WO2024121393A1

WO2024121393A1 - Consumable

Info

Publication number: WO2024121393A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/084908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oriol STROPHAIR
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
Priority date: 2022-12-08
Filing date: 2023-12-08
Publication date: 2024-06-13
Also published as: GB202218462D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a consumable comprising one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids. The invention also relates to a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the consumable, a method of forming one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material and a method of providing an aerosol containing one or more cannabinoids.

Description

CONSUMABLE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to consumables comprising one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material; methods of making the consumables and noncombustible aerosol provision systems comprising the consumables.

Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Alternatives to these types of articles release an inhalable aerosol or vapour by releasing compounds from a substrate material by heating without burning. These may be referred to as non-combustible smoking articles, aerosol generating assemblies or non-combustible aerosol provision systems.

One example of such a product is a heating device which release compounds by heating, but not burning, a solid aerosolisable material. This solid aerosolisable material may, in some cases, contain a tobacco material. The heating volatilises at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol. These products may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products (THP). Various different arrangements for volatilising at least one component of the solid aerosolisable material are known.

As another example, there are e-cigarette / tobacco heating product hybrid devices, also known as electronic tobacco hybrid devices. These hybrid devices contain a liquid source (which may or may not contain nicotine) which is vaporised by heating to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol. The device additionally contains a solid aerosolisable material (which may or may not contain a tobacco material) and components of this material are entrained in the inhalable vapour or aerosol to produce the inhaled medium.

Summary of the Disclosure In a first aspect, there is provided a consumable comprising one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

The consumable may comprise or consist of aerosol generating material. The consumable may comprise one or more other elements, such as a carrier, a filter or an aerosol modifying substance (e.g. a component to add a flavour to, or otherwise alter the properties of, an aerosol that passes through or over the aerosol modifying substance).

In one embodiment, the weight of each discrete portion of aerosol generating material within the consumable varies by no more than about 10%.

In one embodiment, the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are substantially round, cylindrical or hemispherical.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the method comprising:

(a) providing a slurry comprising:

(i) aerosol-former material;

(ii) binder;

(iii) one or more cannabinoids; and

(iv) solvent;

(b) forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry; and

(c) drying the one or more discrete portions of the slurry to form one or more discrete portions of the aerosol-generating material; wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing an aerosol containing one or more cannabinoids, the method comprising heating a discrete portion of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein the discrete portion of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a noncombustible aerosol provision system comprising the consumable as described herein and a non-combustible aerosol provision device. The non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise an aerosol-generation device arranged to generate aerosol from the consumable as described herein when the consumable is used with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

To the extent that they are combinable, features described herein in relation to one aspect of the invention are explicitly disclosed in combination with each and every other aspect.

Further aspects of the invention described herein may provide the use of the consumable in the generating of an inhalable aerosol

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying figures.

Brief Description of the Figures

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a schematic representation of an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device and an aerosol generating article, the device comprising a plurality of heating elements and the article comprising a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material;

Figures 2A to 2C are a variety of views from different angles of the aerosol provision article of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is cross-sectional, top-down view of the heating elements of the aerosol provision article of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an example of a cross-section of a schematic representation of an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device and a aerosol generating article, the device comprising a plurality of induction work coils and the article comprising a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material and corresponding susceptor portions; and

Figures 5A to 5C are a variety of views from different angles of the aerosol provision article of Figure 4.

Detailed Description

The aerosol-generating materials described herein are materials that are capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is a homogeneous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may be an “amorphous solid”. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid is a “monolithic solid”. The aerosol-generating material may be non-fibrous or fibrous. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may be a dried gel. The aerosol-generating material may be a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments the retained fluid may be water (such as water absorbed from the surroundings of the aerosol-generating material) or the retained fluid may be solvent (such as when the aerosol-generating material is formed from a slurry). In some embodiments, the solvent may be water.

The aerosol-generating material may have any suitable water content, such as from 1wt % to 15wt%. Suitably, the water content of the aerosol-generating material may be from about 5wt%, 7wt% or 9wt% to about 15wt%, 13wt% or 11wt% (wet weight basis) (WWB). The water content of the aerosol-generating material may, for example, be determined by Karl-Fischer-titration or Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD). Consumable

The present invention provides a consumable, which may be used in an aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision system. The consumables are sometimes referred to as “articles” or “aerosol generating articles” throughout the disclosure.

The consumable comprises one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids. That is, the total amount of cannabinoid(s) in each discrete portion is from about 0.3 to about 4 mg.

An advantage of the consumable of the present invention is that there is a controlled and defined amount of cannabinoids in each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material. This enables the amount of cannabinoids aerosolised during use to be controlled, such that an accurate dose of the cannabinoids can be delivered to a user.

In this regard, during use each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material is generally heated separately and independently, with a set number of portions (often just one) being heated to or above an aerosol generating temperature at any one time. Only the portion or portions of material which is or are being heated to or above an aerosol generating temperature will release aerosol, and consequently the amount of cannabinoid being aerosolised at any time can be controlled.

Conversely, if the material was not in the form of discrete portions (but rather a continuous or bulk solid or liquid), and/or if the amount of cannabinoid in each of the discrete portions was not controlled, the amount of cannabinoid being aerosolised at any one time could not be as accurately controlled or determined. In this case, the amount of cannabinoid being delivered to a user could not be controlled or determined.

The accurate control of the amount of cannabinoid being aerosolised is particularly important due to the presence in the aerosol-generating material of one or more cannabinoids (e.g. rather than another active), since it is usually desired and/or required that the amount of cannabinoid being delivered to a user is controlled or known, due to health and/or regulatory reasons. Control of the price of the overall consumable may be another advantage to having a controlled and determined amount of cannabinoid in each discrete portion.

A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosolmodifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms.

An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent

The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

In some embodiments, the consumable may comprise from about 1 to about 15 discrete portions of aerosol generating material. In some embodiments, the consumable may comprise from about 1 to about 10 discrete portions, such as from about 2 to about 8 discrete portions or from about 2 to about 6 discrete portions.

In some embodiments, the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are disposed on a carrier. In some embodiments from about 1 to about 15 discrete portions of aerosol generating material are disposed on a surface of the carrier, such as from about 1 to about 10 discrete portions, from about 2 to about 8 discrete portions, or from about 2 to about 6 discrete portions. In some embodiments, the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are disposed in a 1 to 3 by N array, wherein N depends on the number of discrete portions disposed on the carrier.

In some embodiments, the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material

In embodiments where the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are deposited on a carrier, the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are separated from one another such that each of the discrete portions may be energised (e.g. heated) individually or selectively to produce an aerosol.

In some embodiments, the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are substantially round, cylindrical or hemispherical. The discrete portions may take any other shape such as square or rectangle. In some embodiments the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are in the form of dots, stripes or lines.

The discrete portions of aerosol generating material may have a diameter d and a thickness ta as shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The thickness of the discrete portions of the aerosol generating material may be any suitable thickness. For example, the thickness ta may be in the range of 50pm to 1.5 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness ta is from about 50 pm to about 200 pm, or about 50 pm to about 100 pm, or about 60 pm to about 90 pm, suitably about 77 pm. In other embodiments, the thickness ta may be greater than 200 pm, e.g., from about 50 pm to about 400pm, or to about 1 mm, or to about 1.5 mm.

In some implementations, each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material may have a mass of no greater than 20 mg, such that the amount of material to be aerosolised by a given aerosol generating component at any one time is relatively low. For example, the mass per portion may be equal to or lower than 20 mg, or equal to or lower than 10 mg, or equal to or lower than 5 mg.

Each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material may have a mass of from about 0.1 to about 4 mg. In some embodiments, each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of from about 0.5 to about 3 mg, from about 0.5 to about 2 mg or from about 0.5 to about 1 mg.

In some embodiments, the one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material have the same composition. In some embodiments, at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material are different from one another. When the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are different from one another, this may allow a user to customise the aerosol that is received per inhalation or per inhalation session.

In some embodiments, the weight of each discrete portion of aerosol generating material within the consumable varies by no more than about 10%, such as no more than about 8%, about 7%, about 5% or about 3%.

In some embodiments, each discrete portion of aerosol generating material within the consumable has the same or substantially the same weight. In some embodiments, the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 10% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions. That is, the amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is from about 90% to about 110% of the of any of the total amount of cannabinoids in any other discrete portion.

In some embodiments, the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 5%, about 4%, about 3% or about 2% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

In some embodiments, the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material, and the weight of any given discrete portion is within about 10% of the weight of any of the other discrete portions. That is, the weight of any given discrete portion is from about 90% to about 110% of the weight of any of the other discrete portions.

In some embodiments, the total weight of any given discrete portion is within about 5%, about 4%, about 3% or about 2% of the total weight of any of the other discrete portions.

In some embodiments, the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material, a first discrete portion of aerosol generating material has a weight of from about 1 to about 20 mg, and the weight of each of the other discrete portions is between about 90% and about 100% of the weight of the first discrete portion.

In some embodiments, at least 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised during use, for example when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 250 °C to about 280 °C, for a period of at least 1 second, such as from about 1 second to about 5 seconds or from about 1 second to about 3 seconds. In some embodiments, at least 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids contained in a single discrete portion of the aerosol generating material is aerosolised during a single puff. A single puff may be from about 1 second to about 5 seconds at a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 250 °C to about 280 °C. For example, a single puff may be 3 seconds at a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 250 °C to about 280 °C.

Carrier

The discrete portions of aerosol generating material may be present on or in a carrier support (or carrier component). The carrier may function as a support on which the aerosol-generating material is formed, thereby easing manufacture. The carrier may also provide rigidity to the aerosol-generating material, easing handling.

The carrier may be any suitable material which can be used to support an aerosolgenerating material. In some cases, the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, greaseproof paper, ceramic, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof. In some cases, the carrier may comprise or consist of a tobacco material, such as a sheet of reconstituted tobacco. In some cases, the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof. In some cases, the carrier comprises paper. In some cases, the carrier itself may be a laminate structure comprising layers of materials selected from the preceding lists. In some cases, the carrier may also function as a flavour support. For example, the carrier may be impregnated with a flavourant or with tobacco extract.

In some cases, the carrier may be magnetic. This functionality may be used to fasten the carrier to the assembly in use, or may be used to generate particular aerosolgenerating material shapes. In some cases, the consumable may comprise one or more magnets which can be used to fasten the consumable to an induction heater in use.

In some cases, the carrier may be substantially or wholly impermeable to gas and/or aerosol. This prevents aerosol or gas passage through the carrier layer, thereby controlling the flow and ensuring it is delivered to the user. This can also be used to prevent condensation or other deposition of the gas/aerosol in use on, for example, the surface of a heater provided in an aerosol generating assembly. Thus, consumption efficiency and hygiene can be improved in some cases.

In some cases, the surface of the carrier that abuts the aerosol-generating material may be porous. For example, in one case, the carrier comprises paper. A porous carrier such as paper is particularly suitable for the present invention; the porous (e.g. paper) layer abuts the aerosol-generating layer and forms a strong bond. The aerosolgenerating material is formed by drying a gel and, without being limited by theory, it is thought that the slurry from which the gel is formed partially impregnates the porous carrier (e.g. paper) so that when the gel sets and forms cross-links, the carrier is partially bound into the gel. This provides a strong binding between the gel and the carrier (and between the dried gel and the carrier).

Additionally, surface roughness may contribute to the strength of bond between the aerosol-generating material and the carrier. The paper roughness (for the surface abutting the carrier) may suitably be in the range of 50-1000 Bekk seconds, suitably 50-150 Bekk seconds, suitably 100 Bekk seconds (measured over an air pressure interval of 50.66-48.00 kPa). (A Bekk smoothness tester is an instrument used to determine the smoothness of a paper surface, in which air at a specified pressure is leaked between a smooth glass surface and a paper sample, and the time (in seconds) for a fixed volume of air to seep between these surfaces is the "Bekk smoothness”.)

Conversely, the surface of the carrier facing away from the aerosol-generating material may be arranged in contact with the heater, and a smoother surface may provide more efficient heat transfer. Thus, in some cases, the carrier is disposed so as to have a rougher side abutting the aerosol-generating material and a smoother side facing away from the aerosol-generating material.

In one particular case, the carrier may be a paper-backed foil; the paper layer abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and the properties discussed in the previous paragraphs are afforded by this abutment. The foil backing is substantially impermeable, providing control of the aerosol flow path. A metal foil backing may also serve to conduct heat to the aerosol-generating material. In another case, the foil layer of the paper-backed foil abuts the aerosol-generating material. The foil is substantially impermeable, thereby preventing water provided in the aerosol-generating material to be absorbed into the paper which could weaken its structural integrity.

In some cases, the carrier is formed from or comprises metal foil, such as aluminium foil. A metallic carrier may allow for better conduction of thermal energy to the aerosolgenerating material. Additionally, or alternatively, a metal foil may function as a susceptor in an induction heating system. In particular embodiments, the carrier comprises a metal foil layer and a carrier layer, such as cardboard. In these embodiments, the metal foil layer may have a thickness of less than 20pm, such as from about 1 m to about 10pm, suitably about 5pm.

In some cases, the carrier may have a thickness of between about 0.017mm and about 2.0mm, suitably from about 0.02mm, 0.05mm or 0.1mm to about 1.5mm, 1.0mm, or 0.5mm.

An example consumable (also called an aerosol generating article) 4 comprising a carrier 42 is shown in Figures 2A to 2C. Figure 2A is a top-down view of the article 4, Figure 2B is an end-on view along the longitudinal (length) axis of the article 4, and Figure 2C is a side-on view along the width axis of the article 4.

In some cases, the carrier 42 is broadly cuboidal in shape and has a length I, a width w and a thickness tc as shown in Figures 2A to 2C. The length may be from about 10 mm to about 150 mm, such as from about 20 mm to about 100 mm or from about 30 mm to about 80 mm. The width may be from about 4 mm to about 40 mm, such as from about 5 mm to about 30 mm or from about 7 mm to about 25 mm.

By way of a concrete example, the length of the carrier component 42 may be 30 to 80 mm, the width may be 7 to 25 mm, and the thickness may be between 0.2 to 1 mm. However, it should be appreciated that the above are exemplary dimensions of the carrier component 42, and in other implementations the carrier component 42 may have different dimensions as appropriate. In some implementations, the carrier component 42 may comprise one or more protrusions extending in the length and/or width directions of the carrier component 42 to help facilitate handling of the article 4 by the user.

Suitably, the thickness of the carrier layer may be in the range of about 10pm, 15pm, 17pm, 20pm, 23pm, 25pm, 50pm, 75pm or 0.1mm to about 2.5mm, 2.0mm, 1.5mm, 1.0mm or 0.5mm. The carrier may comprise more than one layer, and the thickness described herein refers to the aggregate thickness of those layers.

Aerosol-generating material

Cannabinoid

The one or more cannabinoid compounds may be selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM) and cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicitran (CBT), and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more cannabinoids comprise (or are) cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the one or more cannabinoids comprise (or are) cannabidiol (CBD) and/or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In some embodiments, the one or more cannabinoids comprises (or is) cannabidiol (CBD).

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises nicotine and cannabidiol (CBD). In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating comprises nicotine, cannabidiol (CBD), and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids. In some embodiments, each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 3.5 mg, from about 0.3 to about 3 mg, from about 0.3 to about 2.5 mg, from about 0.5 to about 2 mg, from about 0.5 to about 1 .5 mg or from about 0.5 to about 1 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 1wt%, 2wt%, 5wt%, 12wt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 40 wt%, 45wt%, 50 wt% or 60 wt% of one of more cannabinoids. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 1 to about 60 wt% of one of more cannabinoids, such as from about 5 to about 50 wt% or from about 20 to about 45 wt% of one of more cannabinoids.

Aerosol-former material

The aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 12wt% or 13wt% to about 18wt%, 20wt%, 25wt%, 30wt%, 35wt%, 45wt%, 55wt%, 65wt%, 75wt% or 80wt% of an aerosol-former material (all calculated on a dry weight basis). In exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises 1- 80wt%, 1-50wt%, 5-35wt%, 10-25wt%, 12-20wt% or 13-18wt% of an aerosol-former material (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-propanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythrito, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material comprises one or more polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerin; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and/or aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material comprises, consists essentially of or consists of propylene glycol and glycerol. In some embodiments the ratio of propylene glycol to glycerol is from about 1 :0 to about 0:1 , such as from 5:1 to about 1 :5, from about 2:1 to about 1 :2, or from about 1 :1 to about 1 :2.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material comprises, consists essentially of or consists of glycerol.

Binder

In some embodiments, the binder comprises (or is) a hydrocolloid. In some embodiments, the binder comprises (or is) one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alginates, pectins, starches (and derivatives), celluloses (and derivatives, such as such as methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)), gums, silica or silicones compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the binder comprises (or is) one or more of alginates, pectins, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin and polyvinyl alcohol.

In some embodiments, the binder is a cellulosic binder, which may be selected from the group consisting of: hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the binder comprises (or is) a non-cellulosic binder, which may be selected from the group consisting of agar, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginate, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the non-cellulose binder is alginate. In some embodiments, the binder comprises (or is) one or more of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, alginate, pectin, guar gum, and acacia gum.

In some embodiments, the binder comprises alginate and/or pectin.

In some embodiments, the binder comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of alginate and pectin.

In some embodiments, the binder comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of one or more carboxymethylcellulose, alginate, and pectin.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 wt% to about 60 wt% of a binder, such as from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt%, from about 10 wt% to about 35 wt%, from about 15 wt% to about 30 wt%, or from about 15 wt% to about 25 wt%.

Filler

The aerosol generating material may further comprise a filler. Use of a filler may help to reduce tackiness of the aerosol-generating material, for example if high levels of aerosol-former material are present.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises less than about 50 wt% of a filler, such as from about 1 wt% to 50 wt%, or 5 wt% to 40 wt%, or 5 wt% to 30 wt%, or 10 wt% to 20 wt%.

In other embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises less than 20 wt%, suitably less than 10 wt% or less than 5 wt% of a filler. In some cases, the aerosolgenerating material comprises less than 1 wt% of a filler, and in some cases the aerosol-generating material comprises no filler.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises from about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 18wt% or 20wt% to about 50wt%, 45wt%, 40wt%, 35wt% or 30wt% of filler (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the aerosol-generating material may comprise 5-45wt%, 10-40wt%, 18-35wt% or 20-30wt% of filler (all calculated on a dry weight basis). These amounts represent the total amount of filler(s) in the aerosol-generating material.

The filler, if present, may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials, such as calcium carbonate, chitosan, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves. The filler may comprise one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp; tobacco pulp; hemp fibre; starch and starch derivatives, such as maltodextrin; and cellulose and cellulose derivatives, such as ground cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and nanocrystalline cellulose. In particular cases, the aerosol-generating material comprises no calcium carbonate such as chalk.

In some embodiments, the filler is fibrous. For example, the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and/or nanocrystalline cellulose.

In some cases, the filler comprises maltodextrin or microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).

As would be well understood by the skilled person, microcrystalline cellulose may be formed by depolymerising cellulose by a chemical process (e.g. using an acid or enzyme). One example method for forming microcrystalline cellulose involves acid hydrolysis of cellulose, using an acid such as HCI. The cellulose produced after this treatment is crystalline (i.e. no amorphous regions remain). Suitable methods and conditions for forming microcrystalline cellulose are well-known in the art.

In some cases, the filler comprises, consists essentially of or consists of wood pulp, calcium carbonate and combinations thereof.

In some cases, the filler comprises, consists essentially of or consists of wood pulp and calcium carbonate.

In some cases, the filler comprises, consists essentially of or consists of wood pulp. The aerosol generating material may comprise about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 12wt% or 13wt% to about 15wt%, 17wt% or 20wt% of wood pulp (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

The aerosol generating material may comprise from about 10wt%, 20wt%, 30wt%, 35wt%, 40wt% or 45wt% to about 55wt%, 60wt%, 65wt% or 70wt% of calcium carbonate (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

Acid

The aerosol generating material may comprise an acid. The acid may be an organic acid. In some embodiments, the acid may be at least one of a monoprotic acid, a diprotic acid and a triprotic acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may contain at least one carboxyl functional group. In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of an alpha-hydroxy acid, carboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid, tricarboxylic acid and keto acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may be an alpha-keto acid.

In some embodiments, the acid may be at least one of succinic acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, levulinic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, formic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, propanoic and pyruvic acid.

Suitably the acid is lactic acid. In other embodiments, the acid is benzoic acid. In other embodiments the acid may be an inorganic acid. In some of these embodiments the acid may be a mineral acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, boric acid and phosphoric acid. In some embodiments, the acid is levulinic acid.

The inclusion of an acid is particularly preferred in embodiments in which the aerosol generating material comprises nicotine. In such embodiments, the presence of an acid may stabilise dissolved species in the slurry from which the aerosol-generating material is formed. The presence of the acid may reduce or substantially prevent evaporation of nicotine during drying of the slurry, thereby reducing loss of nicotine during manufacturing. In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises a binder comprising a cellulosic binder and/or a non-cellulosic binder, an active substance and an acid.

Flavour

In some embodiments the aerosol-generating material may further comprise a flavour.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise about 0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt%, 25wt%, 30wt% or 35wt% to about 45wt%, 50wt% or 60wt% of flavour (all calculated on a dry weight basis). In exemplary embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material comprises 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30wt%, or 35wt% to about 42wt%, 45wt% or 47wt% of flavour. For example, the aerosol-generating material may comprise 1-60wt%, 1-45wt%, 10-45wt%, 20-50wt%, 30-50wt%, 30-45wt% or 35-45wt% of flavour.

As used herein, the terms “flavour” and “flavourant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, Wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang- ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco.

In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucalyptol or WS-3 (/V-ethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide).

Colourant

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a colourant. The addition of a colourant may alter the visual appearance of the aerosol-generating material. The presence of colourant in the aerosol-generating material may enhance the visual appearance of the aerosol-generating material. By adding a colourant to the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol-generating material may be colour-matched to other components of an article comprising the aerosol-generating material.

A variety of colourants may be used depending on the desired colour of the aerosolgenerating material. The colour of aerosol-generating material may be, for example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown or black. Other colours are also envisaged. Natural or synthetic colourants, such as natural or synthetic dyes, food-grade colourants and pharmaceutical-grade colourants may be used. In certain embodiments, the colourant is caramel, which may confer the aerosol-generating material with a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the colour of the aerosolgenerating material may be similar to the colour of other components (such as tobacco material) in an aerosol-generating composition comprising the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the addition of a colourant to the aerosol-generating material renders it visually indistinguishable from other components in the aerosolgenerating composition.

The colourant may be incorporated during the formation of the aerosol-generating material (e.g. when forming a slurry comprising the materials that form the aerosolgenerating material) or it may be applied to the aerosol-generating material after its formation (e.g. by spraying it onto the aerosol-generating material).

Active substance

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises an additional active substance in addition to the one or more cannabinoids.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco or another botanical.

In one embodiment the active substance is a legally permissible recreational drug.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12. In some embodiments, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel. For example, in some cases, an aerosol-generating composition comprises the aerosol generating material and additionally comprises a tobacco material and/or nicotine. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise 5-60wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of a tobacco material and/or nicotine. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 70wt%, 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt%, 40wt%, 35wt%, or 30wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of an active substance. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise from about 1wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 70wt%, 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt%, 40wt%, 35wt%, or 30wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of a tobacco material. For example, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise 1-70wt%, 10-50wt%, 15-40wt% or 20- 35wt% of a tobacco material. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise from about 1wt%, 2wt%, 3wt% or 4wt% to about 20wt%, 18wt%, 15wt% or 12wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosolgenerating composition may comprise 1-20wt%, 2-18wt% or 3-12wt% of nicotine.

In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition comprises an active substance such as tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise 5-60wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise from about 5wt%, 10wt%, 15wt%, 20wt% or 25wt% to about 60wt%, 50wt%, 45wt%, 40wt%, 35wt%, or 30wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) tobacco extract. For example, the aerosolgenerating composition may comprise 10-50wt%, 15-40wt% or 20-35wt% of tobacco extract. The tobacco extract may contain nicotine at a concentration such that the aerosol-generating composition comprises 1wt% 1.5wt%, 2wt% or 2.5wt% to about 10wt%, 8wt%, 6wt%, 5wt%, 4.5wt% or 4wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise 1-10 wt%, 2.5-8 wt% or 2-6wt% nicotine. In some cases, there may be no nicotine in the aerosol-generating composition other than that which results from the tobacco extract.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition comprises no tobacco material but does comprise nicotine. In some such cases, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise from about 1wt%, 2wt%, 3wt% or 4wt% to about 20wt%, 18wt%, 15wt% or 12wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosol-generating composition may comprise 1-20wt%, 2-18wt% or 3-12wt% of nicotine.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from tobacco. By “substantially free from” it is meant that the material comprises less than 1wt%, such as less than 0.5wt% tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material is free from tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material does not comprise tobacco fibres. In particular embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not comprise fibrous material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition does not comprise tobacco fibres. In particular embodiments, the aerosol-generating composition does not comprise fibrous material.

Methods

(a) providing a slurry comprising:

(i) aerosol-former material;

(ii) binder;

(iii) one or more cannabinoids; and

(iv) solvent;

(b) forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry;

(c) drying one or more discrete portions of the slurry to form one or more discrete portions of the aerosol-generating material, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

This method may be used to form the consumable of the invention. Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a consumable comprising one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material (e.g. a consumable as described herein), the method comprising:

(a) providing a slurry comprising: (i) aerosol-former material;

(ii) binder;

(iii) one or more cannabinoids; and

(iv) solvent;

(b) forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry;

Step (b) may comprise forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry on a carrier. In this case, the overall consumable will comprise a carrier, as described herein.

Step (b) may comprise casting the slurry, for example on a carrier.

The drying (c) may, in some cases, remove from about 50wt%, 60wt%, 70wt%, 80wt% or 90wt% to about 80wt%, 90wt% or 95wt% (WWB) of water in the slurry.

The drying (c) may, in some cases, may reduce the material thickness by at least 80%, suitably 85% or 87%. For instance, the slurry may be cast at a thickness of 2mm, and the resulting dried aerosol-generating material may have a thickness of 0.2mm.

During step (c) the slurry may be heated to remove at least about 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt% or 90 wt% of the solvent.

The slurry itself may also form part of the invention. In some cases, the slurry solvent may consist essentially of or consist of water. In some cases, the slurry may comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt%, 70wt%, 80wt% or 90wt% of solvent (WWB).

In cases where the solvent consists of water, the dry weight content of the slurry may match the dry weight content of the aerosol-generating material. Thus, the discussion herein relating to the solid composition is explicitly disclosed in combination with the slurry aspect of the invention.

Non-combustible aerosol provision system An aspect of the invention provides a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising a consumable as described herein and a non-combustible aerosol provision device.

A non-combustible aerosol provision system may also be referred to as an aerosol generating assembly. A non-combustible aerosol provision device may be referred to as an aerosol generating apparatus.

A non-combustible aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosolisable material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of an aerosol to a user. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "vapour" and "aerosol", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision device is a heat-not- burn device.

Non-combustible aerosol provision systems often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly including both a reusable aerosol provision device and a replaceable article (also called a consumable). In some implementations, the non- combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a power source and a controller (or control circuitry). The power source may, for example, be an electric power source, such as a battery or rechargeable battery, or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source. In some implementations, the non-combustible aerosol provision device may also comprise an aerosol generating component.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating component is a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosolisable material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating component is capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without heating. For example, the aerosol generating component may be capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without applying heat thereto, for example via one or more of vibrational, mechanical, pressurisation or electrostatic means.

The heater is configured to heat not burn the consumable, and thus the aerosolgenerating material. The heater may be, in some cases, a thin film, electrically resistive heater. In other cases, the heater may comprise an induction heater or the like. The heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical heat source which undergoes an exothermic reaction to produce heat in use. The aerosol generating assembly may comprise a plurality of heaters. The heater(s) may be powered by a battery.

The consumable may additionally comprise a cooling element and/or a filter. The cooling element, if present, may act or function to cool gaseous or aerosol components. In some cases, it may act to cool gaseous components such that they condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to space the very hot parts of the non-combustible aerosol provision device from the user. The filter, if present, may comprise any suitable filter known in the art such as a cellulose acetate plug.

In some cases, the aerosol generating assembly may be a heat-not-burn device. That is, it may contain a solid tobacco-containing material (and no liquid aerosol-generating material). In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise the tobacco material. A heat-not-burn device is disclosed in WO 2015/062983 A2, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating an aerosol using a non-combustible aerosol provision system as described herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises heating the aerosol-generating material to a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C. In some embodiments, the method comprises heating the aerosol-generating material to a temperature of from about 220 °C to about 280 °C. In some embodiments, the method comprises heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating material to a temperature of from about 220 °C to about 280 °C over a session of use.

“Session of use” as used herein refers to a single period of use of the non-combustible aerosol provision system by a user. The session of use begins at the point at which power is first supplied to at least one heating unit present in the heating assembly. The device will be ready for use after a period of time has elapsed from the start of the session of use. The session of use ends at the point at which no power is supplied to any of the heating elements. The end of the session of use may coincide with the point at which the article is depleted (the point at which the total particulate matter yield (mg) in each puff would be deemed unacceptably low by a user). The session will have a duration of a plurality of puffs. Said session may have a duration less than 7 minutes, or 6 minutes, or 5 minutes, or 4 minutes and 30 seconds, or 4 minutes, or 3 minutes and 30 seconds. In some embodiments, the session of use may have a duration of from 2 to 5 minutes, or from 3 to 4.5 minutes, or 3.5 to 4.5 minutes, or suitably 4 minutes. A session may be initiated by the user actuating a button or switch on the device, causing at least one heating element to begin rising in temperature.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a schematic representation of a noncombustible aerosol provision system 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The aerosol provision system 1 comprises two main components, namely an aerosol provision device 2 and a consumable (also called an aerosol generating article) 4.

The aerosol provision device 2 comprises an outer housing 21 , a power source 22, control circuitry 23, a plurality of aerosol generating components 24, a receptacle 25, a mouthpiece end 26, an air inlet 27, an air outlet 28, a touch-sensitive panel 29, an inhalation sensor 30, and an end of use indicator 31.

The outer housing 21 may be formed from any suitable material, for example a plastic material. The outer housing 21 is arranged such that the power source 22, control circuitry 23, aerosol generating components 24, receptacle 25 and inhalation sensor 30 are located within the outer housing 21. The outer housing 21 also defines the air inlet 27 and air outlet 28, described in more detail below. The touch sensitive panel 29 and end of use indicator are located on the exterior of the outer housing 21.

The outer housing 21 further includes a mouthpiece end 26. The outer housing 21 and mouthpiece end 26 are formed as a single component (that is, the mouthpiece end 26 forms a part of the outer housing 21). The mouthpiece end 26 is defined as a region of the outer housing 21 which includes the air outlet 28 and is shaped in such a way that a user may comfortably place their lips around the mouthpiece end 26 to engage with air outlet 28. In Figure 1 , the thickness of the outer housing 21 decreases towards the air outlet 28 to provide a relatively thinner portion of the device 2 which may be more easily accommodated by the lips of a user. In other implementations, however, the mouthpiece end 26 may be a removable component that is separate from but able to be coupled to the outer housing 21 , and may be removed for cleaning and/or replacement with another mouthpiece end 26.

The power source 22 is configured to provide operating power to the aerosol provision device 2. The power source 22 may be any suitable power source, such as a battery. For example, the power source 22 may comprise a rechargeable battery, such as a Lithium Ion battery. The power source 22 may be removable or form an integrated part of the aerosol provision device 2. In some implementations, the power source 22 may be recharged through connection of the device 2 to an external power supply (such as mains power) through an associated connection port, such as a USB port (not shown) or via a suitable wireless receiver (not shown).

The control circuitry 23 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol provision device to provide certain operating functions of aerosol provision device 2. The control circuitry 23 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the aerosol provision devices’ operation. For example, the control circuitry 23 may comprise a logical sub-unit for controlling the recharging of the power source 22. Additionally, the control circuitry 23 may comprise a logical sub-unit for communication, e.g., to facilitate data transfer from or to the device 2. However, a primary function of the control circuitry 23 is to control the aerosolisation of aerosol generating material, as described in more detail below. It will be appreciated the functionality of the control circuitry 23 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. The control circuitry 23 is connected to the power supply 23 and receives power from the power source 22 and may be configured to distribute or control the power supply to other components of the aerosol provision device 2.

In the described implementation, the aerosol provision device 2 further comprises a receptacle 25 which is arranged to receive an aerosol generating article 4, such as the consumable described herein.

The receptacle 25 is suitable sized to removably receive the article 4 therein. Although not shown, the device 2 may comprise a hinged door or removable part of the outer housing 21 to permit access to the receptacle 25 such that a user may insert and/or remove the article 4 from the receptacle 25. The hinged door or removable part of the outer housing 21 may also act to retain the article 4 within the receptacle 25 when closed. When the aerosol generating article 4 is exhausted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different aerosol generating article 4, the aerosol generating article 4 may be removed from the aerosol provision device 2 and a replacement aerosol generating article 4 positioned in the receptacle 25 in its place. Alternatively, the device 2 may include a permanent opening that communicates with the receptacle 25 and through which the article 4 can be inserted into the receptacle 25. In such implementations, a retaining mechanism for retaining the article 4 within the receptacle 25 of the device 2 may be provided.

As seen in Figure 1 , the device 2 comprises a number of aerosol generating components 24. In the described implementation, the aerosol generating components 24 are heating elements 24, and more specifically resistive heating elements 24. Resistive heating elements 24 receive an electrical current and convert the electrical energy into heat. The resistive heating elements 24 may be formed from, or comprise, any suitable resistive heating material, such as NiChrome (Ni2oCrso), which generates heat upon receiving an electrical current. In one implementation, the heating elements 24 may comprise an electrically insulating substrate on which resistive tracks are disposed. However, as discussed above and as should be appreciated, the heating elements may be any suitable form of heating element.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional, top-down view of the aerosol provision device 2 showing the arrangement of the heating elements 24 in more detail. In Figures 1 and 3, the heating elements 24 are positioned such that a surface of the heating element 24 forms a part of the surface of the receptacle 25. That is, an outer surface of the heating elements 24 is flush with the inner surface of the receptacle. More specifically, the outer surface of the heating element 24 that is flush with the inner surface of the receptacle 25 is a surface of the heating element 24 that is heated (i.e., its temperature increases) when an electrical current is passed through the heating element 24.

The heating elements 24 are arranged such that, when the article 4 is received in the receptacle 25, each heating element 24 aligns with a corresponding discrete portion of aerosol generating material 44. Hence, in this example, six heating elements 24 are arranged in two by three array broadly corresponding to the arrangement of the two by three array of the six discrete portions of aerosol generating material 44 shown in Figures 2A to 2C. However, as discussed above, the number of heating elements 24 may be different in different implementations, for example there may be 8, 10, 12, 14, etc. heating elements 24. In some implementations, the number of heating elements 24 is greater than or equal to six but no greater than 20.

More specifically, the heating elements 24 are labelled 24a to 24f in Figure 3, and it should be appreciated that each heating element 24 is arranged to align with a corresponding portion of aerosol generating material 44 as denoted by the corresponding letter following the references 24/44. Accordingly, each of the heating elements 24 can be individually activated to heat a corresponding portion of aerosol generating material 44.

While the heating elements 24 are shown flush with the inner surface of the receptacle 25, in other implementations the heating elements 24 may protrude into the receptacle 25. In either case, the article 4 contacts the surfaces of the heating elements 24 when present in the receptacle 25 such that heat generated by the heating elements 24 is conducted to the aerosol generating material 44 through the carrier component 42. In some implementations, to improve the heat-transfer efficiency, the receptacle may comprise components which apply a force to the surface of the carrier component 42 so as to press the carrier component 42 onto the heater elements 24, thereby increasing the efficiency of heat transfer via conduction to the aerosol generating material 44. Additionally or alternatively, the heater elements 24 may be configured to move in the direction towards/away from the article 4, and may be pressed into the surface of carrier component 42 that does not comprise the aerosol generating material 44.

In use, the device 2 (and more specifically the control circuitry 23) is configured to deliver power to the heating elements 24 in response to a user input. Broadly speaking, the control circuitry 23 is configured to selectively apply power to the heating elements 24 to subsequently heat the corresponding portions of aerosol generating material 44 to generate aerosol. When a user inhales on the device 2 (i.e. , inhales at mouthpiece end 26), air is drawn into the device 2 through air inlet 27, into the receptacle 25 where it mixes with the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol generating material 44, and then to the user’s mouth via air outlet 28. That is, the aerosol is delivered to the user through mouthpiece end 26 and air outlet 28.

The device 2 of Figure 1 includes a touch-sensitive panel 29 and an inhalation sensor 30. Collectively, the touch-sensitive panel 29 and inhalation sensor 30 act as mechanisms for a receiving a user input to cause the generation of aerosol, and thus may more broadly be referred to as user input mechanisms. The received user input may be said to be indicative of a user’s desire to generate aerosol.

The touch-sensitive panel 29 may be a capacitive touch sensor and can be operated by a user of the device 2 placing their finger or another suitably conductive object (for example a stylus) on the touch-sensitive panel. In the described implementation, the touch-sensitive panel includes a region which can be pressed by a user to start aerosol generation. The control circuitry 23 may be configured to receive signalling from the touch-sensitive panel 29 and to use this signalling to determine if a user is pressing (i.e. activating) the region of the touch-sensitive panel 29. If the control circuitry 23 receives this signalling, then the control circuitry 23 is configured to supply power from the power source 22 to one or more of the heating elements 24. Power may be supplied for a predetermined time period (for example, three seconds) from the moment a touch is detected, or in response to the length of time the touch is detected for. In other implementations, the touch sensitive panel 29 may be replaced by a user actuatable button or the like.

The inhalation sensor 30 may be a pressure sensor or microphone or the like configured to detect a drop in pressure or a flow of air caused by the user inhaling on the device 2. The inhalation sensor 30 is located in fluid communication with the air flow pathway (that is, in fluid communication with the air flow path between inlet 27 and outlet 28). In a similar manner as described above, the control circuitry 23 may be configured to receive signalling from the inhalation sensor and to use this signalling to determine if a user is inhaling on the aerosol provision system 1 . If the control circuitry 23 receives this signalling, then the control circuitry 23 is configured to supply power from the power source 22 to one or more of the heating elements 24. Power may be supplied for a predetermined time period (for example, three seconds) from the moment inhalation is detected, or in response to the length of time the inhalation is detected for.

In the described example, both the touch-sensitive panel 29 and inhalation sensor 30 detect the user’s desire to begin generating aerosol for inhalation. The control circuitry 23 may be configured to only supply power to the heating element 24 when signalling from both the touch-sensitive panel 29 and inhalation sensor 30 are detected. This may help prevent inadvertent activation of the heating elements 24 from accidental activation of one of the user input mechanisms. However, in other implementations, the aerosol provision system 1 may have only one of a touch sensitive panel 29 and an inhalation sensor 30.

These aspects of the operation of the aerosol provision system 1 (i.e. puff detection and touch detection) may in themselves be performed in accordance with established techniques (for example using conventional inhalation sensor and inhalation sensor signal processing techniques and using conventional touch sensor and touch sensor signal processing techniques).

Turning now to the operation of the device 2, in response to detecting the signalling from either one or both of the touch-sensitive panel 29 and inhalation sensor 30, the control circuitry 23 is configured to supply power to one or more of the heating elements 24.

In some implementations, the control circuitry 23 may be configured to generate an alert signal which signifies the end of use of the article 4, for example when each of the heating elements 24 has been activated a predetermined number of times, or when a given heating element 24 has been activated a predetermined number of times and/or for a given cumulative activation time and/or with a given cumulative activation power. In Figure 1 , the device 2 includes an end of use indicator 31 which in this implementation is an LED. However, in other implementations, the end of use indicator 31 may comprise any mechanism which is capable of supplying an alert signal to a user; that is, the end of use indicator 31 may be an optical element to deliver an optical signal, a sound generator to deliver an aural signal, and/or a vibrator to deliver a haptic signal. In some implementations, the indicator 31 may be combined or otherwise provided by the touch-sensitive panel (e.g., if the touch-sensitive panel includes a display element). The device 2 may prevent subsequent activation of the device 2 when the alert signal is being output. The alert signal may be switched off, and the control circuitry 23 reset, when the user replaces the article 4 and/or switches off the alert signal via a manual means such as a button (not shown).

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through a schematic representation of an aerosol provision system 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. The aerosol provision system 200 includes components that are broadly similar to those described in relation to Figure 1 ; however, the reference numbers have been increased by 200. For efficiency, the components having similar reference numbers should be understood to be broadly the same as their counterparts in Figures 1 and 2A to 2C unless otherwise stated.

The aerosol provision device 202 comprises an outer housing 221 , a power source 222, control circuitry 223, induction work coils 224a, a receptacle 225, a mouthpiece end 226, an air inlet 227, an air outlet 228, a touch-sensitive panel 229, an inhalation sensor 230, and an end of use indicator 231 .

The aerosol generating article 204 comprises a carrier component 242, aerosol generating material 244, and susceptor elements 244b, as shown in more detail in Figures 8A to 8C. Figure 5A is a top-down view of the article 4, Figure 5B is an end-on view along the longitudinal (length) axis of the article 4, and Figure 5C is a side-on view along the width axis of the article 4.

Figures 4 and 5 represent an aerosol provision system 200 which uses induction to heat the aerosol generating material 244 to generate an aerosol for inhalation.

In the described implementation, the aerosol generating component 224 is formed of two parts; namely, induction work coils 224a which are located in the aerosol provision device 202 and susceptors 224b which are located in the aerosol generating article 204. Accordingly, in this described implementation, each aerosol generating component 224 comprises elements that are distributed between the aerosol generating article 204 and the aerosol provision device 202.

Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductive object, referred to as a susceptor, is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating.

A susceptor is material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The heating material may be an electrically- conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The heating material may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the heating material is heatable by both heating mechanisms. Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.

When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensify the Joule heating.

In the described implementation, the susceptors 224b are formed from an aluminium foil, although it should be appreciated that other metallic and/or electrically conductive materials may be used in other implementations. As seen in Figure 5, the carrier component 242 comprises a number of susceptors 224b which correspond in size and location to the discrete portions of aerosol generating material 244 disposed on the surface of the carrier component 242. That is, the susceptors 224b have a similar width and length to the discrete portions of aerosol generating material 244.

The susceptors are shown embedded in the carrier component 242. However, in other implementations, the susceptors 224b may be placed on the surface of the carrier component 242.

The aerosol provision device 202 comprises a plurality of induction work coils 224a shown schematically in Figure 4. The work coils 224a are shown adjacent the receptacle 225, and are generally flat coils arranged such that the rotational axis about which a given coil is wound extends into the receptacle 225 and is broadly perpendicular to the plane of the carrier component 242 of the article 204. The exact windings are not shown in Figure 4 and it should be appreciated that any suitable induction coil may be used. The control circuitry 223 comprises a mechanism to generate an alternating current which is passed to any one or more of the induction coils 224a. The alternating current generates an alternating magnetic field, as described above, which in turn causes the corresponding susceptor(s) 224b to heat up. The heat generated by the susceptor(s) 224b is transferred to the portions of aerosol generating material 244 accordingly.

As described above in relation to Figures 1 and 2A to 2C, the control circuitry 223 is configured to supply current to the work coils 224a in response to receiving signalling from the touch sensitive panel 229 and/or the inhalation sensor 230. Any of the techniques for selecting which heating elements 24 are heated by control circuitry 23 as described previously may analogously be applied to selecting which work coils 224a are energised (and thus which portions of aerosol generating material 244 are subsequently heated) in response to receiving signalling from the touch sensitive panel 229 and/or the inhalation sensor 230 by control circuitry 223 to generate an aerosol for user inhalation.

Although the above has described an induction heating aerosol provision system where the work coils 224a and susceptors 224b are distributed between the article 204 and device 202, an induction heating aerosol provision system may be provided where the work coils 224a and susceptors 224b are located solely within the device 202. For example, with reference to Figure 4, the susceptors 224b may be provided above the induction work coils 224a and arranged such that the susceptors 224b contact the lower surface of the carrier component 242 (in an analogous way to the aerosol provision system 1 shown in Figure 1).

Thus, Figure 4 describes a more concrete implementation where induction heating may be used in an aerosol provision device 202 to generate aerosol for user inhalation to which the techniques described in the present disclosure may be applied.

Although the above has described a system in which an array of aerosol generating components 24 (e.g., heater elements) are provided to energise the discrete portions of aerosol generating material, in other implementations, the article 4 and/or an aerosol generating component 24 may be configured to move relative to one another. That is, there may be fewer aerosol generating components 24 than discrete portions of aerosol generating material 44 provided on the carrier component 42 of the article 4, such that relative movement of the article 4 and aerosol generating components 24 is required in order to be able to individually energise each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material 44. For example, a movable heating element 24 may be provided within the receptacle 25 such that the heating element 24 may move relative to the receptacle 25. In this way, the movable heating element 24 can be translated (e.g., in the width and length directions of the carrier component 42) such that the heating element 24 can be aligned with respective ones of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material 44. This approach may reduce the number of aerosol generating components 42 required while still offering a similar user experience.

Although the above has described implementations where the device 2 can be configured or operated using the touch-sensitive panel 29 mounted on the device 2, the device 2 may instead be configured or controlled remotely. For example, the control circuitry 23 may be provided with a corresponding communication circuitry (e.g., Bluetooth) which enables the control circuitry 23 to communicate with a remote device such as a smartphone. Accordingly, the touch-sensitive panel 29 may, in effect, be implemented using an App or the like running on the smartphone. The smartphone may then transmit user inputs or configurations to the control circuitry 23 and the control circuitry 23 may be configured to operate on the basis of the received inputs or configurations.

Although the above has described implementations in which an aerosol is generated by energising (e.g., heating) aerosol generating material 44 which is subsequently inhaled by a user, it should be appreciated in some implementations that the generated aerosol may be passed through or over an aerosol modifying component to modify one or more properties of the aerosol before being inhaled by a user. For example, the aerosol provision device 2, 202 may comprise an air permeable insert (not shown) which is inserted in the airflow path downstream of the aerosol generating material 44, 244 (for example, the insert may be positioned in the outlet 28, 228). The insert may include a material which alters any one or more of the flavour, temperature, particle size, nicotine concentration, etc. of the aerosol as it passes through the insert before entering the user’s mouth. For example, the insert may include tobacco or treated tobacco. Such systems may be referred to as hybrid systems. The insert may include any suitable aerosol modifying material, which may encompass the aerosol generating materials described above. Although the above has described implementations in which the aerosol provision device 2, 202 comprises an end of use indicator 31 , 231 , it should be appreciated that the end of use indicator 31 , 231 may be provided by another device remote from the aerosol provision device 2, 202. For example, in some implementations, the control circuitry 23, 223 of the aerosol provision device 2, 202 may comprise a communication mechanism which allows data transfer between the aerosol provision device 2, 202 and a remote device such as a smartphone or smartwatch, for example. In these implementations, when the control circuitry 23, 223 determines that the article 4, 204 has reached its end of use, the control circuitry 23, 223 is configured to transmit a signal to the remote device, and the remote device is configured to generate the alert signal (e.g., using the display of a smartphone). Other remote devices and other mechanisms for generating the alert signal may be used as described above.

In some implementations, the article 4, 204 may comprise an identifier, such as a readable bar code or an RFID tag or the like, and the aerosol provision device 2, 202 comprises a corresponding reader. When the article is inserted into the receptacle 25, 225 of the device 2, 202, the device 2, 202 may be configured to read the identifier on the article 4, 204. The control circuitry 23, 223 may be configured to either recognise the presence of the article 4, 204 (and thus permit heating and/or reset an end of life indicator) or identify the type and/or the location of the portions of the aerosol generating material relative to the article 4, 204. This may affect which portions the control circuitry 23, 223 aerosolises and/or the way in which the portions are aerosolised, e.g., via adjusting the aerosol generation temperature and/or heating duration. Any suitable technique for recognising the article 4, 204 may be employed.

In addition, when the portions of aerosol generating material are provided on a carrier component 42, 242, the portions may, in some implementations, include weakened regions, e.g., through holes, vents or areas of relatively thinner aerosol generating material, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of the carrier component 42, 242. This may be the case when the hottest part of the aerosol generating material is the area directly contacting the carrier component (in other words, in scenarios where the heat is applied primarily to the surface of the aerosol generating material that contacts the carrier component 42, 242). Accordingly, the through holes may provide channels for the generated aerosol to escape and be released to the environment I the air flow through the device 2, 202 rather than causing a potential build-up of aerosol between the carrier component 42, 242 and the aerosol generating material 44, 244. Such build-up of aerosol can reduce the heating efficiency of the system as the build-up of aerosol can, in some implementations, cause a lifting of the aerosol generating material from the carrier component 42, 242 thus decreasing the efficiency of the heat transfer to the aerosol generating material. Each portion of aerosol generating material may be provided with one of more weakened regions as appropriate.

Thus, there has been described a method of generating aerosol from a consumable or an aerosol generating article which comprises discrete portions of aerosol generating material as described herein. The method comprises heating a first portion of aerosol generating material comprising to generate aerosol from the first aerosol generating material, and heating a second aerosol generating material to generate aerosol from the second aerosol generating material. Heating of the first aerosol generating material and heating the second aerosol generating material may be arranged to occur at substantially the same time, or may occur consecutively. Also described is an aerosol provision device and an aerosol provision system.

While the above described embodiments have in some respects focussed on some specific example aerosol provision systems, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied for aerosol provision systems using other technologies. That is to say, the specific manner in which various aspects of the aerosol provision system function are not directly relevant to the principles underlying the examples described herein.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Method of providing an aerosol

Another aspect of the invention is a method of providing an aerosol containing one or more cannabinoids, the method comprising heating a discrete portion of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein the discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

The heating step may comprise heating the discrete portion of aerosol generating material to a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 250 °C to about 280 °C.

In each case, the aerosol provided may comprise a specific dose or amount of the one or more cannabinoids. In some embodiments, about 95% or more, such as about 99% or more or about 100% (i.e. all or substantially all) of the one or more cannabinoids will be aerosolised, for example when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 250 °C to about 280 °C, for at least 1 second, such as from about 1 second to about 5 seconds or from about 1 second to about 3 seconds. In one aspect the above-mentioned dose or amount of cannabinoids will be aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

The amount or dose of the one or more cannabinoids in the aerosol will therefore be almost or substantially the same as the amount of the one or more cannabinoids in the aerosol generating material. The amount of cannabinoid inhaled by a user can therefore be accurately controlled.

1. A consumable comprising one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

2. The consumable of embodiment 1 , wherein the consumable comprises from about 1 to about 15 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

3. The consumable of embodiment 2, wherein the consumable comprises from about

1 to about 10 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

4. The consumable of embodiment 1 , wherein the consumable comprises 2 or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

5. The consumable of embodiment 4, wherein the consumable comprises from about

2 to about 15 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

6. The consumable of embodiment 5, wherein the consumable comprises from about 2 to about 10 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

7. The consumable of embodiment 6, wherein the consumable comprises from about 2 to about 8 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

8. The consumable of embodiment 7, wherein the consumable comprises from about 2 to about 6 discrete portions of aerosol generating material.

9. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of equal to or lower than 20 mg.

10. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of equal to or lower than 10 mg.

11. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of equal to or lower than 5 mg. 12. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of from about 0.1 to about 4 mg.

13. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of from about 0.5 to about 3 mg.

14. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of from about 0.5 to about 2 mg.

15. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material has a mass of from about 0.5 to about 1 mg.

16. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each discrete portion of aerosol generating material within the consumable has the same or substantially the same weight.

17. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 10% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

18. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is from about 90% to about 110% of the of any of the total amount of cannabinoids in any other discrete portion.

19. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 5% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

20. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 4% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions. 21. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 3% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

22. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within about 2% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

23. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total weight of any given discrete portion is within about 5% of the total weight of any of the other discrete portions.

24. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total weight of any given discrete portion is within about 4% of the total weight of any of the other discrete portions.

25. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total weight of any given discrete portion is within about 3% of the total weight of any of the other discrete portions.

26. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the total weight of any given discrete portion is within about 2% of the total weight of any of the other discrete portions.

27. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the weight of each discrete portion is the same or substantially the same.

28. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material, a first discrete portion of aerosol generating material has a weight of from about 1 to about 20 mg, and the weight of each of the other discrete portions is between about 90% and about 100% of the weight of the first discrete portion. 29. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least 70 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

30. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least 80 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

31 . The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least 90 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

32. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least 95 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

33. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least 99 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

34. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein 100 wt% of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised when the aerosol generating material is heated to a temperature of 280 °C for a period of 3 seconds.

35. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 4 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

36. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 3.5 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

37. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 3 mg of the one or more cannabinoids. 38. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.3 to about 2.5 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

39. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 to about 2 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

40. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

41. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 to about 1 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

42. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 1 to about 60 wt% of one of more cannabinoids.

43. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 5 to about 50 wt% of one of more cannabinoids.

44. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 20 to about 45 wt% of one of more cannabinoids.

45. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 1-80 wt% aerosol-former material.

46. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 1-50 wt% aerosol-former material.

47. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 5-35 wt% aerosol-former material.

48. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 10-25 wt% aerosol-former material. 49. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 12-20 wt% aerosol-former material.

50. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises 13-18 wt% aerosol-former material.

51. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 wt% to about 60 wt% of a binder.

52. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 5 wt% to about 50 wt% binder.

53. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 10 wt% to about 35 wt% binder.

54. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 15 wt% to about 30 wt% binder.

55. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 15 wt% to about 25 wt% binder.

56. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises less than 20 wt% filler.

57. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises less than 10 wt% filler.

58. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises less than 5 wt% filler.

59. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises less than 1 wt% filler.

60. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises no filler. 61. The consumable of any of embodiments 1-55, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises 5-45wt% of filler.

62. The consumable of embodiment 61, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises 10-40wt% of filler.

63. The consumable of embodiment 61, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises 18-35wt% of filler.

64. The consumable of embodiment 61, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises 20-30wt% of filler.

65. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the filler is fibrous.

66. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the filler is a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and/or nanocrystalline cellulose.

67. The consumable of any preceding embodiment, wherein the filler comprises, consists essentially of or consists of wood pulp.

Claims

2. The consumable according to claim 1 , wherein each of the discrete portions comprises from about 0.1 to about 4 mg of aerosol generating material.

3. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are located on a carrier.

4. The consumable according to claim 3, wherein the carrier is formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, greaseproof paper, ceramic, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof.

5. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material, and wherein the total amount of cannabinoids in any given discrete portion is within 10% of the total amount of cannabinoids in any of the other discrete portions.

6. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the consumable comprises at least two discrete portions of aerosol generating material, and wherein the weight of any given discrete portion is within 10% of the weight of any of the other discrete portions.

7. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the one or more cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM) and cannabielsoin (CBE), cannabicitran (CBT), and combinations thereof.

8. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the one or more cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and combinations thereof, preferably wherein the one or more cannabinoids are selected from the group consisting of: cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and combinations thereof.

9. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 to about 2 mg of the one or more cannabinoids, such as from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mg.

10. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosolgenerating material comprises from about 1 to about 60 wt% of one of more cannabinoids.

11. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the aerosolgenerating material comprises 1-80wt% of an aerosol-former material.

12. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the aerosolformer material comprises one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-propanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythrito, meso- Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

13. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of alginates, pectins, starches (and derivatives), celluloses (and derivatives, such as such as methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)), gums, silica or silicones compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof, such as the group consisting of alginates, pectins, carboxymethyl cellulose, and combinations thereof.

14. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises from about 0.5 wt% to about 60 wt% binder.

15. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the aerosol generating material further comprises a filler, preferably wherein the filler is a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and/or nanocrystalline cellulose.

16. The consumable according to claim 15, wherein the filler is present in the aerosol generating material in the amount of less than 20 wt%.

17. A method of forming one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the method comprising:

(a) providing a slurry comprising:

(i) aerosol-former material;

(ii) binder;

(iii) one or more cannabinoids; and

(iv) solvent;

(b) forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry;

(c) drying one or more discrete portions of the slurry to form one or more discrete portions of the aerosol-generating material, wherein each discrete portion comprises from about 0.5 to about 2 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method comprises forming one or more discrete portions of the slurry on a carrier.

19. A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the consumable of any of claims 1 to 16 and a non-combustible aerosol provision device.

20. The non-combustible aerosol provision system of claim 19, wherein the non- combustible aerosol provision device is a heat-not-burn device.

21. A method of providing an aerosol containing a one or more cannabinoids, the method comprising heating a discrete portion of aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising an aerosol-former material, a binder and one or more cannabinoids, wherein the discrete portion comprises from about 0.5 to about 2 mg of the one or more cannabinoids.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the heating step comprises heating the discrete portion of aerosol generating material to a temperature of less than or equal to 350 °C, such as from about 220 °C to about 280 °C or from about 220 °C to about 280 °C.

23. The method of claim 21 or 22, wherein the heating step comprises heating the discrete portion of aerosol generating material for a period of at least 1 second, such as from about 1 second to about 5 seconds or from about 1 second to about 3 seconds

24. The method of any of claims 21-23, wherein about 95% or more of the one or more cannabinoids is aerosolised during the heating step, such as about 99% or more, or about 100%.

25. The method of any of claims 21-24, wherein the heating step comprises heating the discrete portion of aerosol generating material to a temperature of 280 °C for 3 seconds.