DE102009029768B4 - Device for delivering nicotine - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for delivering nicotine with
A body (12) for receiving a nicotine deposit (40),
An electric heater (30) which generates heat upon activation of nicotine from the nicotine depot (40) to an airflow through the body (12),
- A power supply for operating the heater (30), as well
- A control unit (28) for activating the heating device (30) during the suction of air through the body (12), wherein the control unit (28) is coupled to a sensor (16) for detecting the body pressure acting in the body (12)
characterized in that
The sensor (16) continuously detects the flow pressure acting in the body (12) and generates a signal (U) based on the detected flow pressure, and
- The control unit (28), the heating power of the heater (30) based on the course of the signal generated by the sensor (16) (U) varies.

Description

The invention relates to a device for delivering nicotine with a body for holding a nicotine depot, an electric heater which generates heat to activate nicotine from the nicotine depot to an air flow through the body, a power supply for operating the heating device and a control unit for Activation of the heater when sucking air through the body.

Various medical studies have shown that nicotine can have a positive effect in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's disease). The greatest effect is achieved by the administration of nicotine when administered directly from the lungs, i. H. the alveoli is added in addition to the upstream mucous membranes.

For this reason, alternative dosage forms of nicotine have been investigated for a long time.

Another area of application is the replacement of known cigarettes. Commercially available cigarettes usually consist of tobacco wrapped in paper or a tobacco leaf and a filter element attached to the mouthpiece. By igniting the cigarette, the tobacco burns out and releases nicotine, which is carried along by the smoke to be inhaled by the smoker. In the combustion of tobacco other substances are released or generated in addition to nicotine, which are harmful to health, such as tar, arsenic and cadmium compounds, and carcinogenic compounds such as hydrazine, chrysene, formaldehyde, Nietrosamine and the like.

For quite some time, attempts have been made to establish so-called smoke-free cigarettes on the market.

In these smokeless cigarettes, a device is provided in which an artificial nicotine depot is used. If appropriate, the nicotine depot also contains flavoring or flavoring substances and / or, if necessary, at least one carrier substance for the nicotine and the flavorings or flavorings as further auxiliaries. The nicotine depot is heated with the help of the device so far that the nicotine is released together with the excipients.

A working on this second principle smoke-free cigarette is for example in the DE 10 2007 011 120 A1 described. The smokeless cigarette has an electric heater that generates heat upon activation and heats a stream of air passed therethrough. The heated air stream is passed through the artificial nicotine depot, where the heat releases the nicotine and other excipients from the nicotine depot. In this known smokeless cigarette, the heater is activated by the suction of air through the cigarette by means of a sensor. The deactivation of the heater takes place only after a predetermined time.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for delivery of nicotine, which is improved compared to the prior art, national standards, in a simple manner and inexpensive to manufacture.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for delivering nicotine having the features of claim 1 and in particular by the fact that the control unit is coupled to a sensor for detecting the air flow through the body, which continuously detects the flow pressure acting in the body and a signal U generated based on the detected flow pressure, wherein the control unit varies the heating power of the heater based on the course of the signal U generated by the sensor.

In the device according to the invention for the delivery of nicotine, it is possible to reduce nicotine release rates, i. H. Delivery of a certain amount of nicotine per tent unit, train or application, to different nicotine depots or different doses to adjust easily. Furthermore, it is possible to extend the useful life of the nicotine delivery device because the heating power is directly correlated with the detected flow pressure and thus a safe shutdown of the heater can be realized.

On the one hand, the sensor used detects, on the one hand, whether and how much is sucked in on the device for delivering nicotine. For this purpose, the sensor takes a physical parameter, for example the flow pressure acting through the suction in a defined section of the device for delivering nicotine, or the flow noise that occurs, and forwards the detected value as a signal to the control unit. The control unit controls the heater based on the signal output from the sensor.

On the one hand, the sensors detecting the flow pressure have the advantage that they can detect relatively accurately how the device for delivering nicotine is sucked, and show a correspondingly accurate signal course. On the other hand, such sensors are comparatively simple in design and correspondingly inexpensive to purchase, which is the case with a mass-produced product such as the device according to the invention for dispensing Nicotine is essential. Alternatively, however, it is also possible to use other suitable sensors which are able to deliver a clearly interpretable signal curve, with which the suction behavior on the device for delivering nicotine can be represented, for example sensors which at least partially sucked the Detecting air volume, sensors that detect a flow noise or sensors that detect a differential pressure.

At least one predetermined threshold for the detected signal is stored in the control unit. If the detected signal exceeds the predetermined threshold, the heater is activated for heat generation for nicotine release. On the other hand, if the detected signal falls below the threshold, the heater is deactivated. It is also possible to specify a plurality of threshold values, upper threshold value U _o , lower threshold value U _u , in order to introduce a hysteresis between the threshold values. By selecting or adjusting the threshold value or threshold values, it is possible to specify how much the nicotine depot is to be heated to release nicotine. To release the nicotine, the heater either heats the air supplied to the nicotine depot or it heats the nicotine depot immediately.

The threshold values can also be varied as a function of the sensor signal. By dynamically adjusting the thresholds, activation of the heater can be shortened without restricting nicotine delivery. This leads to a further energy saving.

As a result of the interaction of the sensor with the control unit, the amount of heat to be generated for the corresponding nicotine release rates can be specifically adapted. If the nicotine depots are different, for example, in the composition of the nicotine content or in the composition of the adjuvants used, so that the various nicotine depots must be heated to varying degrees to release the same amount of nicotine, this is ensured by the appropriate choice of the threshold value. Also, the device according to the invention for delivering nicotine that nicotine depots can be used with different nicotine content, so that at approximately the same period of use, which is based for example on the smoking time of a conventional cigarette, different amounts of nicotine are delivered.

Constant nicotine delivery can also be achieved by making the control unit, the sensor and the heater a closed loop. Depending on the area of application / case, a P, I, D, PI, PD, PID, PI ² or other suitable controlled system can be mapped.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor for detecting the flow pressure to be detected in the nicotine delivery device is a microphone. The use of microphones has the advantage that microphones are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, which can significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing the nicotine delivery device.

The microphones used can be used as a sensor for detecting a flow pressure and / or as a sensor for detecting a flow noise.

Another advantage of using a microphone as a sensor is the high dynamics of the microphone. This makes it possible to measure the quantity to be measured much more accurately and quickly. Conventional pressure sensors have a certain inertia, d. H. After a detected pressure change, they either need a certain reset time or an opposite pressure change.

In this connection, it is also pointed out that the nicotine depot used in the nicotine delivery device according to the invention can be both an artificial nicotine depot and a nicotine depot filled at least partially with conventional tobacco butt, tobacco distillate or the like. In nicotine depots filled with conventional tobacco, heating merely releases the nicotine and the flavoring and flavoring from the tobacco without the tobacco burning. Preferably, it is an artificial disposable nicotine depot with a depot carrier which contains at least one excipient for the nicotine present at least partially in its gas phase in a predetermined temperature range of, for example, 50 ° C. to 100 ° C. and in which the nicotine is heated only by heating is present together with the excipient at least partially gaseous. It should also be noted that the nicotine delivery device itself may be designed as a disposable device in which the nicotine depot is firmly contained in the body.

Further advantageous developments emerge from the description, the subclaims and the drawings.

If a particularly accurate adjustment of the heating power is desired, it is further proposed that the control unit varies the heat output of the heating device as a function of a change in the profile of the signal of the sensor, that is For example, with an increase in the flow pressure or the sucked air amount, the heating power can not be increased linearly but according to a change coefficient. In the reverse case, the heating power can be reduced more than the amount by which the flow pressure or the intake air quantity decreases. This achieves a faster response of the heater to the flow change. It is also possible to use an average value of the variation of the course of the signal as a basis for the activation of the heating device.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the predetermined threshold value can be set from the outside, for example by means of an adjusting device provided on the device for delivering nicotine and coupled to the control device. In this way, different threshold values can be set and possibly varied, for example, by the manufacturer of the device for delivering nicotine for different applications, therapies, countries. It is particularly advantageous in this development, if the adjusting device is optionally also provided on the device for delivering nicotine, that it is adjustable from the outside for the user, who can then change the threshold according to individual needs. Instead of an adjusting device, it is also conceivable to provide a microcomputer as the control unit, which is operated with a computer program that can be adjusted by the manufacturer.

If suction openings for the air stream are provided on the cigarette, it is particularly advantageous if the sensor is arranged directly adjacent to these in order to keep the duration between acquisition of the suction process, transmission of the signal from the sensor to the control unit and evaluation of the signal as short as possible.

Preferably, the heater indirectly heats the nicotine depot, in which the heater heats the air stream that is supplied to the nicotine depot for nicotine release. As a result, contamination of the heater can be avoided by secretions from the nicotine depot. In this embodiment, the heater heats the sucked air, for example, to temperatures of up to 200 ° C. After heating the nicotine depot and the release of the nicotine and the optionally provided auxiliaries, the temperature of the nicotine-displaced air flow has dropped so far that the air flow exiting from the mouthpiece of the cigarette body still has a temperature of about 50 ° C. In an alternative embodiment, the heater is in direct heat-conducting contact with the nicotine depot. In this alternative embodiment, the heating power of the heater is correspondingly lower.

In both embodiments, it is advantageous if the heating device is accommodated together with the nicotine depot in a heating chamber provided in the cigarette body, which is in flow connection with suction openings formed on the cigarette body and a mouthpiece provided on the cigarette body. In this way, the actual working space in which the nicotine is released from the portion of the cigarette in which the control unit and the power supply are included, separated, whereby the latter are protected from the heat generated and from contamination.

In order for the required for the operation of the heater power is minimized, it is also proposed to form the heating chamber with respect to the body thermally insulated to keep the heat loss during heating as low as possible.

If the device for the delivery of nicotine is to be used several times, it is advantageous if a rechargeable accumulator is used as the voltage supply. By switching on and off the heater according to the invention, the accumulator can be dimensioned comparatively small. Thus, for example, a rechargeable lithium battery with a nominal capacity of 150 to 250 mAh, a rated voltage in a range of 3.4 to 4.0 V and a maximum permissible current strength in a range of 350 to 1200 mA is suitable as a rechargeable battery. The weight of the entire accumulator is only a few grams.

The device for delivering nicotine is preferably designed as a reusable device in which the nicotine depot and possibly also the mouthpiece can be replaced. This has the particular advantage that the user can select from different nicotine depots with different nicotine contents and / or different excipients. Furthermore, for the same nicotine delivery device, mouthpieces with different draw resistances can be offered. As mouthpieces, for example, made in a conventional manner made of paper-coated acetate fiber bundles mouthpieces, in which the draw resistance is determined by the density of the Acetatfaserbündels and the air permeability of the paper. Just here, again, the advantage of the device according to the invention for the delivery of nicotine, in which the heating power of the heater in a simple manner, optionally by the user or therapist, also to the draw resistance and through the paper of the mouthpiece sucked additional amount of air, which serves to cool the heated air flow, can be adjusted.

The nicotine depot is preferably formed integrally with a mouthpiece, that is designed as a disposable unit, and releasably connected together with the mouthpiece with the body of the multiple-use device for delivering nicotine.

For releasably holding the unit of mouthpiece and nicotine depot is proposed to provide at the end of the body an open heating chamber, in which at least the nicotine depot is introduced and releasably held in this to form a press fit.

In a further preferred embodiment, in the device for delivering nicotine, the sensor is arranged directly adjacent to suction openings formed on the body, through which the air to be heated flows into the body. In this case, the suction openings may be formed such that a predetermined draw resistance between the suction openings and a mouthpiece provided on the body is generated.

It is also possible to form the suction openings such that the pressure drop between the suction openings and a mouthpiece provided on the body does not exceed a predetermined value.

The draw resistance and / or the pressure drop are preferably in a range at the mouthpiece of a volume flow of 10 ml / s-25 ml / s, preferably 12 ml / s-22 ml / s, more preferably 15 ml / s-20 ml / s, further preferably 17.5 ml / s is produced (according to DIN ISO 3308: 2000, DIN ISO 3402).

It is also advantageous if draw resistance and / or the pressure drop is in a range that a tensile volume of 20-50 ml, preferably 25-45 ml, more preferably 30-40 ml, more preferably 35.0 +/- 0.3 ml is reached (according to DIN ISO 3308: 2000, DIN ISO 3402).

In another preferred embodiment, the nicotine delivery device is a smokeless cigarette.

In a further preferred embodiment, the nicotine delivery device is an inhaler for nicotine therapy.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1 a longitudinal section through an inventive device in an enlarged view;

2 an end view on the in 1 left end of the device shown in which the contact points of the accumulator of the device are shown; and

3 a diagram in which the waveform of a sensor used in the device for determining the flow pressure relative to the time is shown.

In 1 is a longitudinal section through a device according to the invention 10 shown. The device 10 is shown enlarged and has in reality approximately the dimensions of a conventional filter cigarette.

The device 10 has a hollow cylindrical body 12 made of plastic. The body 12 has starting from his in 1 On the left side, at the level of about 2/3 of its length, there are a number of circumferentially evenly distributed intake openings 14 ,

In the in 1 left open end of the body shown on the left 12 are a sensor 16 , a control device 18 and an accumulator 20 introduced as a functional unit and in the body 12 kept safe.

The sensor 16 is in a hollow cylindrical carrier 22 the control device 18 held so that it to form an annular gap 24 at a distance from the inner peripheral surface of the body 12 in the area of the intake openings 14 is positioned. Furthermore, in the hollow cylindrical carrier 22 a circuit board 26 with a control unit provided 28 attached. As a control unit 28 is a microcomputer, which is connected to electronic control elements (not shown), which in the board 26 integrated or attached to this. At the sensor 16 opposite end of the hollow cylindrical support 22 is the accumulator 20 attached. As will be explained later, evaluates the control unit 28 one from the sensor 16 output signal U and controls the through the accumulator 20 provided power supply serving as a heater, gleichfalts in the body 12 held heating coil 30 , The operation of the heating coil 30 is with one in the control unit 28 stored computer program controlled.

The heating coil 30 is at a directly on the sensor 16 adjacent, in the body 12 held ceramic disc 32 attached. The ceramic disc 32 is on its cylindrical lateral surface with several recesses 34 provided, over the air, through the intake ports 14 in the annular gap 24 flows in, at the sensor 16 over in the from the ceramic disc 30 the restricted area can continue to flow.

The on the ceramic disc 32 fixed heating coil 30 protrudes into a heating chamber 36 by one in the body 12 attached ceramic sleeve 38 is thermally insulated. The ceramic sleeve 38 is at a short distance to the ceramic disc 30 held, allowing air through the recesses 34 In the heating chamber 36 can flow in.

In the open end of the heating chamber 36 is a cylindrical nicotine deposit 40 introduced, which is in the heating chamber 36 is held securely under formation of a press fit. The nicotine depot 40 is integral with a mouthpiece 42 formed, which is attached to the open end of the body 12 flush connects. The mouthpiece 42 is with a filter cartridge 44 made of acetate fibers.

In the nicotine depot 40 are nicotine as well as flavorings and flavorings and optionally at least one carrier substance as adjuvants. The excipients go over from a temperature of about 50 ° C in the gas phase and are capable of that in the nicotine depot 40 contained nicotine with from the nicotine depot 40 dissipate.

When using the device 10 the user takes the cigarette 10 as usual, with the mouthpiece 42 in the mouth and sucks on the mouthpiece 42 at. Air flows through the intake ports 14 on the sensor 16 passing through the annular gap 24 and the recesses 34 into the heart chamber 36 , The air flow creates a pressure change in the annular gap 24 that from the sensor 16 detected and in the form of a signal U to the control unit 28 is forwarded.

In 3 is the waveform 46 of the signal U in millivolts (mV) expressed in milliseconds (ms). Like the waveform 46 shows the self-evident idealized is shown, the signal U increases initially, at times runs at least approximately parallel to the horizontal axis of time and finally falls off sharply.

In the computer program of the control unit 26 is an upper threshold U _o predetermined for a threshold voltage with that of the sensor 16 transmitted signal U is continuously compared. As soon as the signal U exceeds the upper threshold U _o , in 3 at time t ₁ , activates the control device 28 the heating coil 30 in which they supply the power through the accumulator 20 unlocks. The heating coil 30 heats up and warms them into the heating chamber 36 inflowing air to temperatures of up to 200 ° C. The heated air then hits the nicotine depot 40 , which is gas permeable, so that in the nicotine depot 40 contained nicotine as well as the excipients are partially released by the heated air. Subsequently, the enriched with nicotine, flavor and flavored air flows into the mouthpiece 42 A, is filtered while cooled to temperatures of about 40 to 50 ° C. The nicotine, carrier and flavor enriched and cooled air then enters the user's mouth.

Once the user stops at the mouthpiece 42 the cigarette 10 pulls, the flow pressure drops in the annular gap 24 and thus also the signal U of the sensor 16 from. If the signal U falls _below the predetermined lower threshold U _u , in 3 at time t ₂ , the control unit switches 28 the power supply of the heating coil 30 back off, allowing further heating of the air in the heating chamber 36 is prevented.

In the cigarette according to the invention 10 It is easily possible to customize the heating process individually to the different habits and also different nicotine doses, dosage duration, etc., in which the threshold U _o , _{u u} are adjusted accordingly. This setting is usually done in the control software of the control unit. Advantageously, these threshold values can only be adapted to the various applications during the production of the cigarette or the device for delivering nicotine.

In a modified embodiment of the device 10 becomes the heating coil 30 after the first pull on the mouthpiece 42 continued to operate at a low standby temperature to the heating process at a new pull on the mouthpiece 42 To shorten. To overheat the heating coil 30 To prevent this is the time interval within which the heating coil 30 is kept at standby temperature, limited, so that the heating coil 30 is switched off after the time interval.

Because the device 10 has to be used repeatedly, the accumulator has 20 , as 2 shows at his from the open end of the body 12 pointing end face two contact points 48 for charging the accumulator 20 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Device for delivering nicotine

12

body

14

suction

16

sensor

18

control device

20

accumulator

22

hollow cylindrical carrier

24

annular gap

26

circuit board

28

control unit

30

heating coil

32

ceramic disc

34

recesses

36

heating chamber

38

ceramic sleeve

40

nicotine depot

42

mouthpiece

44

filter cartridge

46

waveform

U _o

Upper threshold

U _u

Lower threshold

48

Contact points

Claims (13)

Device for delivering nicotine with - a body ( 12 ) to take up a nicotine depot ( 40 ), - an electric heater ( 30 ), which release nicotine from the nicotine depot ( 40 ) to a flow of air through the body ( 12 ) generates heat upon activation, - a power supply for operating the heating device ( 30 ), and - a control unit ( 28 ) for activating the heating device ( 30 ) when sucking air through the body ( 12 ), the control unit ( 28 ) with a sensor ( 16 ) for detecting the in the body ( 12 ) is coupled by the fact that - the sensor ( 16 ) in the body ( 12 ) continuously detects flow pressure and generates a signal (U) based on the detected flow pressure, and - the control unit ( 28 ) the heating power of the heater ( 30 ) based on the history of the sensor ( 16 ) signal (U) varies. Device for the delivery of nicotine according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) the heating power of the heater ( 30 ) in response to a change in the signal (U) of the sensor ( 16 ) varies. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) the heating device ( 30 ) when an upper threshold value (U _o ) of the signal (U) is exceeded and deactivated when falling below a lower threshold value (U _u ) of the signal (U). Nicotine delivery device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ) adjusts the threshold values (U _o , U _u ) of the signal (U) based on the course of the signal (U). Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a threshold value (U _o , U _u ) of the signal (U) is preferably adjustable by the user. Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit ( 28 ), the sensor ( 16 ) and the heater ( 30 ) form a control loop. A nicotine delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) for detecting the in the body ( 12 ) acting flow pressure is a microphone. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) detects a flow noise. Device for delivering nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor ( 16 ) immediately adjacent to the body ( 12 ) formed intake openings ( 14 ) is arranged, through which air into the body ( 12 ) flows in. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 9, characterized in that the suction openings ( 14 ) are formed such that a predetermined draw resistance between the intake openings ( 14 ) and one on the body ( 12 ) provided mouthpiece ( 42 ) is produced. Device for delivering nicotine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pressure drop between the suction openings ( 14 ) and one on the body ( 12 ) provided mouthpiece ( 42 ) does not exceed a predetermined value. Device for the delivery of nicotine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is a smoke-free cigarette. A nicotine delivery device according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the device is an inhaler.

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