WO2025052299A1

WO2025052299A1 - Hybrid aerosol and powder generating consumable article and system

Info

Publication number: WO2025052299A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/058660
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo Bologna; Onur DAYIOĞLU; Frédéric LAVANCHY
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2023-09-08
Filing date: 2024-09-05
Publication date: 2025-03-13

Abstract

A hybrid consumable article (300) for providing aerosol to a user, the hybrid consumable article comprising: - a tube body (310) comprising an upstream end (301) and a downstream end(302), the tube defining a cavity (304); - a capsule (320) contained in the cavity of the tube body, the capsule containing dry powder (321); - a plug of sensorial media (340) contained in the cavity of the tube body downstream of the capsule, the plug of sensorial material comprising nicotine and an aerosol-former, wherein the plug of sensorial media has an upstream end (341) and a downstream end (342) and wherein the plug of sensorial media comprises at least one plug airpath (350) extending from the upstream end of the plug of sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media.

Description

HYBRID AEROSOL AND POWDER GENERATING CONSUMABLE ARTICLE AND SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to a hybrid consumable article, holder and system for generating an airflow that contains aerosol generated from a plug of sensorial media and dry powder from a capsule, for inhalation by a user. The hybrid consumable article contains sensorial media which produces aerosol when heated (and cooled). The aerosol is captured in an airflow through the consumable article and is delivered, via the airflow, to the user. The hybrid consumable article also contains a capsule which contains dry powder. The capsule containing dry powder is pierced to release dry powder into the airflow as the airflow travels through the hybrid consumable article. This airflow containing dry powder is combined with aerosol produced from heated sensorial media to provide an aerosol containing aerosolized sensorial media and dry powder to a user.

Dry particle inhaler articles may contain a capsule containing dry powder. To release the dry powder from a capsule and to introduce dry powder into an airflow so that the dry powder can be delivered to a user, the capsule may be pierced. The pierced capsule releases its dry powder contents into airflow as the air flows past the pierced capsule. The inhaler article is depleted when the contents of the capsule have been released into the airflow. The dose of pharmaceutically active compounds is limited by the contents of the capsule. The dose of pharmaceutically active compounds is also limited by the degree to which all of the contents of the capsule can be released from the capsule and delivered to the user.

Electronic aerosol generating devices may be configured to receive a consumable having a plug of sensorial media (or aerosol generating substrate). The plug of sensorial media is heated when the consumable article is inserted into an electronic aerosol generating device which has a heater. Air flows through the consumable containing the plug of sensorial media. When the plug of sensorial media is heated, it releases particles into the heated air, creating vapor. As that vapor cools, aerosol is formed. The aerosol may be visible aerosol. Airflow containing aerosolized sensorial media is delivered to the user. Users must wait for the electronic device to heat up and wait for the plug of sensorial media in the consumable to heat sufficiently to release particles into the heated air before aerosolized sensorial media can be inhaled. After use of the consumable or depletion of the plug of sensorial media, the consumable article may be removed from the device and replaced with a fresh consumable article. The dose of pharmaceutically active compounds delivered to the user is limited by the aerosol generated by heating the plug of sensorial media for the time of the heating cycle.

It would be desirable to provide a consumable article that provides a longer experience. That is, it would be desirable to provide a consumable article, device and system which allows the user to take more “puffs” containing pharmaceutically active compounds in the form of aerosol. It would be desirable to provide a consumable article that delivers a satisfying dose of pharmaceutically active compounds. It would be desirable to provide a consumable article, device and system that provides more a consistent dose of pharmaceutically active compounds over several puffs, each puff containing a desired dose.

It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating consumable article that can provide a satisfying dose of pharmaceutically active compounds with a reduced wait time. It would be desirable to provide a n aerosol-generating article that can provide a dry powder dose of pharmaceutically active compound in a first puff while the consumable article is heating to a temperature sufficient to release aerosol from sensorial media.

It would be desirable to provide a consumable article that can provide a satisfying dose of pharmaceutically active compounds while requiring less heat, including lower peak temperature and shorter heating profile over several puffs. Requiring less heat means that there is less power drawn from batteries in the aerosol generating device that receives the consumable article. If less heat is required, a smaller battery could be used, or the battery could last longer. Lower peak temperature or shorter heating profile, each or in combination, may allow for the use of a smaller battery or provide prolonged battery life. In addition, reducing the peak temperature results in a safer device that has a lower peak temperature when the device is held by a user. It would be desirable to provide a safer device. It would be desirable to provide a consumable article, device and system that can provide a longer experience.

Provided herein is a hybrid consumable article which can provide both sensorial media that provides aerosol when heated and dry powder released from a capsule. The consumable article having both a plug of sensorial media which provides aerosol when heated and dry powder released from a capsule is referred to herein as a hybrid consumable article or a consumable article. The hybrid consumable article may be stick-shaped and may be inserted into a device having a recess shaped to receive the stick-shaped consumable. The consumables may be, for example, cylindrical articles having a plug of sensorial media such as a plug of tobacco, and also a capsule containing dry powder. The plug of sensorial material preferably includes nicotine and an aerosol former. The aerosol-former preferably includes glycerine. The nicotine preferably comprises homogenized tobacco.

This hybrid consumable article has several advantages. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder may provide an inhalation experience that provides a satisfying dose of pharmaceutically active compounds to the user from the first “puff to the last “puff in a series of puffs. A series of puffs is an inhalation experience. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a heatable plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides an article that may require a shorter heating cycle while still delivering the same dose of pharmaceutically active compound compared to an aerosol-generating article without dry powder. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides an article that may require heating to a lower peak temperature while still providing the same dose of pharmaceutically active compound to the user. Heating the plug of sensorial media to a lower peak temperature may also reduce the production of undesirable compounds when heating the sensorial media. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides an article that can provide a longer experience because pharmaceutically active compounds may be provided by the plug of sensorial media as well as dry powder. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides an enhanced dose of pharmaceutically active compounds to be delivered to the user. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides a safer experience because the peak temperature required to deliver a peak dose of pharmaceutically active compounds is lower. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides a device that can be used through more cycles before requiring charging because it may require heating to a lower peak temperature or heating in a shorter heating cycle. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder may allow for a device that requires a smaller battery. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder provides a system that provides the same dose of pharmaceutically active compounds in fewer consumables. The hybrid consumable article having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder may allow the device to be used without a long heat-up cycle because a first “puff may be taken before the heater is fully heated, as the dry powder may provide a satisfying dose of pharmaceutically active compound in the first puff.

It may be desirable to provide consumable articles which provide larger doses of pharmaceutically active compounds. It would be desirable to provide a long smoking experience, but with a lower temperature profile, limiting risks of users being burned by hot air coming out of the device (“warm mitigation issue”) as well as decreasing the battery consumption, allowing for a smaller battery (lowering the bulk and cost of the devices) or reducing the time between recharging the battery.

It may be desirable to provide hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may make it easier to pierce the capsule from the upstream end of the consumable article. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may prevent the flow of hot and humid aerosol passing through the dry powder. Exposure of the dry powder to hot and humid airflow may cause the dry powder to change its dry powder characteristics. Exposure of the dry powder to hot and humid airflow may cause the dry powder to agglomerate. Exposure of the dry powder to hot and humid airflow may change the delivery characteristics of the dry powder delivered to the user. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may improve the release of dry powder from a capsule containing dry powder. The rotation of the capsule containing dry powder may be more easily induced by the device when the capsule is close to the upstream end of the consumable article. Providing consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may allow the plug of sensorial media to be used as a retention element. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may stop the capsule containing dry powder from moving downstream in response to pressure on the upstream end of the capsule when the capsule is pierced, for example.

Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may allow dry powderto flow through the plug of sensorial media allowing the dry powderto mix with aerosol formed from heating the plug of sensorial media to deliver a mixed aerosol containing both dry powder and aerosol formed from heating the plug of sensorial media to the user. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may allow dry powder to flow through the plug of sensorial media allowing the plug of sensorial media to act as a filter to capture larger particles of the dry powder and to prevent larger particles of the dry powder from flowing to the mouth of a user. Providing hybrid consumable articles having a combination of a plug of sensorial media and dry powder where the plug of sensorial media is downstream of the dry powder may allow dry powder to flow through the plug of sensorial media allowing the dry powder to mix with aerosol formed from heating the plug of sensorial media to provide a satisfactory dose of combined dry powder and aerosol formed from the plug of sensorial media to the user. It may be desirable to provide a plug of sensorial media having at least one plug airpath to allow dry powder to combine with aerosol formed from the plug of sensorial media as air flows from the upstream end of the consumable article to the downstream end of the consumable article. It may be desirable to provide a plug of sensorial media having at least one plug airpath where the plug airpath is sufficiently large to allow dry powder to flow through the plug airpath but sufficiently small to prevent the capsule from passing through the plug airpath. It may be desirable to provide a plug of sensorial media having at least one plug airpath to filter the dry powder as it passes through the at least one plug airpath so that the dry powder delivered to the user is the desired size.

It may be desirable to provide a system for use with the hybrid consumable article where the system includes a device and a hybrid consumable article. The device may have a cavity to receive the hybrid consumable article. The device may also have a heater. The heater may be a resistive heater or an inductive heater. The heater may provide heat that is external to the hybrid consumable article received in the cavity of the device. The heater may provide heat that is internal to the hybrid consumable article received in the cavity of the device. In addition, the device may provide a piercing mechanism to pierce the capsule contained in the hybrid consumable article. The heater is spaced apart from the piercing mechanism. Advantageously, the device having a heater, and a piercing mechanism provides a safe and predictable way to provide heat to the hybrid consumable article. Providing a piercing mechanism in the same device allows the user to pierce the capsule (or not) when using the hybrid consumable article without having to use or carry a separate piercing device. This reduces the steps required by the user to use the system, reduces the number of devices required by the userto use the hybrid consumable article, and provides a safe piercing mechanism inside the device so that the user does not need to handle a needle to pierce the capsule.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be evident to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present disclosure, which includes the claims that follow and the accompanying drawings.

This disclosure is directed to a hybrid consumable article containing a plug of sensorial media which produces aerosol when heated, and a capsule which contains pharmaceutically active dry powder so that the hybrid article can provide both aerosol from the plug of sensorial media combined with pharmaceutically active dry powder to a user during use.

In embodiments, the present disclosure provides a hybrid consumable article for providing aerosol to a user, the article comprising: a tube body comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, the tube defining a cavity; a capsule contained in the cavity of the tube body, the capsule containing dry powder; a plug of sensorial media downstream of the capsule, wherein the plug of sensorial media has an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein the plug of sensorial media comprises at least one plug airpath extending from the upstream end of the plug of sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media. Such an article provides the advantages described above.

In embodiments, the tube body has an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The difference between the outer diameter of the tube body and the inner diameter of the tube body is the thickness of the material of the tube body. The tube body is formed from, for example, cardboard, paper, or the like. The plug of sensorial media has an outer diameter. The plug of sensorial media fits inside the tube body. That is, the plug of sensorial media has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube body so that the plug of sensorial media can fit inside the tube body. The plug of sensorial media may fit inside the tube body downstream of the capsule.

In embodiments, the present disclosure provides a hybrid consumable article for providing aerosol to a user further comprising a mouthpiece portion downstream of the plug of sensorial media. In embodiments, the tube body comprises the mouthpiece portion. In embodiments, the mouthpiece portion comprises a curved or flanged downstream end. In embodiments, the mouthpiece portion comprises filter material. In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media is contained in the cavity of the internal tube body. The curved or flanged downstream end captures larger powder particles during inhalation, preventing larger powder particles from entering the mouth or lungs of the user. In addition, the curved or flanged downstream end captures powder that may otherwise leak from the consumable article after use or after the capsule is pierced.

In embodiments, the plug airpath is a hollow portion through the plug of sensorial media from the upstream end of the plug of sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media. In embodiments, a single plug airpath is present. In embodiments, more than one plug airpath is present. In embodiments, at least one plug airpath is present. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath is cylindrical. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath can be any shape. Any reference to the plug airpath includes one or more plug airpaths. The at least one plug airpath is sufficiently hollow to let the dry powder go through the plug of sensorial media but not so large that the capsule can pass through the plug airpath. That is, the plug airpath acts to prevent the capsule from passing through the plug of sensorial media while allowing dry powder to pass through the plug of sensorial media through the plug airpath.

In embodiments, the dry powder comprises nicotine particles. In embodiments the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in diameter, preferably between 1 and 10 microns in diameter. The advantage of providing nicotine particles in this size range is to provide particles that are delivered to the lungs of a user during use, rather than being deposited in the mouth of the user when inhaled. In embodiments, the capsule contains flavor particles. These flavor particles may provide additional flavor to the aerosol and the powder to the user. The advantage of providing a plug airpath that is significantly larger than the average particle size of dry powder particles is to allow the powder and the aerosol to flow through the plug of sensorial media via the at least one plug airpath, to be delivered to the mouth and lungs of the user.

In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media comprises film, gel or botanical material. The botanical material may comprise tobacco, The tobacco may be in the form of cut filler. The tobacco may be in the form of cast leaf. The tobacco may be in the form of film tobacco. The tobacco may be in the form of homogenized tobacco.

In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has a diameter. The at least one plug airpath may be cylindrical. The at least one plug airpath may be any shape. For example, the at least one plug airpath may be curved or tortuous. The diameter of the at least one plug airpath may be at least 5X the average particle size of the dry powder. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of the dry powder when the dry particle contains nicotine particles. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of nicotine particles of the dry powder. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of flavor particles of the dry powder. In embodiments, the diameter of the plug airpath may be for example 1-5 mm.

For example, the diameter of the plug airpath may be 3-6mm. For example, the diameter of the plug airpath may be 1-7 mm. For example, the diameter of the plug airpath may be more than 0.5mm. For example, the diameter of the plug airpath may be 5 mm or greater. Ideally a diameter of 5 mm, for example 3-6mm or 1-7 mm or more than ,5mm. please also provide ratio of the equivalent diameter of the hollow tube versus the equivalent diameter of the article or the diameter of the plug of sensorial media.

The plug of sensorial media having at least one plug airpath may be referred to as a hollow plug of sensorial media. Such a hollow plug of sensorial media may be formed by extrusion. The plug of sensorial media may be formed by rolling several layers of tobacco sheet material. Extruding or rolling several layers of tobacco sheet material may result in one or more plug airpaths through the plug of sensorial media. The plug of sensorial media may comprise film, gel or botanical material. The botanical material may comprise tobacco. The tobacco may comprise cut filler, cast leaf or film tobacco.

In embodiments, the plug airpath comprises a plug airpath surface, the plug airpath surface comprises a surface roughness, and the surface roughness of the plug airpath surface is less than the average particle size of the nicotine particles. Advantageously, the surface roughness of the plug airpath surface provides a filtering function to capture nicotine particles that may be larger than the desired range of particle size for delivery to the lungs of a user.

In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media prevents the capsule from falling out of the downstream end of the consumable article. In embodiments, the hybrid consumable article may also comprise a retention disk between the capsule and the plug of sensorial media to prevent the capsule from falling out of the downstream end of the hybrid consumable article. In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media having a plug airpath orients and holds the capsule so that it can be pierced efficiently. Consumable articles containing sensorial media such as tobacco are used with aerosol generating devices which have a heater, a battery, and control electronics to regulate the heater, a recess configured to receive the consumable, and an airflow mechanism to allow air to flow through the device and the consumable to deliver aerosol to the user.

The hybrid consumable article containing sensorial media and dry powder is also used with a complimentary aerosol-generating device. The hybrid consumable article is inserted into the aerosol-generating device. The device provides heat to the hybrid consumable article. The sensorial media contained in the hybrid consumable article is heated after the hybrid consumable article is inserted into the device. Air flows through the hybrid consumable article containing sensorial media. When sensorial media is heated, it releases vapor. As the vapor cools, aerosol is formed. This aerosol is captured in the airflow. Airflow containing aerosolized sensorial media is delivered to the user. After use of the hybrid consumable article or depletion of the sensorial media and dry powder, the consumable may be removed from the device and replaced with a fresh consumable. The dose of pharmaceutically active compounds delivered to the user is limited by the aerosol generated by heating the sensorial media for the time of the heating cycle.

A number of prior art documents disclose aerosol-generating articles and devices for heating aerosol-generating articles to produce aerosol for inhalation by a consumer. Such devices may be, for example, electrically heated aerosol generating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heating elements of the aerosol generating device to the sensorial media received by the aerosol-generating device. One advantage of such electrical smoking systems is that they may provide aerosol to a user without burning the sensorial media, thereby reducing unwanted compounds being delivered to the user. By way of example, the electrical heating system may heat the sensorial media by induction or by resistive heating. In an induction heating system, Eddy currents are created into a susceptor by an alternating electromagnetic field generated in the device, and these Eddy currents heat a susceptor by Joules law. The susceptor heats the sensorial media. In a resistive heating device, a resistive element is heated according to Joules law and the resistive element heats the sensorial media. In addition, the electrical heating system may be internal or external. In an internal heating system, the sensorial media is heated from the inside of the plug of sensorial media toward the outside, for example by providing a heated blade that is inside the plug of sensorial media. In an external heating system, the heat is provided from the outside of the plug of sensorial media and heat travels from the outside toward the inside of the plug of sensorial media. For example, heat could be provided by portions of the inner walls of the heating chamber of the device into which the consumable is inserted.

Aerosol-delivery systems that comprise an aerosol-forming substrate and an inductive heating device are known or have been described. The inductive heating device comprises an induction source, which produces an alternating electromagnetic field that induces a heat generating eddy current and/or hysteresis losses in a susceptor material. The susceptor material is in thermal proximity of the plug of sensorial media. The heated susceptor material in turn heats the plug of sensorial media, which comprises a material, which is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.

An example of an aerosol generating device including an inductive heating element is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2017/0055580. The inductive heating element is attached to a body of the aerosol generating device and surrounded by a magnetic field generator including coils. An additional example of an aerosol generating substrate is disclosed in PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2015/177294. The internal heating element is inserted into the plug of sensorial media such that the internal heating element is in contact with the plug of sensorial media. For example, the plug of sensorial media may be surrounding the internal heating element. Direct contact between an internal heating element of an aerosol-generating device and the plug of sensorial media of an aerosol-generating article can provide an efficient means for heating the plug of sensorial media to form an inhalable aerosol.

An example of a resistive heating element can be found in, for example, EP4176746. As disclosed therein, the resistive heating element may be an internal heater, such as a blade which inserts into the aerosol-generating consumable article. Or the electrically resistive heating element may surround the cavity and may be an external heater. The electrically resistive heating element may be powered by a power supply and controlled by control electronics. The power supply may be any suitable power supply, for example a DC voltage source such as a battery. In one embodiment, the power supply is a lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or a lithium-based battery, for example a lithium-cobalt, a lithium-iron-phosphate, lithium titanate or a lithium- polymer battery.

The device may further include a control element preferably coupled to, or comprising, a monitor or means for monitoring the DC current provided by the DC power source. The DC current may provide an indirect indication of the apparent resistance of a heating blade located in the electromagnetic field, which in turn may provide for detection of a Curie transition in the heating blade. The control element may be a simple switch. Alternatively, the control element may be electric circuitry and may comprise one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers.

The heating element may comprise an electrically resistive material. Suitable electrically resistive materials include but are not limited to semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically “conductive” ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys and composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material. Such composite materials may comprise doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides. Examples of suitable materials include titanium zirconium, tantalum platinum, gold and silver. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese-, gold- and iron-containing alloys, and super alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetai® and iron- manganese-aluminium based alloys. In composite materials, the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required.

The electronic device may also comprise a cavity to contain a consumable article. The electronic device may also comprise a power supply, and control electronics.

As used herein, an “electronic device” is a device that has one or more electrical components. At least some of the one or more electrical components control generation or delivery of an aerosol from an aerosol generating substrate to a user. The electrical components may include the heating element of the heating component, which may include, for example, one or more inductive elements or one or more resistive heating elements. The electrical components may also control heating of the heating element. Preferably, the control electronics control heating of the heating element such that the heating element heats an aerosol generating substrate to an extent sufficient to generate an aerosol from the substrate but to avoid combustion of the substrate.

Control electronics may be provided in any suitable form and may, for example, include a controller and a memory. The controller may include one or more of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) state machine, a digital signal processor, a gate array, a microprocessor, or equivalent discrete or integrated logic circuitry. Control electronics may include memory that contains instructions that cause one or more components of the control electronics to carry out a function or aspect of the control electronics. Functions attributable to control electronics in this disclosure may be embodied as one or more of software, firmware, and hardware.

Any suitable consumable comprising a plug of sensorial media may be used with aerosol generating devices of the present invention. Sensorial media is a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds are released by heating the sensorial media. Volatile compounds are released into heated airflow. These volatile compounds in heated air forms vapor. As the airflow continues to move through the consumable, the air cools. As the air cools the particles of volatile compounds become larger, forming visible aerosol. Aerosol may be visible as “smoke”. Dry particles entrained in an airflow are also aerosol. Dry particles entrained in an airflow may combine with aerosol produced from the heated plug of sensorial media to form aerosol. The sensorial media may be solid or liquid or comprise both solid and liquid components. In embodiments, the sensorial media is solid. In embodiments the hybrid consumable article comprises a plug of sensorial media assembled within a tube having a mouth end and a distal end upstream from the mouth end. The plug of sensorial media is located at or towards the distal end of tube. The sensorial media may comprise plant-based material. The sensorial media preferably comprises tobacco. The tobacco containing material contains volatile tobacco flavor compounds, which are released from the sensorial media upon heating. The sensorial media preferably comprises nicotine.

The sensorial media may comprise homogenized tobacco material. Homogenized tobacco material may be formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. The sensorial media may comprise, for example, one or more of: powder, granules, pellets, shreds, spaghettis, strips or sheets containing one or more of: herb leaf, tobacco leaf, fragments of tobacco ribs, reconstituted tobacco, homogenized tobacco, extruded tobacco and expanded tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media is formed in a shape that fits inside the tube body of a hybrid consumable. In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media is in the form of a hollow cylinder, where the hollow portion is the at least one plug airpath. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises film. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises gel. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises botanical material. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises cut fill tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises cast leaf tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises film tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises homogenized tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises tobacco that is extruded. In embodiments, the sensorial media comprises tobacco that is pressed into the shape of the plug.

The sensorial media may comprise at least one aerosol former. The aerosol-former may be any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, when heated, facilitates formation of a dense and stable aerosol and that is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating device. Suitable aerosol-formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Particularly preferred aerosol formers are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and, most preferred, glycerine. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise other additives and ingredients, such as flavorants. The sensorial media preferably comprises nicotine and at least one aerosol former. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the aerosol-former is glycerine. Where present, the homogenized tobacco material may have an aerosol-former content of equal to or greater than 5% on a dry weight basis, and preferably between greater than 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the sensorial media comprises about 40% water by weight or less, such as about 30% or less, about 25% or less or about 20% or less. For example, the sensorial media may comprise 5% to about 30% water by weight.

Preferably, the sensorial media is in solid form rather than in a fluid form. Preferably the solid sensorial media holds its shape. The solid sensorial media may be in loose form or may be provided in a suitable consumable such as container or cartridge.

Preferably, the hybrid consumable article is in the form of a cylinder. The hybrid consumable article may be in the form of a stick or tube in which the plug of sensorial media, preferably comprising tobacco, is contained within a paper or cardboard tube or wrapper. The hybrid consumable article may be in the form of a “heat stick”. The term “heat stick” refers to, for example Marlboro IQOS HeatSticks (known in some markets under the trademark name “HEETS”®) that may be used with an IQOS® heating device and system.

Furthermore, as described herein, the electronic device may include a power supply, and control electronics located within the housing. One or both of the power supply and control electronics may be positioned proximate the first end of the housing.

In preferred embodiments the device may comprise a DC power source, such as a rechargeable battery, for providing a DC supply voltage and a DC current, power supply electronics comprising a DC/AC inverter for converting the DC current into an AC current for supply to the inductor. The aerosol generating device may further comprise an impedance matching network between the DC/AC inverter and the inductor to improve power transfer efficiency between the inverter and the inductor.

The aerosol generating device may be a portable or handheld aerosol generating device that is comfortable for a user to hold between the fingers of a single hand. The aerosol generating device may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The aerosol generating device may have a length of between approximately 70 millimetres and approximately 120 millimetres.

The electronic aerosol-generating device of the present invention is configured to receive the hybrid consumable article and to heat the sensorial media contained in the consumable article when the consumable article is received by the device. The device may comprise a housing that extends between a first end and a second end along a longitudinal axis. The second end of the housing defines a cavity configured to, at least in part, receive the consumable. In addition, in order to release dry powder from the capsule of the hybrid consumable article, the electronic aerosol-generating device may also comprise a capsule-piercing system.

An alternative way of delivering pharmaceutically active compounds by inhalation is with dry powder inhalers. Dry powder inhalers have been disclosed, for example, in WO2017/109626. Dry powder inhalers are used to treat respiratory diseases by delivering pharmaceutically active dry power compounds to the lungs of a user. A capsule containing dry powder may be pierced. The user provides an airflow through the dry powder inhaler. The airflow agitates the pierced capsule, releasing the dry powder contained therein. The released dry powder particles are entrained in the airflow and inhaled by the user.

Dry powder inhalers or consumable articles containing a capsule can be inserted into a device prior to use. The device may have a piercing element. When the consumable article is inserted into the device, the piercing element may extend into the consumable article to pierce the capsule. The device may also have airflow control to provide airflow to the pierced capsule inside the consumable article and to the downstream or mouthpiece end of the consumable article to deliver dry powder entrained in the airflow to the user. Dry powder inhaler devices do not typically require a heater because heat is not required to release powder from a capsule.

A device for enabling dry powder inhalation may include a piercing mechanism to perforate the capsule. Such piercing mechanism may be a needle or other sharp object that can be activated to move in relation to the capsule, pierce the capsule, then move away from the capsule, leaving the capsule with one or more holes inside the consumable article. The piercing mechanism may extend to pierce the capsule from the upstream end of the capsule. The piercing mechanism may extend to the capsule from the side of the capsule. The piercing mechanism may extend to pierce the capsule from the downstream end of the capsule. The piercing element may use a needle that goes along the longitudinal axis of the cavity into which is inserted the capsule and the sensorial media, and which can be moved along this axis up to the position where the capsule is expected to be. The piercing mechanism may be a slide that allows the user to advance a needle to pierce a capsule in the hybrid consumable article, and then withdraw the needle from the capsule. A needle is a sharp object which can be hollow or solid, suitable for piercing a capsule in the context of this system. The piercing mechanism may have a spring to automatically withdraw the needle from the capsule. The piercing mechanism may be electronic. That is, the piercing mechanism may be a solenoid controlled by the control electronics. The user may activate this solenoid by pressing a button on the device, for example. In response to this activation, the solenoid may advance a needle to pierce the capsule and then withdraw the needle from the capsule. In additional embodiments, the capsule may be pierced by a piercing element that is separate from the device, before the consumable article is inserted into a device. Or, in embodiments, the capsule may be pierced by a piercing element that is separate from the device. In this embodiment, the capsule may be pierced before the capsule is inserted into the tube body of the consumable article.

In embodiments, a device for use with the disclosed hybrid consumable article having a plug of sensorial media and a capsule may have a heater for heating the sensorial media, and power and control architecture as described above, as well as a mechanism for piercing a capsule contained in the hybrid consumable article. The heater is spaced apart from the piercing mechanism.

In addition, a device for use with the disclosed hybrid consumable article having sensorial media and a capsule may have an airflow management system. The device air flow management system may direct air through the hybrid consumable article from the upstream end of the hybrid consumable article to the downstream end, the mouthpiece end of the hybrid consumable article. The device may have a device air inlet at the upstream part of the consumable air inlet, so that air is drawn into the hybrid consumable article at the upstream end of the hybrid consumable article. In embodiment, the device airflow system may create a twisting air flow effect that picks up the particles from the (pierced) capsule and shakes and rotates the capsule held inside the hybrid consumable article, helping deplete the capsule of its content.

According to embodiments, this air flow management system may be contained in the article. In embodiments a twist plug may be in the hybrid consumable article upstream of the capsule. Ambient air entering the hybrid consumable article upstream of the capsule enters the cavity of the hybrid consumable article at an angle through an angled air inlet. The twist plug may have twist tubes which direct the air at an angle and generate twisted or spiral or angled airflow into the cavity of the hybrid consumable article. Once the airflow enters these twist tubes, it is then directed toward the capsule at an angle. In this manner, as the airflow passes past the capsule, it agitates the capsule by inducing twisted airflow. This agitating airflow helps to agitate and empty the capsule during use. This agitating airflow helps to agitate and empty the capsule as air flows through the hybrid consumable article.

The hybrid aerosol and powder generating consumable article and system disclosed herein comprises both a plug of sensorial media which, when heated, generates aerosol containing desirable compounds for inhalation and a capsule containing dry powder desirable for inhalation in a single consumable article. This hybrid, or combination consumable article provides the advantages described above and throughout this disclosure.

The dimensions and configuration of the hybrid consumable articles are adapted to interact with the desired hybrid aerosol and powder generating device. And the hybrid aerosol and powder generating device is adapted to interact with the dimensions and configuration of the hybrid consumable articles. For example, the diameter, length and size of its plug of sensorial media is adapted to match the size of the heating chamber, whether the heater is internal or external, inductive or resistive. The placement of the plug of sensorial media may be adapted to fit into a recess in the device so that the plug of sensorial media is exposed to the heating element of the device. In addition, the capsule is provided in the consumable article to present to the piercing element and airflow structure of the device. Hybrid consumable articles may be assembled as sub-elements held together by wrapping materials. These sub-elements may be small cylinders aligned end to end from upstream to downstream, and held together by a wrapper, for example. These sub-elements may be, for example, three successive main elements, from upstream to downstream: a capsule element, an aerosol generating element containing the plug of sensorial media and a cooling sector for cooling the heated air or vapor and for allowing the air to cool to form. Optionally, a filter sector for removing unwanted contaminants from the airflow containing aerosol prior to inhalation by the user may be present downstream of the cooling element.

In consumable articles having sensorial media but not dry powder, three elements may be the plug of sensorial media, a cooling sector and a filter sector, the cooling and filter sectors may be desirable because of the high temperature profile of the electronic device. The reasons for such a high temperature profile comes from a desired utility of these systems. It is desirable to provide minimal wait time before the first puff so the device and the consumable need to heat quickly. It is desirable to provide a minimum quantity of aerosol per puff, including that first puff. It is desirable to provide a consistent quantity of aerosol per puff. In order to provide these desirable qualities, it may be desirable to begin a heating cycle with a relatively high temperature so that a sufficient large amount of aerosol is generated from the sensorial media. That is, it may be desirable to begin a heating cycle with a relatively high temperature so that the plug of sensorial media can reach the proper aerosolization temperature as soon as possible. Furthermore, an expected time duration of (and/or number of puffs during) the smoking experience implies that the consumable holds a certain quantity of sensorial media. In order to maintain the device, cost low and the consumables easy to handle and provide a pleasant taste and feel of the aerosol in the mouth of the user, the plug of sensorial media (and so the device’s heating chamber) has a preferred length and diameter to contain this expected amount of sensorial media. In order to efficiently heat the plug of sensorial media in a large diameter cylinder, the temperature provided by the device may be relatively high after the start of the device. This leads to a relatively high temperature profile during the smoking experience. Because of this relatively high temperature profile, a cooling sector in the consumable is usually needed because of the large amount of heat that the device provides to the consumable. The cooling sector allows for the reduction of temperature as airflow passes from plug of sensorial media and protects the user from air and aerosol exiting the consumable article being too hot. The filter sector, although less needed than for conventional cigarettes, may be useful because part of the sensorial media could be overheated (due to the high temperature profile), possibly generating potentially harmful constituents.

The present disclosure provides a hybrid consumable article which contains both a capsule containing dry powder and a plug of sensorial media. The dry powder may be particles of nicotine. The plug of sensorial media may also contain nicotine. For example, the plug of sensorial media may comprise tobacco. The capsule and the plug of sensorial media are contained in a tube body. The tube body comprises an upstream end and a downstream end and has a cavity. The downstream end is the mouthpiece end of the aerosol generating consumable article. The capsule is upstream of the plug of sensorial media. The plug of sensorial media has an upstream end and a downstream end. The plug of sensorial media comprises at least one plug airpath extending from the upstream end of the sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media. Because the hybrid consumable article of the present disclosure provides a capsule containing dry powder, which can be nicotine, the first puff of from the hybrid consumable article may be primarily dry powder. This allows the device to deliver a first puff having a desired dose of nicotine without the need for rapid heating for a consumable article that doesn’t provide a capsule containing dry powder. This reduces the need for a filter element at the downstream end of the article as described above. That is, in embodiments, the hybrid consumable article does not have a filter. Or, in embodiments, the plug of sensorial media acts as a filter for the dry powder of the hybrid consumable article.

However, the presence of dry powder may provide a desire to provide a curved or flanged downstream end. This curved or flanged downstream end may capture dry powder particles that are larger than desired for inhalation by the user. This curved or flanged downstream end may capture powder that falls out of the device after the capsule has been pierced.

There is at least one airflow path extending from an airflow inlet, past the capsule contained in the tube cavity, through at least one plug airpath extending through the plug of sensorial media to the mouthpiece end of the aerosol generating consumable to be inhaled by the user. This at least one plug airpath is significantly larger than the dry powder particles. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has an inner surface roughness significantly lower than the dry powder particles sizes. The at least one plug airpath is spaced apart from the heater. That is, if the heater is an external heater which is around the hybrid consumable article when the hybrid consumable article is inserted into the aerosol-generating device, the at least one plug airpath is at the center of the plug of sensorial media. If the heater is an internal heater, the at least one plug airpath is at the periphery of the plug of sensorial media. The at least one air path in the plug of sensorial media has an (empty) volume representing between about 10% to about 80% of the total volume of the plug of sensorial media. For example, the empty volume of the plug airpath is between about 15% to about 75% of the total volume of the plug of sensorial media. The empty volume of the plug airpath is between about 20% to about 70% of the total volume of the plug of sensorial media, the empty volume of the plug airpath is between about 25% to about 65% of the total volume of the plug of sensorial media, the empty volume of the plug airpath is between about 30% to about 60% of the total volume of the plug of sensorial media. The hybrid consumable article containing both dry powder and plug of sensorial media provides the user with a consumable that can deliverthe experience of inhaling aerosol generated from heated tobacco and the experience of inhaling nicotine powder. Surprisingly, the combination of these two sources of nicotine combine to provide an enhanced experience.

Providing a hybrid consumable article may allow the for provision of the same dose of pharmaceutically active compound with a reduced amount of sensorial media. Providing a hybrid consumable article may allow for provision of the same dose of nicotine when nicotine is the pharmaceutically active compound, with a reduced amount of sensorial media. The lowerquantity of sensorial media in the plug allows for lower temperature profile for the device. Less media requires less energy to heat to a temperature sufficient to generate aerosol. This pulls less energy from the battery, reduces the risk of delivering harmful or potentially harmful constituents to the user, and reduces the risk of burning the user, as discussed above. These advantages are provided without shortening the experience or limiting the overall delivery of pharmaceutically active agents such as, for example, nicotine as the pharmaceutically active dry powder provides additional pharmaceutically active agent to replace reduced pharmaceutically active agent in the aerosol produced by heating the plug of sensorial media. This improves both the reactivity and the duration of the smoking experience. The plug of sensorial media having at least an air passage or plug airflow path in its body also allows potentially the use of the full substrate, as the heating system can be designed or controlled to take advantage of this geometry of the plug of sensorial media to extract the maximum dose of nicotine from aerosol generated by heating the sensorial media.

Providing a hybrid consumable article and device provides various options for the users who can chose to consume one or both sensorial media and powder simultaneously or sequentially. For example, the consumer can choose when to pierce the capsule. The consumer can choose to pierce the capsule before, during or after heating the plug of sensorial media with the heating device.

Providing a hybrid consumable article and device allows the first puff to deliver a higher dose of nicotine compared to a consumable article having only sensorial media. When consuming simultaneously sensorial media and powder, the quantity of delivery, at least at the start of the experience, can be higher than with aerosol-generating consumables or with usual nicotine powder consumables, as both aerosols may be provided at the same time. Also, when consuming simultaneously aerosol generated from the plug of sensorial media and dry powder, the taste of the powder can be improved by the aerosol provided by the sensorial media. The combination of flavor from nicotine particles and aerosol may allow particles of nicotine to be provided without flavor particles in the capsule. This simplifies the manufacture of capsules containing nicotine dry powder. In embodiments, the capsule contains dry powder. In embodiment, the dry powder may be nicotine particles. In embodiments, the capsule contains pharmaceutically acceptable nicotine salt or nicotine salt hydrate. Useful nicotine salts or nicotine salt hydrates include nicotine bitartrate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine fumarate, nicotine mono-pyruvate, nicotine glutamate or nicotine hydrochloride, for example.

In embodiments, the nicotine powder can have any useful size distribution for inhalation delivery into the lungs of a user. The nicotine particles may have an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in diameter. In embodiments, the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 1 and 10 microns in diameter. In embodiments, the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 0.1 and 10 microns in diameter. In embodiments, the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 1 and 7 microns in diameter. In embodiments, at least about 90 wt% of the nicotine powder has a particle size of about 10 micrometers or less. In embodiments, at least about 90 wt% of the nicotine powder has a particle size of between 1 and 10 micrometers. In embodiments, at least about 90 wt% of the nicotine powder has a particle size of between 1 and 7 micrometers.

In embodiments, the capsule may contain at least about 1 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments, the capsule may contain at least about 2 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain at least about 3 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain at least about 4 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain at least about5 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain at least about 10 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain between 1 and 10 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain between 1 and 5 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments the capsule may contain between 2 and 6 mg of nicotine. In embodiments the capsule may contain between 2.5 and 7.5 mg of nicotine powder. In embodiments, the capsule may further comprise flavor particles, in addition to nicotine powder.

Sensorial media includes nicotine. Sensorial media may comprise tobacco. In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media is contained in the cavity of the internal tube body of the consumable article. In embodiments, the plug of sensorial media comprises film, gel or botanical material. In embodiments, the botanical material comprises tobacco. In embodiments, the tobacco comprises cut filler, cast leaf or film tobacco. The sensorial media may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile components including volatile tobacco flavor compounds which are released from the sensorial media upon heating. The sensorial media comprises an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

The sensorial may comprise, for example, one or more of: powder, granules, pellets, shreds, spaghettis, strips or sheets containing one or more of: herb leaf, tobacco leaf, fragments of tobacco ribs, reconstituted tobacco, homogenised tobacco, extruded tobacco, cast leaf tobacco and expanded tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media may be formed from reconstituted tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media may be formed from homogenised tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media may be formed from extruded tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media may be formed from cast leaf tobacco. In embodiments, the sensorial media may be formed from expanded tobacco. The sensorial media may be in loose form or may be compressed. Homogenised tobacco refers to material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. Homogenised tobacco may be in the form of a sheet. Homogenized tobacco may have an aerosol-former content of greater than 5% on a dry weight basis. Homogenised tobacco material may alternatively have an aerosol former content of between 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis. Sheets of homogenised tobacco material may be formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco obtained by grinding or otherwise comminuting one or both of tobacco leaf lamina and tobacco leaf stems. Alternatively, or in addition, sheets of homogenised tobacco material may comprise other additives including, but not limited to, tobacco and non-tobacco fibers, aerosol-formers, humectants, plasticisers, flavorants fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents and combinations thereof. In embodiments, the sensorial media is made from tobacco cast leaf. Tobacco Cast Leaf is a paper-like sheet of tobacco compound which can be shaped or folded into an empty core tube. Orthe sensorial media can be extruded from a tobacco compound slurry and formed into a desired shape. The desired shape may be a tube having a central aperture to form the plug airpath or a cylindrical rod having peripheral plug airpath(s). The tube of sensorial media may be structured and arranged to fit within the cavity of the internal tube body of the consumable article. The advantage of such option is that the at least one air path can be made directly by forming it into the sensorial media substrate shape. An additional advantage of this option is that the surface roughness of the sensorial media material can be controlled by the extrusion. That is, the surface roughness can be controlled to provide a substrate material having a surface consistent that can interact with powder as desired.

In embodiments, the consumable article is “filter less”, meaning there is no filter plug downstream of the plug of sensorial media. Air flows through the sensorial media plug through the at least one plug airpath. In use, the air that flows through the sensorial media plug contains powder entrained in the air flow from the punctured capsule upstream of the sensorial media plug. The at least one plug airpath extends through the sensorial media from the upstream end of the sensorial media plug to the downstream end of the sensorial media. The at least one plug airpath acts as a filter.

In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath of the sensorial media has a diameter of 250 microns or greater. As described above, the nicotine particle may have an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in diameter, preferably between 1 and 10 microns in diameter. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of the nicotine particles. This provides the advantage that nicotine particles greater than 5X the desired average particle size will not pass through the plug airpath. Large nicotine particles will be filtered by the sensorial media and will not reach the mouth of the user.

In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of at least 0.05 mm. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of at least 0.5 mm. In embodiments, the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of at least 0.5 throughout the whole length of the plug of sensorial media. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of less than 7 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of less than 5 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of less than 3 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of less than 1 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 3 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 2.5 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 2 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 1 .5 mm. In embodiments the at least one plug airpath may have a diameter of between 0.5 and 1 mm.

In addition, the plug airpath has a plug airpath surface. The plug airpath surface comprises a surface roughness. The surface roughness of the plug airpath surface is less than the average particle size of the nicotine particles. The airpath surface roughness and size of the plug airpath and the plug airpath surface compared to the expected size distribution of the dry powder particles, is to prevent particles of dry powder from getting caught inside the plug airpath. Particles getting caught inside the plug airpath may slow down or even block the flow of dry powder and sensorial media aerosol in the air path. It is desirable to provide a plug airpath that does not allow the dry powder to progressively pile up and to obstruct the air path. It is also desirable to ensure that the dry powder particles have a quick travel in the heated area of the hybrid consumable article so that the heat exposition does not degrade the powder particles.

Having an air path significantly larger than the dry powder particles means here to have a minimal plug airpath diameter D along the air path about 5 times larger or more, preferably 10 times larger or more than the maximum particles size of the dry powder particles inside the capsule. Having an air path’s surface roughness significantly lower than the dry powder particle sizes means here to have a Ra (arithmetic average roughness) of about 5 times lower or less, preferably 10 times lower or less than the minimal particles size of the dry powder particles inside the capsule. Nicotine particles in dry powder capsule have usually particles sizes ranging from about 1 to 10 micrometers. Dry powder capsules may also include flavor particles with higher particles sizes ranging from about 20 to 200 micrometers. Accordingly, for dry powder particles ranging from 1 to 200 micrometers, the plug air path minimal diameter should be at least 1 millimeter and preferably at least 2 millimeters and should have an average surface roughness of 0.2 micrometers. For example, the plug airpath of the plug of sensorial media may have a diameter of 250 microns or greater. For example, if dry powder particles range from 5 to 50 micrometers would imply, a minimal plug airpath diameter could be above 250 micrometers. In embodiment, the plug airpath diameter may be above 500 micrometers. In embodiments, the plug airpath diameter may be between 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm. This is quite possible, even for peripheral air paths, as the consumables usual diameters range from 5 to 8 mm. In this example, an average surface roughness of 1 micrometer or less, preferably 0.5 micrometer would be desirable. This is similar to the average surface roughness of paper and would be possible for an extrusion of a slurry of tobacco or botanical compound.

In embodiments, flavor could be supplied only by the sensorial media plug, which usually also includes flavors. In such case, the minimal air path diameter could be much lower, above 50 micrometers, and preferably above 100 millimeters, because the dry particles would not include those larger flavor particles. In embodiments, this would allow for more flexibility for the air paths shapes and localization in the consumable. In embodiments, the SM plug may comprise flavor particles.

In order for the heating system to have a correct heating efficiency, the plug of sensorial media may be close to the heat source. Furthermore, the dry powder particles of the capsule may be degraded if they are heated. For these reasons, the air path of the hybrid consumable article into which the dry powder particles are drawn should be as far as possible from the heat source of the device.

Accordingly, where the plug of sensorial media is directly heated by device using external heating, the at least one plug airpath may be in the center of the plug of sensorial media (see Figure 2). Where internal heating is used, the at least one plug airpath is (are) in the periphery of the plug of sensorial media (see Figure 11). This configuration could be more easily achievable when the minimal diameter of the plug airpath is not too large, and where the maximum size of the dry powder particles is not too large. For example, in embodiments where the at least one plug airpath is in the periphery of the plug of sensorial media, the total diameter of plug airpath may be about 1/5 or less of the diameter of the hybrid consumable article. Or, in embodiments where the at least one plug airpath is in the periphery of the plug of sensorial media, the total diameter of plug airpath may be about 1/10 or less of the diameter of the hybrid consumable article, In embodiments, plug airpath(s) in the peripheral of the consumable may be formed with spaces between the plug of sensorial media and a wrapping paper wrapped around the plug of sensorial media. For instance, for a consumable having an overall diameter of about 7mm, the section of a peripheral air path may be about 0.7 mm, and so the maximum particles size may be between 70 and 140 micrometers.

In addition, because of the low temperature profile allowed by the hybrid consumable configuration, harmful and potentially harmful constituents are much less likely to be generated as the sensorial media is heated, and so there is no real need to keep a filter sector. A consumable article that does not require an additional filter plug has fewer parts. This decreases the cost complexity of the consumable.

In embodiments, the downstream portion of the consumable, the mouthpiece portion, can act as a “cooling sector”. The mouthpiece portion can act as a cooling sector by allowing heat transfer to the ambient air through the tube wall. In embodiments, this cooling is sufficient because of the low temperature profile used to heat the sensorial media. This provides a cooling sector which is simplified and low cost. In addition, infusion air inlets could be provided in the downstream end of the tube body. Infusion air inlet may advantageously help the cooling and nucleation of the aerosol coming from the heated sensorial media plug.

In embodiments, there is a “retainer” between the capsule and the plug of sensorial media. In embodiments, the retainer functions to prevent the capsule from falling out of the downstream end of the device and also holds the capsule in place as it is pierced. This retainer could be inside the tubular part containing the capsule. The retainer may be between the capsule and the plug of sensorial media. The retainer may be the plug of sensorial media plug itself. The retainer blocks the capsule movements when a piercing element is introduced at the downstream end of the consumable toward the capsule and helps to hold the capsule in place to ensure correct piercing of the capsule’s shell. In embodiments, the retainer has a structure with large holes allowing the powder contained in the capsule to pass through it carried by the air drawn by the user in the consumable.

The downstream end of the hybrid consumable article is flanged or curved. A flange is a projecting flat rim, collar or rib. A curved downstream end is annular and toroidal, where the curve of the torroid extends exteriorly at the downstream end of the hybrid consumable article and the inside of the downstream end of the hybrid consumable article forms a channel to capture dry powder. The advantage of this flanged or curved mouthpiece end is to provide a rigid and strong part to be held between the lips of the user and to mitigate the risk of powder leaking. The flanged or curved structure may capture dry powder that leaks from the hybrid consumable article. Leaking may occurwhen the consumable is angled or inclined afterthe capsule has been pierced.

Regardless of the type of consumable or aerosol generating device, the plug of sensorial media may be heated to release volatile flavor compounds, without combustion of the sensorial media. The released volatile compounds may then be conveyed within an aerosol to the user. In use, volatile compounds are released from the sensorial media by heat transfer from a heat source and are entrained in air drawn through the hybrid consumable article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.

For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± {10 %} of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, “aerosol” means visible particles in air. “Aerosol” includes smoke generated from heated (and then cooled) sensorial media. “Aerosol” also includes particles of pharmaceutically active compound entrained in airflow. “Aerosol” also includes dry particles pf pharmaceutically active compound released from a capsule of a hybrid consumable article, entrained in airflow.

As used herein, an “electronic device” is a device that has one or more electrical components.

As used herein, “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”, “comprising” orthe like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understood that “consisting essentially of’, “consisting of’, and the like are subsumed in “comprising,” and the like.

As used herein “hybrid” means a device that combines two sources of inhalable material, a capsule containing dry powder which can be inhaled and a plug of sensorial media or sensorial media which can provide aerosol which can also be inhaled. The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

As used herein “a plug of sensorial media” means a plug of botanical material or other material, or botanical material and other material in combination, which can generate aerosol when heated. The plug of sensorial media includes nicotine and an aerosol former.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example Ex1 : Disclosed herein is a hybrid consumable article for providing aerosol to a user, the hybrid consumable article comprising a tube body comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, the tube defining a cavity; a capsule contained in the cavity of the tube body, the capsule containing dry powder; a plug of sensorial media contained in the cavity of the tube body downstream of the capsule, the plug of sensorial media comprises nicotine and an aerosol former, wherein the plug of sensorial media has an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein the plug of sensorial media comprises at least one plug airpath extending from the upstream end of the plug of sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media.

Example Ex2: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of Ex1 , further comprising a mouthpiece portion downstream of the plug of sensorial media.

Example Ex3: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of Ex1 or Ex2, wherein the tube body comprises the mouthpiece portion.

Example Ex4: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex3, wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises a curved or flanged downstream end.

Example Ex5: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex4 wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises filter material.

Example Ex6: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex5 wherein the plug of sensorial media is contained in the cavity of the internal tube body.

Example Ex7: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex6 wherein the at least one plug airpath of the plug of sensorial media has a diameter of 250 microns or greater.

Example Ex8: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex7 wherein the dry powder comprises nicotine particles. Example Ex9: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of Ex8 wherein the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in diameter, preferably between 1 and 10 microns in diameter.

Example Ex10: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex9 s wherein the capsule contains flavor particles.

Example Ex11 : Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex10 wherein the plug of sensor material comprises film, gel or botanical material.

Example Ex12: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex11 wherein the botanical material comprises tobacco and wherein the tobacco comprises cut fill, cast leaf or film tobacco.

Example Ex13: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex12 wherein the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of the nicotine particles.

Example Ex14: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex13 wherein the plug airpath comprises a plug airpath surface, wherein the plug airpath surface comprises a surface roughness, and wherein the surface roughness of the plug airpath surface is less than the average particle size of the nicotine particles.

Example Ex15: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of Ex1 to Ex14 further comprising a retention disk between the capsule and the plug of sensorial media.

Example Ex16: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of

Ex1 to Ex15 further comprising a twist plug.

Example Ex17: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of

Ex1 to Ex16 wherein the aerosol former comprises glycerine.

Example Ex18: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of

Ex1 to Ex17 wherein botanical material comprises homogenized tobacco.

Example Ex19: Further disclosed herein is the hybrid consumable article of any one of

Ex1 to Ex17 wherein the plug of sensorial media comprises homogenized tobacco and 5% to

30% by weight aerosol former, on a dry weight basis.

Example Ex20: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding Example; and a device comprising a cavity to receive the hybrid consumable article, a heater, and a piercing mechanism wherein the piercing mechanism comprises a needle.

Example Ex21 : Disclosed herein is a system of Ex20 wherein the heater is spaced apart from the piercing mechanism. Example Ex22: Disclosed herein is a system of Ex20 or Ex21 wherein the heater is located along a side wall of the cavity and the piercing mechanism is located at a bottom of the cavity.

Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated. It will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The drawings are schematic drawings and are not necessarily to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labelled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same orsimilarto other numbered components.

Figure 1 is an illustration of a prior art aerosol generating consumable article.

Figure 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a device for use with an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article, containing the hybrid consumable article.

Figure 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article illustrating an internal heating element.

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken at line A-A’ of Figure 4, illustrating an embodiment of the plug of sensorial media having an internal heating element.

Figure 6 is an illustration of another embodiment of a cross-section of the hybrid consumable article taken at line A-A’ of Figure 4, illustrating another embodiment of the plug of sensorial media having an internal heating element.

Figure 7 is an illustration of a hybrid consumable article having an optional twist plug.

Figure 8 is an illustration of a cross-section the twist plug shown in Figure 7, taken at line A-A’ of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article having a retention disk.

Figure 10 is an illustration of a cross section of the hybrid consumable article of Figure 9, taken at line A-A’ of Figure 9.

Figure 1 is an illustration of a Prior Art aerosol generating consumable article. The Prior Art consumable 1 has a sensorial media element 2, a cooling element 3 and a filter element 4. The sensorial media element 34 may be, for example, tobacco. The cooling element 3 may be, for example, polylactic acid (PLA). The filter element 4 may be, for example, cellulose acetate tow. An optional capsule 6 containing liquid flavor particles may be located in the filter portion 4 of the prior art consumable article 1 . This capsule 6 may be crushed by a user prior to using the consumable article 1 and may deliver flavor such as menthol to the user. However, these prior art capsules 6 are generally downstream of the heated sensorial media 34 and generally contain liquid flavor. In general, these optional capsules do not provide powder upstream of the sensorial media 34 in the article. The heating cavity 11 of the device 10 is shown schematically, as is the heater 12. Ambient air 22 is drawn by the user into the consumable, going mainly from the upstream end to the downstream end of the consumable and exiting as a mix of air and aerosol 23.

Figure 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article 300. The hybrid consumable article has a tube body 310 comprising an upstream end 301 and a downstream end 302, the tube defining a cavity 304. The downstream end 302 is the mouth-end of the hybrid consumable article 300. A capsule 320 is contained in the cavity 304 of the tube body 310, the capsule 320 containing dry powder 321. A plug of sensorial media 340 is also contained in the cavity 304 of the tube body 310, downstream of the capsule 320. The plug of sensorial media 340 has an upstream end 341 and a downstream end 342. The sensorial media 340 comprises at least one plug airpath 350 extending from the upstream end 341 of the plug of sensorial media 340 to the downstream end 342 of the plug of sensorial media 340. At the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300 is an opening 330 through which a needle 122 can be inserted to pierce the capsule 320.

In use, ambient air 20 may enter the hybrid consumable article 300 through the opening 330 at the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300. Alternatively, ambient air 20 may enter the hybrid consumable article 300 through another opening 200 which may be located at or near the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300. When ambient air enters an opening (330, 200), the opening (330, 200) is an air inlet (330, 200). Ambient air enters the hybrid consumable article via an opening (330, 200) and becomes the airflow through the device as shown by arrows 220, 230 and exits the hybrid consumable article as shown by arrow 240 in Figure 2. Air flows past the capsule 320. As air flows past the capsule, 320, the capsule 320 is agitated or shaken to release powder 321 contained in the capsule 320. The dry powder 321 released from the capsule 320 is entrained in the airflow 220 passing downstream from the capsule 320 through the device 300. The airflow containing dry powder 220 enters the plug airpath 350 of the plug of sensorial media 340. The average diameter of the dry powder particles is smaller than the diameter of the plug airpath. The diameter of the capsule 320 is larger than the diameter of the plug airpath 350. As shown in Figure 2, the plug airpath 350 extends through the plug of sensorial media 340 from the upstream end 341 of the plug of sensorial media 340 to the downstream end 342 of the plug of sensorial media 340. The plug of sensorial media 340 is heated by a heater 120 provided by a device (not shown in Figure 2 but see Figure 3). As the plug of sensorial media 340 is heated, volatile compounds in the plug of sensorial media 340 are released into the plug airpath 350. Air flow that contains dry powder 321 , 220 continues to flow through the plug airpath 350 and volatile components from the plug of sensorial media 340 continues to become entrained into the air flow, combining with dry powder already entrained in the airflow. Airflow represented by arrow 230, that is exiting the plug airpath 350 carries entrained dry powder 321 from the capsule 320 and heated volatile components from the plug of sensorial media 340. As the airflow represented by arrow 230 enters the mouthpiece 370, the air 230 cools. As the airflow 230 containing dry powder 220 released from the capsule 320 and volatile components from the plug of sensorial media 340 continues to flow downstream toward the air outlet 380 and cools, aerosol 331 is formed. The aerosol 240 containing powder 321 from the capsule 320 and aerosol formed from the heated plug of sensorial media 340 flows through the mouthpiece 370. The aerosol 331 exits the device 300 via airflow 240 through the air outlet 380 and is delivered to a user 401. The downstream end 302 of the tubular body 310 of the hybrid consumable article 300 is the mouthpiece portion 370 of the hybrid consumable article 300. Optionally, an infusion air inlet 60 may be present in the tubular body 310 at the mouthpiece portion 370. The optional infusion air inlet 60 may function to further cool the aerosol 331. The mouthpiece portion 370 may comprise a curved or flanged downstream end 303. Optionally, the mouthpiece portion may comprise filter material 305. The curved or flanged portion may capture loose powder and prevent the device from leaking after the capsule has been pierced and during manipulation of the device. The filter material 305 may also act to prevent powder from exiting the air outlet.

In Figure 2, the tubular body 310 is shown as a continuous tube extending from the upstream end 301 to the downstream end 302 of the hybrid consumable article 300. Alternatively, the hybrid consumable article may be assembled from a capsule portion 360, a sensorial media portion 365, and a mouthpiece portion 370. These portions may be assembled together and wrapped by a wrapper (not shown) to form the tubular body 310.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a device containing an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article. As shown in Figure 3, the device 100 has a battery 101 , control electronics 102 and a cavity 105 structured to receive a hybrid consumable article 300. The cavity 105 receives the hybrid consumable article 300 by inserting the hybrid consumable article 300 into the cavity 105 upstream-end 301 first. When the hybrid consumable article 300 is inserted into the device 100, the plug of sensorial media 340 is aligned with a heater 103 of the device. The heater 103 is located along a side wall ofthe cavity 105. In the embodiment shown, the heater 103 is an external heater. That is, the heater 103, which is part of the device 100, wraps around the plug of sensorial media 340 when the hybrid consumable article 300 is inserted into the device 100. Alternatively, the device may provide an induction heating mechanism to heat an internal heating element 130 in the hybrid consumable article 300 as shown in Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6. The device may provide a resistive heating element or an induction heating element. As shown in Figure 3, the device also has a piercing mechanism. As shown in Figure 3, the piercing mechanism comprises a needle 122 and a lever or button 125 for operating the needle 122. The needle 122 is located at a bottom of the cavity 105. The needle 122 is spaced apart from the heater 103. The piercing mechanism can be operated to insert the needle 122 into the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300 to pierce the capsule 320 contained there. As shown in Figure 3, the mechanism is a slide as shown by arrow 124. After the capsule 320 is pierced, the needle 122 can be withdrawn from the capsule 320. Ambient air flows into the device 100 through the device airflow inlet 104, and then flows through the hybrid consumable article as described with respect to Figure 2. Aerosol may be delivered to a user through the downstream end 302 of the hybrid consumable article 300.

Figure 4 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed embodiment of a hybrid consumable article 300 having a capsule 320 containing dry powder 321 and a plug of sensorial media 340. According to the embodiment of the hybrid consumable article 300 shown in Figure 4, the hybrid consumable article 300 has an internal heating element 130. The hybrid consumable article has a tube body 310 comprising an upstream end 301 and a downstream end 302, the tube defining a cavity 304. A capsule 320 is contained in the cavity 304 of the tube body 310, the capsule 320 containing dry powder 321. A plug of sensorial media 340 is also contained in the cavity 304 of the tube body 310, downstream of the capsule 320. The plug of sensorial media 340 has an upstream end 341 and a downstream end 342. The sensorial media 340 comprises at least one plug airpath 350 extending from the upstream end 341 of the sensorial media 340 to the downstream end 342 of the sensorial media 340. As shown in Figure 4, the plug of sensorial media 340 surrounds an internal heating element 130. As shown in Figure 4 and in cross-section in Figure 5, multiple plug airpaths 390 are on the periphery of the plug of sensorial media 340 when the heating element is an internal heating element 130.

In use, ambient air 20 may enter the hybrid consumable article 300 through the opening 330 at the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300. Alternatively, or in combination, ambient air may 20 enterthe hybrid consumable article 300 through another opening 200 which may be located at or near the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300. When ambient air 20 enters an opening (330, 200), the opening (330, 200) is an air inlet (330, 200). Ambient air 20 enters the hybrid consumable article 300 via an opening (330, 200) and becomes the airflow in the cavity 304 inside the device as shown by arrow 220 in Figure 4. Air flows past the capsule 320. As air flows past the capsule, 320, the capsule 320 is agitated or shaken to release powder 321 contained in the capsule 320. The powder 321 is entrained in the airflow passing downstream from the capsule 320 through the device 300. The airflow containing powder 321 enters the plug airpaths 390 of the plug of sensorial media 340. The plug airpaths 390 extends through the plug of sensorial media 340 from the upstream end 341 to the downstream end 342 of the plug of sensorial media 340. The plug of sensorial media 340 is heated by an internal heater 130. As the plug of sensorial media 340 is heated, volatile compounds contained in the plug of sensorial media 340 are released into the airflow paths 390. The airflow containing powder 321 from the capsule 320 and volatile components from the plug of sensorial media 340 continues to flow downstream toward the mouthpiece portion 370 of the hybrid consumable article 300. As the airflow 230 enters the mouthpiece portion 370 of the hybrid consumable article, the airflow cools. As the airflow cools, vapor formed in heated air containing volatile components from the plug of sensorial media 340 forms aerosol 331. The aerosol 331 containing powder 321 from the capsule 320 and aerosol from the plug of sensorial media 340 flows through the mouthpiece 370. The aerosol 331 exits the device 300 through the air outlet 380 as shown by arrow 240 and is delivered to a user 401 .

Figure 5 is another view of the embodiment of the hybrid consumable article 300 having an internal heating element 130. Figure 5 is a cross-section taken at line A-A’ of Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5, the plug airpaths 390 may have any cross-section to optimize aerosol generation in response to heating the sensorial media 340. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the plug airpaths 390 may be shaped like cylinders. Or, as shown in Figure 6, the plug airpaths 390 may be shaped like flattened cylinders (which appear oval in cross-section as shown in Figure 6). Or, in embodiments, plug airpaths 390 may be multiple irregular airpaths formed during the manipulation of tobacco as it is formed into the plug of sensorial media 340.

As shown in Figure 7 an optional twist plug 400 is provided near the upstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300. The twist plug 400 is shown in cross-section at line A-A’ of Figure 7 in Figure 8. The twist plug 400 is provided in the hybrid consumable article 300 upstream of the capsule 320. Ambient air 20 entering the hybrid consumable article 300 upstream of the capsule 320 via opening 330 or opening 200. When ambient air 20 enters an opening (330, 200), the opening (330, 200) is an air inlet (330, 200). As shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, ambient air 20 enters the hybrid consumable article 300 via an air inlet (330, 200) and enters the twist plug twist tubes 410 which direct the air at an angle and generate twisted or spiral or angled airflow into the hybrid consumable article as shown by the arrow 24 in Figure 7 and Figure 8. Once the airflow enters these twist tubes 410, it is then directed toward the capsule 320 at an angle, or with a spiral direction (see arrow 24 in Figure 7). In this manner, as the airflow passes past the capsule 320, it agitates the capsule by inducing twisted or spiral airflow. This agitated airflow helps to agitate and empty the capsule 320 during use. That is, this spiral airflow 24 shakes dry powder 321 out of the capsule 320. Figure 9 is an illustration of an embodiment of the presently disclosed hybrid consumable article 300 having an optional retention disk 500. The retention disk 500 may be present between the capsule 320 and the plug of sensorial media 340. In embodiments, the retention disk 500 functions to prevent the capsule 320 from falling out of the downstream end of the device 300. This retention disk 500 may be inside the tubular body 310 containing the capsule 320. The retainer 500 blocks the capsule’s 320 movements when a piercing element (not shown) is introduced at the downstream end 301 of the hybrid consumable article 300 toward the capsule 320 and helps to hold the capsule 320 in place to ensure correct piercing of the capsule’s shell. In embodiments, the retainer has a structure with large holes 510 allowing the powder 321 contained in the capsule 320 to pass through the retention disk 500 carried by the air drawn by the user in the consumable 300. As shown in Figure 10, the retention disk 500 has a central structure 520 which is provided to support the open structure of the retention disk 500 and provide large holes 510.

Claims

1 . A hybrid consumable article for providing aerosol to a user, the hybrid consumable article comprising: a tube body comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, the tube body defining a cavity; a capsule contained in the cavity of the tube body, the capsule containing dry powder; and, a plug of sensorial media contained in the cavity of the tube body downstream of the capsule, the plug of sensorial material comprises nicotine and an aerosol former, wherein the plug of sensorial media has an upstream end and a downstream end and wherein the plug of sensorial media comprises at least one plug airpath extending from the upstream end of the plug of sensorial media to the downstream end of the plug of sensorial media.

2. The hybrid consumable article of claim 1 further comprising a mouthpiece portion downstream of the plug of sensorial media.

3. The hybrid consumable article of claim 2, wherein the tube body comprises the mouthpiece portion.

4. The hybrid consumable article of claim 3 wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises a curved or flanged downstream end.

5. The hybrid consumable article of any one of claims 2-4 wherein the mouthpiece portion comprises filter material.

6. The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug of sensorial media is contained in the cavity of the tube body.

7. The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one plug airpath of the plug of sensorial media has a diameter of 250 microns or greater.

8. The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims wherein the dry powder comprises nicotine particles.

9. The hybrid consumable article of claim 8 wherein the nicotine particles have an average particle size of between 1 and 200 microns in diameter, preferably between 1 and 10 microns in diameter.

10. The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims wherein the aerosol former comprises glycerine.

11 . The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nicotine comprises tobacco and wherein the tobacco comprises cut fill tobacco, cast leaf tobacco, film tobacco, or homogenized tobacco.

12. The hybrid consumable article of claim 9 wherein the at least one plug airpath has a diameter of at least 5X the average particle size of the nicotine particles.

13. The hybrid consumable article of claim 9 wherein the plug airpath comprises a plug airpath surface, wherein the plug airpath surface comprises a surface roughness, and wherein the surface roughness of the plug airpath surface is less than the average particle size of the nicotine particles.

14. The hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a retention disk between the capsule and the plug of sensorial media.

15. A system comprising: a hybrid consumable article of any one of the preceding claims; and, a device comprising a cavity to receive the hybrid consumable article, a heater, and a piercing mechanism wherein the piercing mechanism comprises a needle.