Claims:1. A device for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery, said device comprising:
a first portion located at the distal end of the device; and
a second portion located at the mouth end/proximal end of the device;
said first portion being detachably engaged with said second portion;
wherein a gaseous carrier passes through the first portion before entering the second portion;
wherein the second portion is a hollow tube with at least one adsorbent material; and
wherein an aerosol exits the device at the proximal end/mouth end.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a third portion located at the proximal end to the mouth end.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third portion comprises at least one filtering material.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third portion optionally comprises flavour compounds.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the filtering material is carbon, or activated carbon, or porous carbon, or the like.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises at least two longitudinal channels, wherein the gaseous carrier enters simultaneously through the said channels of the first portion, thereby generating nicotine salt aerosol along with excess acid.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises at least two longitudinal channels, wherein the gaseous carrier enters simultaneously through the said channels of the first portion.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein one channel comprises at least one acid and the other channel comprises at least one aerosol generating substance.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the acid is an organic acid.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the aerosol generating substance is nicotine or tobacco alkaloids.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the organic acid is an aerosol promoting substance.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aerosol promoting substance is preferably pyruvic acid or the like.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises at least one adsorbent material loaded with nicotine or tobacco alkaloid.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the adsorbent material is selected from a group consisting of cellulose based filter materials like paper filter and the like, blend of HDPE/PP, recon sheets, sepiolite, zeolites and silica particles coated with cellulose acetate and combinations thereof.

15. The device as claimed in claims 13, wherein the adsorbent material holds the aerosol generating substance.

16. The device as claimed in claims 1 to 15, wherein the distance between the longitudinal channels and the adsorbent material is at least 1cm.
17. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the adsorbent material loaded with nicotine or tobacco alkaloid is placed at an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal channels of the first portion, wherein the nicotine salt aerosol, along with excess acid from the channels of the first portion, is allowed to pass sequentially through the adsorbent material.

18. The device as claimed in claims 1 to 15 is preferably a cigarette or a cigar or a pipe-like structure.

19. The device as claimed in claims 1 to 16, wherein an aerosol of nicotine salt aerosol exits the device at mouth end.

20. The device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the nicotine salt aerosol is in a range of 0 to 50 microgram per puff.

21. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the nicotine salt aerosol is preferably 10-20 microgram per puff.

22. A method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery to a user by means of the device as claimed in claims 1-21, said method comprising steps of:
Inhalation of a gaseous carrier entering through distal end of a first portion, simultaneously entering through the longitudinal channels wherein at least one channel houses nicotine or tobacco alkaloids and the other channel houses an acid, thereby generating nicotine salt aerosol along with excess acid;
further, said nicotine salt aerosol and excess acid sequentially enters the second portion comprising, an adsorbent material holding an aerosol generating substance, through the longitudinal channels of the first portion thereby generating additional nicotine salt aerosols.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The subject matter of the present invention, in general, pertains to an aerosol delivery device for delivering aerosolised particles to a user, and more particularly to a device and method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Traditional cigarettes deliver flavour and aroma to the smoker as a result of combustion. During combustion of a cigarette, a mass of combustible material (tobacco) is oxidized at temperatures which can exceed 800° C. during puffing. Heat is drawn through an adjacent mass of tobacco by drawing on the mouth end of the cigarette. During this heating, inefficient oxidization of the combustible material takes place and yields various distillation and pyrolysis products. As these products are drawn through the body of the smoking device toward the mouth of the smoker, they cool and condense to form the aerosol which gives the consumer the flavour and aroma associated with smoking. Conventional lit cigarettes can produce side stream smoke during smouldering between puffs, which may be objectionable to some non-smokers. The combustion process and the heat produced thereby releases various gaseous combustion products and distillates. As these gaseous products are drawn through the cigarette, they cool and condense to form an aerosol or vapour which provides the tastes and aromas associated with smoking.

[003] Traditional cigarettes are known to produce sidestream smoke during smouldering between puffs. Also, once lit, they must be fully consumed or be discarded. Re-lighting a conventional cigarette is possible but is usually an unattractive prospect for subjective reasons (flavour, taste, and odour) to a discerning smoker.

[004] A prior alternative to the more traditional cigarettes includes those in which the combustible material itself does not directly provide the flavourings to the aerosol inhaled by the smoker. In these smoking articles, a combustible heating element, typically carbonaceous in nature, is combusted to heat air that is drawn over the heating element and through a zone which contains heat-activated activated elements that release a tobacco aerosol. While this type of smoking device produces little or no sidestream smoke, it still generates products of combustion and, once lit, it is not adapted to being snuffed for future use in a conventional sense.

[005] Conventional electrical smoking system includes electrically powered lighters and cigarettes that are adapted to cooperate with the lighters. Other electrical smoking systems provide sensations of smoking that are as close as possible to the sensations experienced when smoking a conventional cigarette. Some of these sensations include the resistance-to-draw (RTD) experienced by a smoker taking a puff on the cigarette, and the length of time between when a smoker begins to draw on the cigarette and when the smoker can first detect the flavours and aromas associated with smoking the cigarette.

[006] Smoking articles wherein a flavour bed of tobacco or tabacco-derived material is heated, with combustion of tobacco, to release tabacco flavours without producing all the normal products of tabacco combustion is also known. The smoker draws air through or around the heat source, heating it, and the heated air passes through the flavour bed, releasing tobacco flavours that are drawn into the smoker's mouth. The heat source temperature is dependent on how the smokers uses the article, so, that the flavour release rate varies widely from smoker to smoker and from article to article for a particular 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.

[007] Articles that produce the taste and sensation of smoking by heating tobacco electrically are also known. However, in some known electrically heated smoking articles the temperature was not consistent because the output of the electrical power source was not well regulated, so that the release of flavours also was not consistent. In other known electrically heated smoking articles the power source was external to the article and inconvenient.

[008] Further, 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. 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.

[009] Reference is made to 7127/DELNP/2011, wherein devices and methods for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources are disclosed. More particularly, it relates to devices and methods for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user's lungs without combustion of the nicotine source materials.

[0010] Reference is also made to 6272/DELNP/2009, wherein a method of enhancing nicotine or other medicament concentrations in a gaseous carrier is disclosed. 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. It further relates various devices and device design principles for practicing these methods.

[0011] However, the above mentioned prior art documents describe a device and method that utilizes at least one organic acid and nicotine as a base to generate nicotine salts and delivered in the form of aerosol. Such device designs are found to have inherent problems that are multi-fold owing to significant vapour pressure between the chosen organic acid and nicotine which negatively impacts the nicotine salt delivery and 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.

[0012] The subject invention pertains to a device and a method of delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources. In particular, to a device and a method for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user without combustion of the nicotine source materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] 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.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user without combustion of the nicotine source materials.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol not through combustion.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to overcome the significant vapour pressure between the chosen organic acid and nicotine of conventional products that negatively impacts the nicotine salt delivery.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to increase the shelf life of conventional products as once the acid is exposed to nicotine a continuous reaction results in formation of nicotine salts that lowers their shelf life.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol by chemical reaction.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is a device for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery comprising a first, second and third compartments wherein compartment A is detachable from compartments B and C that always stay together and may be closed when not in use from both the ends.

[0021] Yet another object of the present invention is a method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery wherein air enters compartment A and passes through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes simultaneously, generates nicotine pyruvate salt in the form of aerosols; and the excess acid hits compartment B containing nicotine in the reservoir, thereby generating more nicotine pyruvate aerosols.

[0022] Yet another object of the present invention is to increase the shelf life of the loaded device, compartment A containing nicotine and pyruvic acid and compartments B and C containing nicotine and filter portions, respectively, are detachable when not in use so that when the user initiates the puff, cartridge from compartment A can be removed and fit in to second portion of the device (i.e., compartments B and C) and continue the puff.

[0023] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, air simultaneously passes over nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes forming nicotine pyruvate aerosols. Excess pyruvic acid remaining will further react with additional layer of nicotine thereby forming more aerosols. This leads to delivery enhancement when compared to devices in which air enters simultaneously through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes, with no additional layer of nicotine. When the device is not in use, the portions of the device are detachable thereby, prevents the constant reaction of the acid and nicotine in the formation of nicotine aerosol.

[0024] Briefly, a device and a method to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol not through combustion process but by chemical reaction means is disclosed whereas air enters compartment A and passes through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes simultaneously, it generates nicotine pyruvate salt in the form of aerosols. The excess acid further hits compartment B containing nicotine in the reservoir, thereby generating more nicotine pyruvate aerosols. Moreover, compartment A containing nicotine and pyruvic acid and compartments B and C containing nicotine and filter portions respectively, are detachable when not in use thereby increasing the shelf life of the loaded device as continuous reaction between the two compartments that leads to formation of nicotine salts is eliminated.

[0025] 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
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:

[0026] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the device for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart for operating the device for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery according to one implementation of the present invention.

[0028] 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
[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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 component but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0036] The subject invention lies in providing a device and a method for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources.

[0037] In the present invention, a device and a method to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol by chemical reaction is disclosed. As air enters compartment A and passes through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes simultaneously, it generates nicotine pyruvate salt in the form of aerosols. The excess acid further hits compartment B containing nicotine in the reservoir, thereby generating more nicotine pyruvate aerosols. Moreover, compartment A containing nicotine and pyruvic acid and compartments B and C containing nicotine and filter portions respectively, are detachable when not in use thereby increasing the shelf life of the loaded device as the continuous reaction leading to formation of nicotine salts is prevented.

[0038] In one implementation, a device and a method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery is provided for.

[0039] In one implementation, a device and a method for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user without combustion of the nicotine source materials is provided for.

[0040] In one implementation, generating significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol by way of chemical reaction is provided for.

[0041] In one implementation, a device for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery comprising a first, second and third compartments wherein compartment A is detachable from compartments B and C that always stay together and may be closed when not in use from both the ends is provided for.

[0042] In one implementation, a method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery wherein air enters compartment A and passes through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes simultaneously, generates nicotine pyruvate salt in the form of aerosols; and the excess acid hits compartment B containing nicotine in the reservoir, thereby generating more nicotine pyruvate aerosols is provided for.

[0043] In one implementation, to increase the shelf life of the loaded device, compartment A containing nicotine and pyruvic acid and compartments B and C containing nicotine and filter portions, respectively, are detachable when not in use so that when the user initiates the puff, cartridge from compartment A can be removed and fit in to compartments B and C to continue puffing is provided for.

[0044] In one implementation, air is simultaneously passes over nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes forming nicotine pyruvate aerosols such that the excess pyruvic acid will further react with an additional layer of nicotine thereby forming more aerosols which leads enhanced delivery when compared to conventional devices wherein air enters simultaneously through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes, with no additional layer of nicotine is provided for.

[0045] In one implementation, compartment A may be detached from compartments B and C when not in use thereby preventing the constant reaction of the acid and nicotine and increasing shelf life of the loaded device is provided for.

[0046] Enhanced delivery of nicotine salt aerosol is achieved by the device illustrated in Figure 1. The said device has three compartments, namely, compartments A, B and C. In particular, air inlet /lit end of Compartment A (1); channels containing suitable organic acid (2), channels containing nicotine/tobacco alkaloids in Compartment B (3), filter component of Compartment C (4) and mouth end (5). Significantly, compartment A is detachable from compartments B and C while compartments B and C always stay together and may be closed when not in use from both the ends.

[0047] Compartment A is the first compartment with at least two longitudinal channels (a1, a2) for air inlet (a third channel is optional), which passes into the second compartment. At least one of the channels contain suitable organic acids like pyruvic acid and the said other channel contains nicotine/tobacco alkaloids. In particular, channel a1 holds the aerosol promoting substance (i.e., pyruvic acid) and the other channel a2 holds the aerosol generating substance (nicotine/ tobacco alkaloid(s)).

[0048] The aerosol promoting substance, i.e., the acids can be selected from a wide range of products which include but not limited to, 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.

[0049] Compartment B is the second compartment which is a hollow chamber that receives the longitudinal channels from compartment A. At a distance of about 2cms from where the channel ends, it houses a reservoir containing nicotine / tobacco alkaloids. The said reservoir is made up of any suitable adsorbent material. Suitable adsorbent materials used in compartment B includes, 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.

[0050] Compartment C is the third compartment (optional) situated at the mouth end. It comprises of filter materials such as carbon, porous carbon, activated carbon or the like.

[0051] When air enters compartment A through longitudinal channels for air inlet and passes through the nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes simultaneously, it generates nicotine pyruvate salt in the form of aerosols. The excess acid further hits compartment B housing nicotine in the reservoir, thereby generating more nicotine pyruvate aerosols. These aerosols may further be filtered by the filter material present in compartment C.

[0052] In an attempt to increase the shelf life of the loaded device (i.e., the device containing nicotine and pyruvic acid), compartment A containing nicotine and pyruvic acid can be detached from compartments B and C containing Nicotine and filter material, respectively, when not in use. As a user initiates the puff, cartridge from compartment A may be removed and fit in to second portion of the device (i.e., compartments B and C) and continue the puff.

[0053] The device offers superior nicotine salt aerosol delivery because air simultaneously passes over nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes forming nicotine pyruvate aerosols, the excess pyruvic acid remaining further reacts with the additional layer of nicotine thereby forming more aerosols when compared to devices wherein air enters simultaneously through nicotine and pyruvic acid loaded tubes, with no additional layer of nicotine. Moreover, when the device is not in use, the portions of the device are detachable thereby preventing the constant reaction of the acid and nicotine.

[0054] The method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery involves inhaling the gaseous carrier which enters through the distal end of the first portion (i.e., compartment A), simultaneously enters through the longitudinal channels (a1, a2). The gaseous carrier subsequently passes to the second portion (i.e., compartment B) through the longitudinal channels (a1, a2) of the first portion (i.e., compartment A). The second portion (i.e., compartment B) may further comprise an adsorbent material holding aerosol generating substance (i.e., nicotine) thereby generating nicotine aerosol (i.e., nicotine salts). Suitable adsorbent materials used in compartment B includes, 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.

[0055] Smoke Data: I Number of puffs-20, ISO regime*
ISO regime:
Puff volume: 35cc
Puff frequency: 60 sec
Puff duration: 2 sec
Loading details:
Nicotine loading: 125µl+125µl over HDPE/PP blend and filter paper.
Pyruvic acid loading: 60µl+60µl+60µl over filter paper.
Micro porous carbon (50 mg) was used as a filter material.

Table 1: Illustrates the Smoke Data for Number of Puffs=20

Inference drawn from Table 1 is that the nicotine delivery ranges from 16-22µg/puff when number of puffs is 20.

[0056] II Smoking trials at higher number of puffs.
Number of puffs-50, ISO regime
Nicotine loading-125µl+125µl over HDPE/PP blend and filter paper
Pyruvic acid loading-60µl+60µl+60µl over filter
Micro porous carbon (50 mg) was used as a filter material

Table 2: Illustrates the Smoke Data for Number of Puffs=50

Inference drawn from Table 2 is that the nicotine delivery ranges from 18-29µg/puff when number of puffs is 50.

[0057] Stability studies were conducted by evaluating nicotine delivery after one week from date of loading. Its results are tabulated in Tables 3 and 4, illustrated hereinbelow.

Sl No. Nicotine delivery (µg/puff) Pyruvic acid
delivery (µg/puff)
1 17 12
2 19 18

Table 3: Illustrates the Delivery Evaluated Immediately After Loading

[0058] Table 3 indicates that nicotine delivery on an average of about 18 (µg/puff) is observed when delivery was evaluated immediately after loading the device.

Sl No. Nicotine delivery (µg/puff) Pyruvic acid
delivery (µg/puff)
1 18 17
2 20 17.2

Table 4: Illustrates the Delivery Evaluated After a Week

[0059] Table 4 indicates that nicotine delivery on an average of about 19 (µg/puff) is observed when delivery was evaluated after a week of loading the device.

[0060] From the comparative data indicated hereinabove, it may be inferred that the device and method to generate significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol by chemical reaction, as disclosed herein offers superior nicotine salt aerosol delivery and longer shelf life when compared to conventional products available in the market. The generated nicotine aerosol is in a range of 0 to 50 microgram per puff and preferably 10-20 microgram per puff.

[0061] Although a superior device and method for generating significant levels of nicotine salts in the form of aerosol by way of chemical reaction having longer shelf life 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/apparatus described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the device and method for enhancing nicotine salt aerosol delivery.