Claims:1. A device for delivering nicotine in a form of aerosol to a subject, said device comprising a housing, wherein said housing comprising:
an inlet and an outlet in communication with each other and adapted to enable a gaseous carrier pass into said housing through said inlet, and out of said housing through said outlet, the device comprising from said inlet to said outlet;
a first portion in communication with said inlet, comprises at least one heater to provide heating to said gaseous carrier;
a second portion in communication with said first portion, comprises at least two longitudinal channels positioned in a parallel configuration, wherein at least one channel containing nicotine and/or tobacco alkaloid(s) and other channel containing acid, wherein said longitudinal channels adapted to provide a passage to said hot gaseous carrier, independently and simultaneously;
at least one air flow cavity for connecting said heater and said longitudinal channel containing nicotine for an enhanced vaporization, wherein said hot gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) is hotter than said gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing acid;
a third portion in communication with said second portion and said outlet.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion comprising three longitudinal channels with two channels comprises an aerosol promoting substance selected from a group of a organic acid consisting of pyruvic, lactic acids and the other channel comprises an aerosol generating substance of nicotine and/or tobacco alkaloid(s)).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises at least one control unit configured to control operation of said heater.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third portion comprises at least one battery unit adapted to supply power to said control unit to enable heating up of said heating element.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third portion further comprises an adsorbent material to hold said nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) material.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion, said second portion and said third portion are detachable.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heater is coiled around a wick to generate aerosol upon heating.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said wick is selected from propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine or a combination thereof.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first portion further comprises a flow sensor or a switch, present in said first portion so as to enable activation of puff mechanism.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, is operated manually by means of said switch and/or automatically operated by means of said flow sensor.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said gaseous carrier is heated at a temperature range of about 40-100°C when operated automatically.

12. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims adapted to generate aerosol, preferably nicotine, in a range of 0 to 50 microgram per puff.

13. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, is preferably selected from a group consisting of a cigarette or a cigar or a pipe-like structure adapted to deliver aerosol, consisting of nicotine or other alkaloids, and said organic acid, preferably pyruvic acid.

14. A method for delivering nicotine aerosol to a subject using a device as claimed in claims 1-13, wherein said method comprising:
Inhaling, by means of an outlet, to enable entry of gaseous carrier, by activation of a flow sensor or a switch present in a first portion, into said first portion, wherein said gaseous carrier gets heated through at least one heater;
passing, by means of an air flow cavity, said heated gaseous carrier simultaneously and independently through at least two longitudinal channels placed in a second portion, and thereby generating aerosol, wherein said heated gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) is hotter than said gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing acid.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said aerosol further passing an adsorbent material in a third portion, for an enhanced aerosol generation.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said gaseous carrier gets heated through at least one coiled heating element which further heats up a wick material to generate a visible aerosol.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said visible aerosol passes through said longitudinal channels to said outlet end.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to devices and methods for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources. More particularly, the invention relates to devices and methods for delivering a visible aerosol of nicotine to a subject without combustion of the nicotine source materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Many smoking devices have been proposed through the years as improvements upon, or alternatives to, smoking products that require combusting tobacco for use. Such smoking articles are used by heating or burning tobacco, and aerosol (e.g., smoke) is inhaled by the smoker. Smoking articles that are purportedly designed to deliver nicotine in the form of aerosol without burning is widely known as “heat-not-burn” products.

[003] Further, electronic smoking articles are yet another type of aerosol generation product, which comprise a reservoir and heating system for the delivery of aerosolizable materials.

[004] Prior arts such as 6272/DELNP/2009 and 7127/DELNP/2011 describes a device and method that utilize at least one organic acid and nicotine as a base to generate nicotine salts and delivered in the form of aerosol. However, the prior art device designs are found to have inherent problems that are multifold: 1) due to significant vapor pressure between the chosen organic acid and nicotine which negatively impacts the nicotine salt delivery and 2) once the acid is exposed to nicotine there will be continuous reaction takes place between the two in the formation of nicotine salts, which is inevitable and leads to lower shelf life.

[005] The prior art document US 2016/0022930A1, an aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article includes a first compartment having a first one of a volatile delivery enhancing compound source and a medicament source; and a second compartment having a second one of the volatile delivery enhancing compound source and the medicament source. The aerosol-generating device includes a cavity configured to receive the first compartment and the second compartment; and an external heater positioned about a perimeter of the cavity. The aerosol-generating device is configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment so that the first compartment has a lower temperature than the second compartment.

[006] In the prior art document WO 2015/197627A1, an aerosol-generating system comprises: a nicotine source, a lactic acid source; and a single heater configured to heat both the nicotine source and the lactic acid source. The aerosol-generating system preferably comprises: an aerosol-generating article comprising a cartridge comprising a first compartment comprising the nicotine source and a second compartment comprising the lactic acid source; and an aerosol-generating device comprising the single heater. The cartridge preferably comprises a cavity for receiving the single heater of the aerosol-generating device.

[007] Most of the above prior arts teach the direct heating of the substrate (either nicotine or tobacco or both) as known in heat not burn products. This may be consume significant amount of energy and the nicotine delivery might also be affected.

[008] Reference is also made to EP 2408494A1 that relates to devices and methods for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources. More particularly, the invention relates to devices and methods for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user's lungs without combustion of the nicotine source materials. However, the prior art involves direct heating of nicotine and delivery enhancing compound source by heating elements. The chambers are also separated by a dividing wall for temperature control. The distance between heating element and nicotine/acid chamber determines how quickly heat can be transferred for sufficient release of the same. Further, both nicotine and acid are heated. i.e., there is no options provided for selective heating of alkaloid or acid

[009] Reference is made to US 20080241255 A1 that relates to a method of enhancing nicotine or other medicament concentrations in a gaseous carrier. The methods are adaptable to the delivery of nicotine or other medicaments for therapeutic effect in various diseases, in particular nicotine for tobacco product use cessation, substitution and/or harm reduction. The disclosure further relates various devices and device design principles for practicing these methods. However, the prior art document also involves direct heating of nicotine and delivery enhancing source elements and both nicotine and acid source (arranged in series) are heated by external heating elements.

[0010] Reference is also made to US 20080257367 A1 that provides an improved electronic evaporable substance delivery device delivers nicotine-containing vapor to a user from a smoking device. The smoking device comprises a case having therein a power source, microprocessor, heating element and nicotine-containing cartridge. Microprocessor-controlled heating of the heating element causes air passing thereover to be heated. Passage of the heated air in proximity of the cartridge causes boiling of cartridge contents, and the release of a nicotine-containing vapor. A user may ingest the nicotine-containing vapor via a mouthpiece located at a first end of the case. However, the arrangement of acid and nicotine containing chambers are sequential in nature wherein the air is passed one after the other sequentially.

[0011] Accordingly, in view of the drawbacks of the above prior art, there is dire need for a solution to overcome the low Nicotine delivery by passing hot air through the loaded tubes. Thus, there is a need for new methods and device to prepare aerosols for nicotine delivery utilizing tobacco or other plant products. The present disclosure describes in part a method for combining such nicotine with a compound for forming particles comprising the nicotine and/or tobacco alkaloid(s) for delivery in a gaseous stream to generate a visible aerosol for pulmonary delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to address the above drawbacks and to provide a device and a method to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol not through combustion process but chemical reaction means and utilizing the gaseous carrier to be heated at a temperature of about 40 to 100°C.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol delivery device involving at least three channels with one loaded with nicotine and others with acid over suitable loading materials, arranged in a parallel configuration.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to an aerosol delivery device with an additional heating cartridge positioned to hit the nicotine containing tube for an enhanced vaporization.

[0016] Accordingly to one aspect, the present invention provides a device for delivering nicotine in a form of aerosol to a subject, said device comprising a housing, wherein said housing comprising:
an inlet and an outlet in communication with each other and adapted to enable gaseous carrier pass into said housing through said inlet, and out of said housing through said outlet, the device comprising from said inlet to said outlet;
a first portion in communication with said inlet, comprises at least one heater to provide heating to said gaseous carrier;
a second portion in communication with said first portion, comprises at least two longitudinal channels positioned in a parallel configuration, wherein at least one channel containing nicotine and/or tobacco alkaloid(s) and other channel containing acid, wherein said longitudinal channels adapted to provide a passage to said hot gaseous carrier, independently and simultaneously;
at least one air flow cavity for connecting said heater and said longitudinal channel containing nicotine for an enhanced vaporization, wherein said hot gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) is hotter than said gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing acid;
a third portion in communication with said second portion and said outlet.
[0017] In second aspect, there is provided a method for delivering nicotine aerosol to a subject using a device as mentioned above, wherein said method comprising:
Inhaling, by means of an outlet, to enable entry of gaseous carrier, by activation of a flow sensor or a switch present in a first portion, into said first portion, wherein said gaseous carrier gets heated through at least one heater;
passing, by means of an air flow cavity, said heated gaseous carrier simultaneously and independently through at least two longitudinal channels placed in a second portion, and thereby generating aerosol, wherein said heated gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) is hotter than said gaseous carrier passing through said longitudinal channel containing acid.
[0018] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic of a device for enhanced nicotine aerosol delivery with visible smoke, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic of a device for an enhanced nicotine salt aerosol delivery with additional adsorbent material containing aerosol generating substance, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0023] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0024] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0025] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0026] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0027] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0028] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0029] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0030] Herein, the device is preferably selected from a group consisting of a cigarette or a cigar or a pipe-like structure adapted to deliver aerosol, consisting of nicotine or other alkaloids, and said organic acid, preferably pyruvic acid.

[001] In one implementation, the method used in the invention brings out a solution to overcome the low Nicotine delivery by passing hot air through the loaded tubes. In this device, an additional heating cartridge is positioned before longitudinal channels tubes. During inhalation, air enters through the heater cartridge and heats up. Thus generated hot air can be directed through the heating cartridges, providing sufficient heat energy to enhance Nicotine vaporization, causing increase in Nicotine delivery.

[002] In the implementation, during inhalation, air enters through the heater cartridge and heats up. Thus generated hot air is directed through the loaded cartridges, providing sufficient heat energy to enhance Nicotine vaporization, causing increase in Nicotine delivery.

[003] A device and method to generate nicotine aerosol through chemical reaction means utilizing the gaseous carrier to be heated at a temperature of about 40 to 100°C, preferably 40-60°C. There is no direct heating of the substrate is required.

[004] Herein, the term “Substrate” is defined as an “aerosol generating substance” which can be a tobacco or nicotine or a combination of both.

[005] Referring to figure 1, the schematic of a device for enhanced nicotine aerosol delivery with visible smoke is illustrated. The device is divided into three portion which are detachable when not in use. The first portion (1) includes the heating cartridge in the form of heater (1.1) and the control unit (1.2) which when actuated enables the heater to heat air entered into the first portion (1) from an inlet upon inhalation. The second portion (2) includes at least two longitudinal channel tube (2.1, 2.2, and 2.3) out of which one is loaded with nicotine or tobacco alkaloid(s) (2.2) and others with acid (2.1, 2.3) over suitable loading materials, arranged in a parallel configuration. The longitudinal channels provides a passage to the heat air independently and simultaneously. There is additionally provided a hot air cavity connecting the heater with the tube longitudinal channel tube loaded with nicotine. The device is designed in such a way that, heater is positioned to hit the nicotine containing channel tube for an enhanced vaporization, (that is, indirect method for enhancing nicotine vapourization. Neither nicotine nor acid is allowed to be heated directly). Further hot air also escapes through the acid containing channel (2.1, 2.3) which are placed either side of the periphery of the nicotine tube, thereby generates nicotine salt aerosol. The nicotine salt aerosol is delivered to the user/subject from an outlet in a third portion (3).

[006] In this device, the additional heating cartridge is positioned before the Nicotine/ acid loaded tubes. During inhalation, air enters through the heater cartridge and heats up. Thus generated hot air is directed through the loaded cartridges, providing sufficient heat energy to enhance Nicotine vaporization, causing increase in Nicotine delivery. The heater is positioned in such a way that it is made to coincide directly with nicotine containing channel. Hence air passing through nicotine will be hotter than that passing through acid channel. This helps in the release of more nicotine vapors which then reacts with acid forming nicotine salt aerosols.

[007] In one implementation, the second portion comprising three longitudinal channels (2.1, 2.2, and 2.3) with two channels (2.1, 2.3) comprises an aerosol promoting substance selected from a group of a organic acid consisting of pyruvic, lactic acids and the other channel (2.2) comprises an aerosol generating substance of nicotine and/or tobacco alkaloid(s)).

[008] In one implementation, the first portion comprises a control unit configured to control operation of the heater. Further, the third portion additionally comprises a battery unit to supply power to the control unit to enable heating up of the heating element/heater/heating cartridge.

[0031] In one implementation, the third portion further comprises an adsorbent material (4) to hold the nicotine /or tobacco alkaloid(s) material. The adsorbent material (4) can be placed after the nicotine and acid containing tubes, of atleast 1 cm away the said tubes, for additional nicotine salt aerosol generation. Referring to figure 2, which illustrates a schematic of a device for an enhanced nicotine salt aerosol delivery without undergoing major changes, but with an additional adsorbent material chosen from any suitable material, containing aerosol generating substance, according to one embodiment of the present invention. This provision helps to capture the excess acid released from either one of the longitudinal tubes of (2.1 and 2.3) which helps in delivering higher amount of nicotine salt aerosols to the user. Suitable adsorbent materials include, cellulose based filter materials like paper filter and the like, blend of HDPE/PP, recon sheets, sepiolite, zeolites, silica particles coated with cellulose acetate and the like.
[009] In one implementation, the heating element/heater/heating cartridge is coiled around a wick to generate aerosol upon heating. The wick material can be selected from propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine or a combination thereof.

[0010] In one implementation, wherein the first portion further comprises a flow sensor or a switch, present in said first portion so as to enable manual or automatic activation of puff mechanism. The device can be operated manually by means of said switch and/or automatically operated by means of said flow sensor.

[0011] In the first embodiment, for an automatic mode of operation, a flow sensor as shown in figure 1, can be positioned at the front end wherein, the user activates the puff mechanism, the heater is heated through the flow sensor whenever it senses the flow. This causes the passing air to get heated up. The temperature of the air may reach between 40-100 Deg C. The exit of the heater tube is made to coincide with the inlet of the Nicotine and acid loaded portion. This may provide the user an enhanced nicotine delivery seamlessly.

[0012] Under this mode, preferred organic acids are selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic or sulphuric acid and organic acid include, saturated and unsaturated aliphatic acids, saturated and unsaturated alicyclic acids, aromatic acids (including heterocyclic aromatic), polycarboxylic acids, hydroxy, alkoxy, keto, acids, thioacids, amino acids and so forth. The carboxylic acid is further selected from the group consisting of 3-Methyl-2-oxovaleric acid, Pyruvic acid, 2-Oxovaleric acid, 4-Methyl-2- oxo valeric acid, 3-Methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid, 2-Oxooctanoic acid and combinations thereof. However, the most preferred acid is pyruvic acid, lactic acid and the like.

[0013] In second embodiment, for a manual mode of operation, a switch may be provided for the user to make the device ON or OFF. For instance, if the user prefers to heat up the air to pass through the nicotine/acid chambers, he/she may switch it ON for an enhanced delivery. Under this mode, preferred organic acids are selected from the group consisting of pyruvic acid, lactic acid and the like. If the user prefer not to heat up the air, he/she may not switch on the heater. When manual mode is ON, the nicotine aerosol may be generated at a room temperature and hence the user may need to use the preferred organic acid such as pyruvic acid or any other suitable acid which might work best at the room/ambient temperature with nicotine to generate nicotine salt aerosol.
[0014] In both the embodiments, once the user initiates the puff, the heater element heats up to about 40-100 Deg C and aerosol can be generated. When the user actuates the puff, the heater element is heated up which heats up the gaseous fluid The said aerosol passes through the cavity and enters into two longitudinal channels separately but simultaneously. At least one of the channels comprise an organic acid and the other channel comprises nicotine and nicotine aerosol is generated subsequently.

[0015] In third embodiment, for enhanced nicotine delivery with visible smoke, at least one heater element can be positioned in the control unit. Optionally there can be yet another heater element to heat the gaseous fluid. At least one heater element can be coiled around a wick which can loaded with nicotine, Propylene glycol/vegetable glycerine (PG-VG) or combination thereof as known to be used in electronic vaping devices. Once the user initiates the puff, the heater element which is coiled around a wick heats up and visible aerosol can be generated. The said aerosol passes through a separate independent air path and delivered to the user at the mouth/outlet end. At the same time, when the user actuates the puff, the other heater element is heated up which heats up the gaseous fluid to about 40 to 100 Deg C and the said aerosol passes through the cavity and enters into two longitudinal channels separately but simultaneously. At least one of the channels comprise an organic acid and the other channel comprises nicotine and nicotine aerosol is generated subsequently.

[0016] Accordingly, the working details are as follows:

a) With plain parallel device with no hot air generating set up according to prior art, the smoke data is as follows:
Nicotine loading (µl) Pyruvic acid loading (µl) Nicotine delivery (µg/puff) Pyruvic acid delivery (µg/puff)
60 70+70 2 23
60 70+70 2 23

b) Outlet orifice of the heater cartridge is positioned in coaxial with the device tubes, so that the hot air is equally distributed to all the loaded tubes (both Nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes) according to the prior art, the smoke data is as follows:

Nicotine loading (µl) Pyruvic acid loading (µl) Nicotine delivery (µg/puff) Pyruvic acid delivery (µg/puff)
60 70+70 27 120
60 70+70 36 104
60 70+70 41 144

c) Outlet orifice of the heater cartridge/heater is positioned against the Nicotine loaded tube to enhance the production of Nicotine vapor according to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoke data is as follows:

Nicotine loading (µl) Pyruvic acid loading (µl) Nicotine delivery (µg/puff) Pyruvic acid delivery (µg/puff)
60 70+70 28 66
60 70+70 29 125
60 70+70 29 75

[0017] In one implementation, the gaseous carrier can be heated at a temperature range of about 40-100°C, and preferably 40-60°C, when operated automatically.

[0018] In one implementation, the device adapted to generate aerosol, preferably nicotine, in a range of 0 to 50 microgram per puff.

[0019] Some of the non-limiting advantages of the present invention are as follows:
• The present invention contemplates the parallel design configuration, wherein the hot air enters nicotine and acid chambers simultaneously and generated enhanced nicotine salt aerosols.
• Does not involve direct heating of nicotine and acid chambers. It is designed in such a way that heater is positioned to hit the nicotine containing tube for an enhanced vaporization (i.e., indirect method for enhancing nicotine vaporization. Neither nicotine nor acid is not allowed to be heated directly).
• The device can be used for relieving smokers craving for cigarettes as it delivers Nicotine salt aerosol to the lungs up on smoking.
• The user is provided with enhanced nicotine delivery with visible smoke.
• Does not require complicated electronic set within the device.
• Path for air entry is located at the distal end of the device.
• Air passage and heating happens instantaneously there by effecting quick transfer of heat to the nicotine loaded channel.
• No dividing walls used for temperature control.
• Medium for heat transfer is air, thereby effecting quick transfer of heat to the nicotine source.
• Hot air passage through nicotine is sufficient to enhance aerosol delivery. i.e., acid heating is not compulsory.

[0020] Although a device and method for enhanced nicotine aerosol delivery with visible smoke has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of device and method for enhanced nicotine aerosol delivery with visible smoke.