U.S. patent application number 12/790351 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for aerosol-generating liquid for use in aerosol inhalator.
Invention is credited to Kazuhiko KATAYAMA, Morio YAJIMA.
Application Number | 20100242976 12/790351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40678421 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100242976 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATAYAMA; Kazuhiko ; et
al. |
September 30, 2010 |
AEROSOL-GENERATING LIQUID FOR USE IN AEROSOL INHALATOR
Abstract
An aerosol-generating liquid (L) for use in an aerosol inhalator
contains main components including propylene glycol as a solvent
and L-menthol as a lipophilic aroma dissolved in the solvent, and a
carboxylic acid added to the main components. The carboxylic acid
has a vapor pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-9 to 20 mmHg at a
temperature of 25.degree. C.
Inventors: |
KATAYAMA; Kazuhiko; (Tokyo,
JP) ; YAJIMA; Morio; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
40678421 |
Appl. No.: |
12/790351 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2008/071016 |
Nov 19, 2008 |
|
|
|
12790351 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/273 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24B 15/16 20130101;
A61M 11/042 20140204; A61M 15/06 20130101; C09K 3/30 20130101; A61M
11/007 20140204 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/273 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2007 |
JP |
2007-310567 |
Claims
1. An aerosol-generating liquid for use in an aerosol inhalator,
the aerosol inhalator being configured to generate an aerosol by
heating and atomizing an aroma solution during inhalation and to
allow the aerosol to be inhaled together with a suction air flow,
wherein the aerosol-generating liquid used as the aroma solution
contains: main components including a solvent and a lipophilic
aroma dissolved in the solvent; and a carboxylic acid added to the
main components, and wherein the carboxylic acid has a vapor
pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-9 to 20 mmHg at a temperature of
25.degree. C.
2. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the
carboxylic acid accounts for 10 weight % or less of the main
components.
3. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the
carboxylic acid is one or more selected from the group consisting
of acetic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, citric acid and lauric
acid.
4. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the
solvent contains propylene glycol.
5. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the
aroma contains L-menthol.
6. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 1, wherein the
main components contain propylene glycol as the solvent and
L-menthol as the aroma.
7. The aerosol-generating liquid according to claim 2, wherein the
carboxylic acid is one or more selected from the group consisting
of acetic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, citric acid and lauric
acid
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to aerosol-generating liquids
suited for use as an aroma solution for an aerosol inhalator which
is configured to generate an aerosol by heating and atomizing the
aroma solution when the user inhales, to allow the user to take in
the aerosol together with air, in particular, an aerosol inhalator
for pseudo smoking.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Aerosol inhalators of this type are disclosed, for example,
in PCT-based Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-510763
and Japanese Patents No. 3484233 and No. 3488717. The aerosol
inhalators disclosed in these publications use respective different
methods for atomizing an aroma to generate an aerosol.
Specifically, in the inhalator of PCT-based Japanese Laid-open
Patent Publication No. 2000-510763, an aroma solution containing an
aroma is heated for atomization. In the inhalator of Japanese
Patent No. 3484233, ultrasonic waves are applied to an aroma
solution to atomize same, and in the inhalator of Japanese Patent
No. 3488717, an aroma solution is sprayed for atomization.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0003] Whichever method of the above three aerosol inhalators is
used to atomize the aroma solution, the relative amount of the
aromatic component in the generated aerosol, namely, the
aerosolizing efficiency of the aromatic component, is low.
Accordingly, when the aerosol is inhaled together with air, the
user is unable to fully relish the aerosolized aromatic component,
that is, the aroma of the aromatic aerosol.
[0004] Also, the aromatic aerosol is low in longevity. Thus, where
the aromatic aerosol is inhaled for purposes of pseudo smoking, the
aromatic aerosol disappears immediately after it is introduced into
the user's oral cavity. The user is therefore unable to take
his/her time in relishing the aroma of the aromatic aerosol, unlike
ordinary cigarette smoking.
[0005] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an aerosol-generating liquid for use in an aerosol inhalator, which
liquid is capable of generating a sufficient amount of aromatic
aerosol and also allows the user to take time to relish the aroma
of the aromatic aerosol introduced into his/her mouth.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] To achieve the object, the present invention provides an
aerosol-generating liquid for use in an aerosol inhalator, wherein
the aerosol-generating liquid contains main components including a
solvent and a lipophilic aroma dissolved in the solvent, and a
carboxylic acid added to the main components, and the carboxylic
acid has a vapor pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-9 to 20 mmHg at a
temperature of 25.degree. C.
[0007] Preferably, the carboxylic acid accounts for 10 weight % or
less of the main components and is one or more selected from the
group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, citric
acid and lauric acid.
[0008] Where the aerosol-generating liquid is used with an aerosol
inhalator and is inhaled in the form of an aromatic aerosol by the
user, the carboxylic acid contained in the aerosol-generating
liquid ensures that the aerosol-generating liquid exhibits improved
aerosolizing efficiency and longevity of the aromatic aerosol,
compared with aerosol-generating liquids containing no carboxylic
acid.
[0009] Specifically, the main components contain propylene glycol
as the solvent and L-menthol as the aroma. In this case, the
aerosol-generating liquid is suited for pseudo smoking.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Where the aerosol-generating liquid is used for pseudo
smoking, the liquid can efficiently generate an aromatic aerosol
with high longevity. As a result, the user is allowed to take time
to fully relish the flavor and taste of the aromatic aerosol in
his/her mouth, so that the user can enjoy pseudo smoking just like
ordinary cigarette smoking.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary aerosol inhalator
used for testing; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship of transmitted
light attenuation rates of aromatic aerosols with elapsed time.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0013] An aerosol-generating liquid for use in an aerosol inhalator
contains main components and a carboxylic acid added as an additive
to the main components. Specifically, the main components include a
solvent and a lipophilic aroma dissolved in the solvent, and the
carboxylic acid has a vapor pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-9 to 20
mmHg at a temperature of 25.degree. C.
[0014] It is desirable that the carboxylic acid accounts for 10
weight % or less, preferably, 3 weight % or less of the main
components. The carboxylic acid to be used may be one selected from
the group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid,
citric acid and lauric acid or may be a mixture of two or more of
these acids.
Examples
[0015] Aerosol-generating liquids A to F explained below were
prepared.
[0016] All of the aerosol-generating liquids A to F contained, as
their main components, propylene glycol as the prime solvent and
L-menthol as the lipophilic aroma. The aerosol-generating liquids A
to E respectively contained acetic acid, tartaric acid, adipic
acid, citric acid and lauric acid as the carboxylic acid, while the
aerosol-generating liquid F contained only the aforementioned main
components.
[0017] Table 1 below shows the respective compositions of the
aerosol-generating liquids A to F.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 A B C D E F Propylene glycol 65 65 72 65 65
75 (wt %) L-menthol (wt %) 25 25 25 25 25 25 Acetic acid (wt %) 10
0 0 0 0 0 Tartaric acid (wt %) 0 10 0 0 0 0 Adipic acid (wt %) 0 0
3 0 0 0 Citric acid (wt %) 0 0 0 10 0 0 Lauric acid (wt %) 0 0 0 0
10 0
[0018] With respect to the above aerosol-generating liquids A to F,
the following tests 1 to 3 were conducted for the purpose of
comparing the aroma aerosolizing efficiencies of the respective
liquids, as well as the longevities, flavors and tastes of
respective aromatic aerosols.
[0019] Test 1
[0020] Using an aerosol inhalator shown in FIG. 1, each of the
aerosol-generating liquids C and F was aerosolized with a
predetermined amount (e.g., 2 mg) of the liquid fed at a time, and
the aromatic aerosol delivered from the mouthpiece of the inhalator
was collected by means of a filter. Subsequently, the ratios of the
amounts of the aerosol-generating liquids C and F collected by the
filter to the feed amounts of the respective liquids C and F, that
is, the collection efficiencies of the aerosol-generating liquids C
and F, were obtained. The results are shown in Table 2 below.
TABLE-US-00002 C F Collection efficiency 72% 66%
[0021] As is clear from Table 2, the aerosol-generating liquid C
containing adipic acid as the carboxylic acid is higher in
collection efficiency than the aerosol-generating liquid F
containing no adipic acid. This means that the aerosolizing
efficiency of the aerosol-generating liquid C, that is, the
aerosolizing efficiency of the aroma, is higher than that of the
aerosol-generating liquid F.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates the aerosol inhalator 1 used in
conducting the aforementioned Test 1. In the following, the
inhalator 1 will be briefly explained.
[0023] The inhalator 1 has a casing 4 which includes a mouthpiece 2
projecting from a rear end thereof. The casing 4 further includes
an outside air inlet hole 6 formed in the outer surface of a distal
end portion thereof and an aerosol generation channel 8 formed
therein. The aerosol generation channel 8 extends from the outside
air inlet hole 6 to the mouthpiece 2.
[0024] Part of the aerosol generation channel 8 is constituted by a
tubular electric heater 10 arranged inside the casing 4. The heater
10 is electrically connected to a power supply circuit 12 including
a power switch 14. When the power switch 14 is ON, the power supply
circuit 12 supplies electric power to the heater 10 to raise the
temperature of the heater 10 up to a predetermined temperature.
[0025] A cartridge-type syringe pump 16 is accommodated in the
casing 4. The syringe pump 16 includes a piston 20 arranged within
a syringe barrel 17 thereof, and the piston 20 defines a pump
chamber 18 inside the syringe barrel 17. A screw-type piston rod 22
is connected to the piston 20 by means of a ball-and-socket joint
21. The piston rod 22 penetrates through a partition wall 19 of the
syringe barrel 17 and is rotatably supported by the partition wall
19.
[0026] Further, the piston rod 22 is connected through a rotating
cam 24 and a return spring 26 to a push button 28 having a push rod
30. The push rod 30 projects from the push button 28 toward the
rotating cam 24 and has a pusher 32 at a distal end thereof. Each
time the push button 28, that is, the push rod 30, is pushed and
then released, the pusher 32 pushes the piston 20 into the pump
chamber 18 by a predetermined distance at a time, in cooperation
with the rotating cam 24, thereby decreasing the volume of the pump
chamber 18.
[0027] A liquid passage 34 extends from the pump chamber 18 toward
the aerosol generation channel 8 and meets the channel 8 at a
junction X located upstream of the heater 10. Accordingly, when the
push button 28 is pushed and released with the pump chamber 18 and
the liquid passage 34 filled with a solution L, namely, the
aerosol-generating liquid C or F, an amount of the solution L
corresponding to the distance over which the piston 20 is moved is
supplied to the junction X of the aerosol generation channel 8.
[0028] If, at this time, the user draws in the air in the aerosol
generation channel 8, that is, takes a puff through the mouthpiece
2, outside air is introduced into the aerosol generation channel 8
from the outside air inlet hole 6, with the result that a suction
air flow is produced inside the aerosol generation channel 8. The
suction air flow thus produced moves the solution L at the junction
X toward the heater 10. On reaching the heater 10, the solution L
is heated and atomized by the heater 10, turning into an aromatic
aerosol. The aromatic aerosol is then delivered to outside of the
mouthpiece 2 together with the suction air.
[0029] The amount of the solution L fed at a time to the junction X
is 2 mg, as stated above. The mouthpiece 2 of the inhalator 1 is
connected to an automatic cigarette smoking machine (not shown),
which is configured to perform the aforementioned operation of
drawing in the air, namely, a puff.
[0030] Test 2
[0031] Each of the aerosol-generating liquids A to F was filled in
the inhalator 1 of FIG. 1, and then using the automatic smoking
machine, the inhalator 1 was repeatedly puffed ten times so that
the aromatic aerosol may be delivered from the inhalator 1. The
aromatic aerosol corresponding in amount to ten puffs was trapped
in an airtight chamber. Subsequently, the aromatic aerosol
contained in the airtight chamber was irradiated with laser light
to measure the intensity of the transmitted laser light, namely,
change with time in the attenuation rate of the transmitted laser
light.
[0032] In FIG. 2, Da to Df indicate the respective changes with
time in the transmitted light attenuation rate obtained with
aromatic aerosols Ca to Cf. The aromatic aerosols Ca to Cf were
derived from the aerosol-generating liquids A to F,
respectively.
[0033] As is clear from FIG. 2, the transmitted light attenuation
rates of the aromatic aerosols Ca to Ce are low, compared with that
of the aromatic aerosol Cf. This proves that the aromatic aerosols
Ca to Ce are higher in longevity than the aromatic aerosol Cf.
[0034] Test 3
[0035] Sensory testers actually inhaled each of the aromatic
aerosols Cc and Cf by using the inhalator 1 of FIG. 1, to evaluate
the aromatic aerosols Cc and Cf. The evaluation results are as
follows:
[0036] In the case of the aromatic aerosol Cf, substantial sensory
stimulus of L-menthol was perceived in the oral cavity. In the case
of the aromatic aerosol Cc, on the other hand, the testers received
the sensory stimulus of L-menthol from the oral cavity through to
the back of the throat, and also when the aromatic aerosol Cc was
exhaled, the sensory stimulus of L-menthol was still perceived.
This reveals that the aromatic aerosol Cc obtained from the
aerosol-generating liquid C has improved longevity, compared with
the aromatic aerosol Cf obtained from the aerosol-generating liquid
F.
* * * * *