating article that is to be used with an aerosol generating device.

The mouthpiece may be made from any suitable material. In embodiments, the mouthpiece may be made from a rigid material such as a polymeric material. The tubular mouthpiece may define a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface. The interior volume defined by the cylindrical inner surface may define the air flow path.

The distal end of the mouthpiece may be configured to be releaseably connected to the remainder of an aerosol-generating device. In embodiments the mouthpiece may be configured to be releasably connected to the main body of an aerosol-generating device.

The capillary channel may be formed in the material forming the body of the mouthpiece. The capillary channel may be located in the body of the mouthpiece between the cylindrical inner surface and the cylindrical outer surface. The capillary channel may extend from the mouth end of the tubular mouthpiece. The capillary channel may extend from the end face at the mouth end of the tubular mouthpiece. The opening of the capillary channel may also extend from any location of the mouthpiece that comes into contact with the user’s saliva during a user experience. The capillary channel may extend from the outer surface at the mouth end of the mouthpiece. As specified above, the outer surface denotes the cylindrical peripheral surface of the mouthpiece. The opening of the capillary channel may extend from a position at the mouthpiece that is distant from the mouth end of the tubular mouthpiece by up to 10 millimeters. The opening of the capillary channel may extend from a position at the mouthpiece that is distant from the mouth end of the tubular mouthpiece by up to 5 millimeters.

The capillary channel may extend to the distal end of the tubular mouthpiece.

In addition or alternatively, the mouthpiece may comprise a plug wrap. The plug wrap may comprise a tipping paper. The plug wrap may be wrapped around a mouthpiece element. The mouthpiece element may be made from any material used in manufacture of mouthpieces for aerosol-generating systems. The filter element may be made from cellulose acetate or cardboard. The filter element may have a hollow tubular shape.

In embodiments in which the mouthpiece comprises a plug wrap, the capillary channel may be located adjacent to the plug wrap in a radial direction of the mouthpiece. The capillary channel may be located between the plug wrap and the filter element. The capillary channel may be made from any suitable material. The capillary channel may be a narrow polymer tube or narrow composite tube.

In embodiments in which the mouthpiece comprises wrapping material made from paper, the capillary channel may also be provided in the paper material itself. Manufacture of such paper microfluidic devices may include the use of hydrophilic cellulose fibers provided between hydrophobic barriers. Such paper microfluidic devices are well known in the art. Paper microfluidic devices may be prepared by wax printing, inkjet printing, photolithography, flexographic printing, plasma treatment, laser treatment, wet etching, screen-printing, or wax screen-printing. Manufacture of such paper microfluidic devices may also comprise a plurality of paper layers that are stacked to form a 3D arrangement of capillary channels.

The plug wrap may comprise a perforation. The plug wrap may comprise a plurality of perforations. The perforations may be provided in a form of a perforation line. The perforations may allow secondary air to enter into the air flow path defined by the mouthpiece.

The capillary channel may extend from the mouth end of the mouthpiece to at least a perforation or a perforation line formed in the plug wrap. The capillary channel may also extend up to the distal end of the mouthpiece.

A mouthpiece comprising a capillary channel as defined above allows transporting fluid material along the mouthpiece via capillary forces. In addition a change in pressure along the channel or at least at one end of the channel may be used to enhance transport capabilities. Since the mouth end of the mouthpiece is to be taken into a user’s mouth during the user experience, the capillary channel may be advantageously used to transfer liquid material such as saliva from the user’s towards the remaining parts of the aerosol-generating system.

The capillary channel may be used to transport any buccal fluid originating from a user’s mouth. Such buccal fluids may mainly include saliva, but may also include for example condensation of a user’s breadth. For sake of clarity the term “saliva” is used in this document as an example for any buccal fluid.

The capillary channel may also be used for transporting liquid or gaseous material towards the mouth end of the mouthpiece. In this way the sensorial sensations may be delivered to the user enhancing the overall user experience.

The elongate mouthpiece may define a longitudinal axis. The capillary channel may extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

The capillary channel may have a tubular shape. The diameter of the capillary channel may range between 0.001 and 1.0 millimeters. The diameter of the capillary channel may range between 0.01 and 0.5 millimeters. The diameter of the capillary channel may range between 0.01 and 0.1 millimeters.

The capillary channel may be a hollow channel having a non-circular inner cross- section. The diameter of such non-circular capillary channel is to be understood as the cross- sectional dimension having the largest extension. The diameter of the capillary channel may depend on the fluid material that is to be transported by capillary action. Low viscosity materials generally require smaller diameter capillary tubes in order to achieve sufficiently fast transport.

The body of the mouthpiece may be provided with a plurality of capillary channels. Preferably the body of the mouthpiece may comprise three, four or five capillary channels. The capillary channels may have identical dimensions. The capillary channels may differ in length. The capillary channels may differ in diameter. The capillary channels may differ in length and diameter.

The mouthpiece may comprise a biomarker sensor that is operably coupled to a capillary channel. The biomarker sensor may be provided at the distal end of the capillary channel. The biomarker sensor may be a sensor that is responsive to any biomarker present in a user’s saliva. Suitable biomarkers include but are not limited to nicotine metabolites or cortisol metabolites.

Each of the capillary channels of the mouthpiece may be operably coupled to a biomarker sensor. The sensors may all be responsive to the same biomarker. The sensors may be responsive to different biomarkers. By using a plurality of biomarker sensors a biomarker signature or a molecular signature may be obtained.

The term “operably coupled” is used in this application to emphasize that the two respective elements interact with each other. In the context of this application the operative coupling between the capillary channels and the biomarker sensor denotes that the capillary channels and the biomarker sensor are in fluid connection with each other, such that fluid transported through the capillary channels may be conveyed towards and onto the biomarker sensor.

Any one or more sensors may be configured to detect any one or more nicotine metabolite in a user’s saliva. Examples of nicotine metabolites include nicotine glucuronide, nicotine N’-oxide, nicotine isomethonium ion, cotinine methonium ion, cotinine glucuronide,

3-pyridylacetic acid, nicotine-D iminium ion, cotinine, cotinine N-oxide, 4-(3-pyridyl)-butanoic acid, 2;-hydroxynicotine, nornicotine, N’- Hydroxymethyl nornicotine, 5’-hydroxycotinine, 7rans-3’-hydroxycotinine, 4-(methylamino)-1-(3- pyridyl)-1 -butanone, 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)- butanamide, 4-oxo-4-(3-pytidyl)-N-methylbutanamide, frans-3’-hydroxycotinine glucuronide,

4-(3-pyridyl)-3-butenoic acid, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)- butanoic acid, 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)- butanoic acid, and 5-(-3-pyridyl)-tetrahydro-furan-2-one. At least one sensor may be configured to detect cotinine levels.

Cotinine is a preferred metabolite in part because it has a long plasma-half life and because a high percentage of nicotine is converted to cotinine. For example, cotinine typically has a plasma half-life of from about 11 hours to about 37 hours, compared with about 30 minutes for nicotine. In addition, about 70 percent to about 80 percent of nicotine is converted to cotinine in the liver and delivered to the blood stream. Further, saliva concentrations of cotinine are thought to be proportional to plasma cotinine concentrations.

A biomarker sensor may be configured to quantify an amount of cotinine within a relevant range of concentrations. By way of example, studies have shown that passive exposure to nicotine containing aerosol may result in cotinine concentrations in saliva of below 5 nanograms per milliliter, but heavy passive exposure can results in concentrations in saliva of 10 nanograms per milliliter or greater. Cotinine concentrations in saliva of regular users may range from about 10 nanograms per milliliter to about 100 nanograms per milliliter. Accordingly and preferably, the sensor may be configured to accurately quantify saliva concentrations of cotinine in a range from about 5 nanograms per milliliter to about 200 nanograms per milliliter, such as from about 10 nanograms per milliliter to about 150 nanograms per milliliter. However, it will be appreciated that the range of reliability and sensitivity of the sensor may be tuned to include other concentration ranges as appropriate or desired.

In embodiments a biomarker sensor is an electrochemical sensor. Any suitable electrochemical sensor can be employed. Preferably, the sensor includes a sensitive layer or coating disposed on a transducer, where selective binding of the biomarker to the layer or coating is translated to a signal or change in signal by the transducer. For example, binding of the biomarker can result in a change in frequency, current or voltage, which can be correlated to an amount of biomarker present in saliva of a user. In some embodiments, mass change of the coating or layer results in changes in resonance frequency of the transducer, which translates into a proportional electrical signal.

The biomarker sensor may comprise electric contacts. The electric contacts may be used to contact the biomarker sensor to electric circuitry of the aerosol-generating system. If the biomarker sensor is provided at the distal end of the mouthpiece the electric contacts may be provided at a connection portion that is used for connecting the mouthpiece to the remaining parts of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. If the biomarker sensor is provided at any other position of the mouthpiece the electric contacts of the biomarker sensor may be connoted via suitable wiring or other means to corresponding terminals at the connection portion.

As an example the sensor can be made of a core microfluidic chip. For example, the chip may be fabricated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with standard soft lithography. Alternatively, it could for example be adsorbed on a gold piezoelectrode via amide bonds, or a screen-printed dual carbon electrode. Biomarker sensors may comprise biological substance acting as binding or dectecting partners for nicotine metabolites. Such biological substances are generally referred to herein as antibodies to nicotine metabolites. It is known in the prior art how such antibodies may be prepared. Exemplarily it is referred herein to U.S. Patent No. 5, 164,504 (Antibodies for Immunoassays for cotinine derivatives), U.S. Patent application No. 2011/305715 (Antibodies to 3-hydroxycotinine) and U.S. Patent No. 7,517,699 (Lateral flow Cotinine immunoassay) which are all incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent that they do not conflict with the present disclosure.

Examples of coatings or layers that can be disposed on a transducer for detecting cotinine include immobilized antibodies or molecules binding specifically to the nicotine metabolite. Preferably, the sensor includes an immobilized anti-cotinine antibody or cotinine binding fragment thereof.

A signal produced by binding of a biomarker to a coating or layer of a sensor can be amplified in any suitable manner to increase the speed or sensitivity of the sensor. For example, enzyme amplification, such as horseradish peroxidase-based amplification, can be employed. The amplification enzyme may be stored in proximity to the sensor and can migrate when wetted by saliva to interact with the sensor. A substrate for the enzyme may be stored in proximity to the sensor and can migrate when wetted by saliva to interact with the sensor. The substrate or the amplification enzyme can be stored in a vehicle to prevent interaction, and thus depletion of the substrate, prior to wetting by saliva. The vehicle may be configured to allow release of the substrate or the amplification enzyme when contacted with saliva. In some embodiments, the substrate and the amplification enzyme are separately stored in vehicles. For example, the substrate or the enzyme can be encapsulated in liposomes, or the substrate and the enzyme can be separately encapsulated in liposomes.

In some embodiments, a secondary cotinine binding partner, such as an anti-cotinine antibody or antibody fragment, is conjugated to the amplification enzyme. If cotinine is present in saliva and is bound to the coating or layer of the sensor, the secondary antibody can bind to the immobilized cotinine to immobilize the enzyme. Accumulation of a detectable species, resulting from the enzyme-catalysed conversion of the substrate, thus can occur in proximity to the sensor.

Enzyme-substrate pairs can be selected based on the type of sensor employed. For example, if the sensor responds to mass accumulated on the senor, enzyme conversion of the substrate can result in a species that precipitates on the sensor or that binds to the sensor or a coating thereof. By way of another example, enzyme conversion of the substrate can result in a species of a different charge, as appropriate, based on the sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor is a positive potential barrier sensory film and is configured to measure charge density distribution. In some embodiments, the sensor is configured to measure electrochemical impedance to determine the biomarker concentration.

In some embodiments, the biomarker sensor may be an RFID tag sensor that includes an RFID tag and a biomarker sensitive coating operably coupled to the RFID tag. RFID sensors can advantageously be passive, requiring no battery power to be used by the sensor. An RFID sensor can be interrogated by a powered RFID reader as known in the art. In many embodiments, a resonance frequency of the RFID sensor changes as differing amounts of biomarker bind to the coating. The RFID reader can sweep the sensor to determine the resonance frequency of the tag, which can correlate to the amount of biomarker present. The RFID reader can, in some embodiments, be configured to interrogate the RFID tag of the sensor at only one resonance frequency, such as the resonance frequency of the sensor without bound analyte or the frequency of the sensor with bound analyte. The aerosol-generating device may include the RFID reader. The RFID reader can be coupled to a power supply and control electronics of the aerosol-generating device.

Preferably, a biomarker detection system of the aerosol-generating system is re usable and reliable. Preferably, the biomarker sensor allows for reliable, quantifiable, and accurate analysis of biomarker concentration in a user’s saliva.

In embodiments the mouthpiece comprising the biomarker sensor is disposable. The mouthpiece may be replaced before or after a given use of the aerosol-generating system. In embodiments the biomarker detection system can be used at the initiation of a user experience. The user experience can be defined in any suitable manner, such as a time period of 20 minutes to 60 minutes or a number of puffs, such as 10 puffs to 30 puffs. The biomarker level can be checked one or more times during the user experience as appropriate. The results can be used or communicated as discussed in more detail below.

Sensor technology that can be employed to achieve or approach the above mentioned results is described by, for example, Francesco Riccia, b, Gianluca Adornettoa, Giuseppe Palleschia, ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY State of the Art and Future Perspectives On the occasion of the International Year of Chemistry (2011); Electrochi mica Acta; Volume 84, 1 December 2012, Pages 74-83, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent that it does not conflict with the present disclosure. Further description of suitable sensor technologies can be found in Ashlesha Bhide, et al., “Next-Generation Continuous Metabolite Sensing toward Emerging Sensor Needs”, ACS Omega 2021, 6, 6031-6040, in Shikha Sharma et al., “Antibodies and antibody-derived analytical biosensors”, Essays in Biochemistry (2016) 609-18, and in Nikhil Bhalla et al., Introduction to biosensors Essays in Biochemistry (2016) 60 1-8, which are all incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent that they do not conflict with the present disclosure.

It will be appreciated that a sensor for detecting biomarkers other than nicotine metabolites can employ similar technology to that discussed herein above with regard to nicotine metabolites, in particular cotinine. In the following cotinine sensors and their uses are discussed for purposes of example and illustration.

Regardless of the nicotine metabolite detected, nicotine metabolite data obtained by a smoking article of the present invention can be used for any one or more suitable purpose, only a few of which are described in the present disclosure in more detail.

In embodiments, a smoking article includes a nicotine metabolite sensor operably coupled to control electronics to prevent the aerosol-generating system from delivering an amount of a nicotine-containing aerosol if a concentration or amount of the metabolite is not within a predetermined range. In such embodiments, accidental, unwanted or over dosage use of the aerosol-generating system may be prevented.

If the nicotine metabolite concentration is not within the predefined range, control electronics of the device may prevent an amount of a nicotine-containing aerosol from being delivered by the aerosol-generating system.

In some embodiments where the aerosol-generating system is configured to prevent delivery of an amount of a nicotine-containing aerosol, the aerosol-generating system may include a heater configured to heat a nicotine-containing substrate to generate a nicotine- containing aerosol to be delivered to a user. The heater can be operably coupled to a nicotine metabolite sensor. The heater may be prevented from being activated unless an allowable concentration or amount of a nicotine metabolite is detected by the sensor

In some embodiments, the smoking article includes level indicators, such as bars, colours, or the like that provide the smoker with an indication of their nicotine metabolite levels relative to the predefined range.

In preferred embodiments, a smoking article includes storage apparatus, such as memory, operably coupled to the sensor for storing data obtained by the sensor. In such embodiments, the smoking article preferably includes output apparatus for displaying information regarding the stored data or for transferring the stored data to another device for display, analysis or display and analysis.

The sensor can optionally be operably coupled to a puff detection apparatus to activate the sensor when a puff is detected. Such an arrangement can result in reduced power requirements of the sensor and the aerosol-generating system. Any suitable puff detection apparatus can be employed. Examples of suitable puff detection apparatus are well known to the skilled person and may include a microphone or a thermocouple. The present invention also relates to a vaporization unit for an aerosol-generating device. The vaporization unit comprises a mouthpiece with at least one capillary channel as described above. The vaporization unit further comprises a base portion comprising a vaporizer configured for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substrate. The vaporizer may comprise a heating element. The heating element may be an electric heating element. The electric heating element may be a resistive heating element or an inductive heating element.

The mouthpiece may be integrally formed with the vaporization unit. The mouthpiece may be disposable and may be configured to be releasably connected to the base portion of the vaporization unit. By configuring the mouthpiece to be disposable, the mouthpiece may be replaced after a pre-determined number of uses, while the remaining parts of the vaporization unit can be used further. Thus, production of waste is reduced and hygienic quality of the user experience is increased.

The base portion of the vaporization unit may comprise a first connection portion comprising connection means for releasably connecting the mouthpiece to the vaporization unit. The first connection portion may further comprise a pair of electric contacts for each biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece. When the mouthpiece is attached to the vaporization unit, the electrical contacts of the base portion are each electrically contacted with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece.

The connection means of the connection portion can be configured like any suitable connection means known in the art. The connection means may comprise a threaded portion, a form fit portion or a friction fit portion.

The connection portion may advantageously have an asymmetric shape. An asymmetric shape may ensure that there is only one configuration in which the mouthpiece may be connected to the vaporization unit. In this way it can be ensured that upon attachment of the mouthpiece a correct connection of the electrical contacts is established.

The vaporization unit may be integrally formed with or permanently connected to a main portion of an aerosol-generating device.

The vaporization unit may also be configured to be releasably connected to the main portion of an aerosol-generating device. For this purpose the base portion of the vaporization may comprise a second connection portion comprising connection means configured for releasable connection to the main portion of the aerosol-generating device.

The second connection portion may also comprise electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the aerosol-generating device, the electrical contacts of the main portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the nicotine metabolite sensor of the mouthpiece. The second connection portion may also be formed with an asymmetrical shape. In this way it may be again ensured that upon attachment of the vaporization unit and the main portion of the aerosol-generating device a correct connection of the electrical contacts is established.

The base portion of the vaporization unit may further comprise two power terminals via which electrical power may be provided to the atomizing portion of the vaporization unit.

The present invention also relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising a main portion, a vaporization unit and a mouthpiece. All these components may be permanently attached to each other. The mouthpiece or the vaporization unit or the mouthpiece and the vaporization unit may be releasably connected to the main portion of the aerosol-generating device.

By configuring these elements as releaseable, a used, consumed or defect component may be replaced, while the remaining parts can be used further.

The main portion of the aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, in which a power source and control electronics are located. The power source may be configured to provide the required electrical energy for the controller and to energize the atomizing unit.

The main portion of the aerosol-generating device may comprise a connection portion configured to be connected with the second connection portion of the base portion of the vaporization unit. To this end the connection portion of the main portion may comprise electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the vaporization unit and the mouthpiece, the electrical contacts of the main portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece of the vaporization unit.

Upon assembly of the main portion and the vaporization unit, the power terminals of these components are electrically connected which each other such that the electric energy of the power source may be provided to the vaporizer.

The main portion of the aerosol-generating device may further comprise an activation button. The activation button may be used to activate the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol generating device may also comprise other means for activating the aerosol-generating device. For example the aerosol-generating device may include a puff sensor which activates the aerosol-generating device upon detection of a puff being made by a user.

The present invention also relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating device as described above. Upon activation of the aerosol-generating device, a concentration of a biomarker may be detected in a user’s saliva. Further operation of the aerosol-generating device may be adjusted based on the presence of the biomarker or the detected biomarker concentration in the user’s saliva. Further operation may only be permitted if the detected concentration of the biomarker is within a predetermined concentration threshold or range.

Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example 1: Mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device comprising a body having a mouth end and a distal end, wherein the body comprises a capillary channel.

Example 2: Mouthpiece according to example 1, wherein the body defines an air flow path between the mouth end and the distal end.

Example 3: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein a biomarker sensor is operably coupled to the capillary channel.

Example 4: Mouthpiece according to example 3, wherein the biomarker sensor is a nicotine metabolite sensor.

Example 5: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the body has a tubular shape.

Example 6: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the body is made from a solid material, preferably from polymeric material.

Example 7: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the body of the mouthpiece has an outer surface, and the capillary channel extends from the outer surface at the mouth end of the mouthpiece.

Example 8: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the mouth end is configured to be taken in the mouth of a user.

Example 9: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the capillary channel extends to the distal end of the mouthpiece.

Example 10: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a plug wrap and wherein the capillary channel is provided adjacent to the plug wrap in a radial direction of the mouthpiece.

Example 11: Mouthpiece according to the preceding example, wherein the plug wrap comprises a perforation and the capillary channel extends at least to the position of the perforation in the plug wrap.

Example 12: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the capillary channel extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. Example 13: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the capillary channel has a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 millimeters, preferably of 0.01 to 0.1 millimeters, and more preferably of 0.02 to 0.08 millimeters.

Example 14: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein a plurality of capillary channels are provided in the body of the mouthpiece, and wherein preferably three capillary channels are provided in the body of the mouthpiece.

Example 15: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to be connected to a vaporizing unit or to the aerosol generating device.

Example 16: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the biomarker sensor is provided at the distal end of the capillary channel.

Example 17: Mouthpiece according to any preceding example, wherein the biomarker sensor comprises electric contacts.

Example 18: Vaporization unit for an aerosol-generating device comprising a mouthpiece according to any preceding example and a base portion comprising a vaporizer configured for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substrate.

Example 19: Vaporization unit according to example 18, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be releasably connected to the base portion of the vaporization unit.

Example 20: Vaporization unit according to examples a8 or 19, wherein the base portion comprises a first connection portion configured to be connected with the mouthpiece, the first connection portion comprising electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the mouthpiece, the electrical contacts of the base portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece.

Example 21: Vaporization unit according to any of example 18 to 20, wherein the base portion comprises a second connection portion configured to be connected with an aerosol-generating device, the second connection portion comprising electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the aerosol-generating device, the electrical contacts of the base portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece.

Example 22: Vaporization unit according to any of example 18 to 21, wherein the base portion comprises two power terminals for providing electrical power to the atomizing portion of the vaporization unit. Example 23: Aerosol-generating device, comprising a main portion, a mouthpiece and optionally a vaporization unit according to any of examples 18 to 22.

Example 24: Aerosol-generating device according to example 23, wherein the vaporization unit is configured to be releaseably connected to the main portion.

Example 25: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 24, wherein the main portion comprises a housing, in which a power source and control electronics are located.

Example 26: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 25, wherein the main portion comprises a connection portion configured to be connected with the second connection portion of the base portion of the vaporization unit, the connection portion comprising electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the vaporization unit, the electrical contacts of the main portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece of the vaporization unit.

Example 27: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 26, wherein the connection portion comprises electric contacts connecting with each of the corresponding electric contacts of the second connection portion of the vaporization unit.

Example 28: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 27, wherein the connection portion of the main portion and the corresponding second connection portion of the vaporization unit are asymmetrically formed.

Example 29: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 28, wherein upon assembly of the main portion and vaporization unit, the power terminals are electrically connected to the power source and the biomarker sensor is operably coupled to the control electronics.

Example 30: Aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 29, wherein the main portion comprises an activation button.

Example 31: Method of operating the aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 23 to 30, wherein upon activation of the aerosol-generating device, an amount or concentration of a biomarker in the user’s saliva is detected and the aerosol-generating device is only activated if the detected concentration of a biomarker is within a predetermined concentration range.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device;

Fig. 2 shows a mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device;

Fig. 3 shows an exploded view of an aerosol-generating device;

Fig. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The aerosol-generating device comprises a mouthpiece 10, a vaporizing unit 30 and a main portion 50.

The vaporization unit 30 comprises an electric heating element (not shown) for vaporizing an aerosol-generating substrate. The main portioncomprises a power source and an electronic circuitry including a controller for controlling operation of the aerosol-generating device.

In this embodiment the mouthpiece 10 is configured to be releasably connected to the vaporization unit 30. The vaporization unit 30 in turn is configured to be releasably connected to the main portion50 of the aerosol-generating device.

The mouthpiece 10 is depicted in the two views of Fig. 2. The mouthpiece 10 is made from plastic material. The mouthpiece 10 is elongate and has a tubular shaped body 12 defining an air flow path between a mouth end 14 and a distal end 16. The tubular shaped body 12 of the mouthpiece 10 comprises three capillary channels 18. Each capillary channel 18 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece 10 and extends from the mouth end 14 to the distal end 16.

The lower view of Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the tubular shaped body 12 of the mouthpiece 10. The tubular shaped body 12 of the mouthpiece 10 defines an outer cylindrical surface 20 and an inner cylindrical surface 22. The three capillary channels 18 are provided in the tubular shaped body 12 between the outer cylindrical surface 20 and the inner cylindrical surface 22.

The capillary channels 18 are each open at the end face 24 at the mouth end 14 of the tubular shaped body 12. As depicted in Fig. 2 each of the capillary channels 18 is operably coupled to a biomarker sensor 20. Each biomarker sensor 20 is a nicotine metabolite sensor that is configured to detect cotinine levels in a user’s saliva.

In this embodiment the biomarker sensors 20 are electrochemical sensors each including a sensitive layer disposed on a transducer. Selective binding of cotinine to the sensitive layer is translated into a changed signal by the transducer. This changed signal is correlated to a concentration of cotinine present in saliva of a user. When a user puts the mouthpiece in the mouth during a user experience, a user’s saliva may enter into the opening of the capillary channels 18 and is transferred by capillary action along the capillary channels 18 towards the biomarker sensors 20.

The base portion 32 of the vaporization unit 30 comprises a first connection portion with first connection means (not shown) for releasably connecting the mouthpiece 10 to the vaporization unit 30.

The base portion 32 of the vaporization unit 30 comprises a second connection portion 34 with second connection means for releasably connecting the vaporizer unit 30 to the main portion50 of the aerosol-generating device. In this embodiment the shape of the connection portion 34 corresponds to the shape of the connection portion of the main portion 50 such that the connection means forms a friction fit.

The connection portions of the vaporizing unit 30 comprise electric contacts to electronically connect each biomarker sensor 20 located on the mouthpiece 10 to the controller located in the main portion50 of the aerosol-generating device.

In order to ensure correct connection of the mouthpiece 10 and the main portion 50 with the vaporization unit 30, each of the first and second connection portions are configured asymmetric such that a connection of these parts is possible in only one orientation.

As depicted in Fig. 4 the second connection portion 34 of the vaporizing unit 30 comprises electrical contacts 36 for connecting the biomarker sensors 20 to corresponding electric contacts 56 and the controller located in the main portion 50 of the aerosol generating device. The second connection 34 portion of the vaporizing unit 30 also comprises electric contacts 38 for connecting the heating element of the vaporizing unit 30 to corresponding electric contacts 58 and to the power source of the aerosol-generating device.

When the mouthpiece 10, the vaporization unit 30, and the main portion 50 of the aerosol-generating device are correctly attached, the electrical contacts of the biomarker sensors 20 of the mouthpiece 10 are electrically contacted to the controller, and the heating element of the vaporizing unit 30 is electrically connected to the power source.

The main portion 50 of the aerosol-generating device further comprises a push button 54 for activation of the aerosol-generating device. After activation the aerosol-generating device may be used by the user. The controller is configured to read out the biomarker sensors 20. As discussed above, the biomarker sensors 20 are cotinine sensors that allow determining the cotinine concentration in a user’s saliva. The controller may provide feedback signals to the user and may adjust operation of the aerosol-generating device accordingly.

Claims

1. Mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device comprising a body having a mouth end and a distal end, wherein the body comprises a capillary channel, the capillary channel being configured for transporting liquid material via capillary forces.

2. Mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein the body defines an air flow path between the mouth end and the distal end.

3. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein a biomarker sensor is operably coupled to the capillary channel.

4. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the mouthpiece has an outer surface, and the capillary channel extends from the outer surface at the mouth end of the mouthpiece.

5. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a plug wrap and wherein the capillary channel is provided adjacent to the plug wrap in a radial direction of the mouthpiece.

6. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein the capillary channel extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

7. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein the capillary channel has a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 millimeters, preferably of 0.01 to 0.1 millimeters, and more preferably of 0.02 to 0.08 millimeters.

8. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of capillary channels are provided in the body of the mouthpiece, and wherein preferably three capillary channels are provided in the body of the mouthpiece.

9. Mouthpiece according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal end of the mouthpiece is configured to be connected to a vaporizing unit or to the aerosol generating device.

10. Vaporization unit for an aerosol-generating device comprising a mouthpiece according to any preceding claim and a base portion comprising a vaporizer configured for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substrate.

11. Vaporization unit according to claim 10, wherein the mouthpiece comprises one or more biomarker sensors operably coupled to the one or more capillary channels, and wherein the base portion comprises a first connection portion configured to be connected with the mouthpiece, the first connection portion comprising electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the mouthpiece, the electrical contacts of the base portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece.

12. Vaporization unit according to claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a second connection portion configured to be connected with a main portion of an aerosol generating device, the second connection portion comprising electric contacts for each biomarker sensor, wherein, upon connection with the aerosol-generating device, the electrical contacts of the base portion are each in electric contact with the corresponding electric contacts of the biomarker sensor of the mouthpiece.

13. Aerosol-generating device, comprising a main portion, a mouthpiece according to any of claims 1 to 9 or a vaporization unit according to any of claims 10 to 12.

14. Aerosol-generating device according to the preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece comprises one or more biomarker sensors operably coupled to the one or more capillary channels, and wherein upon assembly of the main portion and the vaporization unit, the power terminals are electrically connected to the power source and the biomarker sensor is operably coupled to the control electronics.

15. Method of operating the aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 13 or 14, wherein upon activation of the aerosol-generating device, an amount or concentration of a biomarker in the user’s saliva is detected and the aerosol-generating device is only activated if the detected concentration of a biomarker is within a predetermined concentration range.