초록 ▼

A programmable aerosol generator forms a volatilized liquid by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage, such that the material volatilizes and expands out of an outlet of the channel. The volatilized material, if desired, mixes with ambient air such that vo

A programmable aerosol generator forms a volatilized liquid by supplying a material in liquid form to a flow passage and heating the flow passage, such that the material volatilizes and expands out of an outlet of the channel. The volatilized material, if desired, mixes with ambient air such that volatilized material condenses to form the aerosol. An apparatus and method for generating such a volatilized liquid, as well as the control and methods of heating, are disclosed as an analytical tool useful for experimental use, a tool useful for production of commercial products or an inhaler device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of programmable generation of volatilized material, comprising: supplying liquid material from a liquid supply to at least one flow passage having an open end; heating the flow passage with at least one heater arrangement to a temperature sufficient to volatilize liq

What is claimed is: 1. A method of programmable generation of volatilized material, comprising: supplying liquid material from a liquid supply to at least one flow passage having an open end; heating the flow passage with at least one heater arrangement to a temperature sufficient to volatilize liquid material in the flow passage such that the volatilized material exits from the open end; controlling operation of the heater arrangement and liquid supply with a controller; and monitoring the performance of the heater arrangement and supplying heater performance data to the controller, the controller using the data to supply power to the heater arrangement or to cut off power to the heater arrangement to maintain the heater arrangement at a desired temperature range. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting a target parameter corresponding to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid material within the flow passage; periodically determining a monitored parameter of a resistance heating element of the heater arrangement; comparing the monitored parameter to the target parameter; and supplying power to the resistance heating element when the monitored parameter is less than the target parameter. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the periodically determining the monitored parameter comprises measuring voltage drop across a shunt resistor, and measuring voltage drop across the resistance heating element. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the resistance heating element is supplied power in pulses having a duty cycle of 1 to 100 milliseconds. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the target parameter is target resistance and the monitored parameter is monitored resistance. 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controller is operable to control a duration of supply of the liquid material to the flow passage. 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the flow passage is defined by an internal diameter of a stainless steel tube, the heater arrangement comprises a pair of electrical leads attached to axially spaced apart locations on the tube, a DC power supply is electrically connected to the pair of leads, and a switching arrangement is operable to interrupt flow of DC current from the power supply to the tube, the controller operates the switching arrangement to supply power to the tube when liquid material is supplied to the tube. 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the flow passage is defined by a passage in a ceramic laminate, the heater arrangement comprises a resistance heater located along the flow passage, a DC power supply is electrically connected via a pair of leads to the heater, and a switching arrangement is operable to interrupt flow of DC current from the power supply to the heater, the controller operates the switching arrangement to supply power to the heater when liquid material is supplied to the flow passage. 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one flow passage comprises a plurality of flow passages and the at least one heater arrangement comprises a plurality of heater arrangements, each of the flow passages being associated with one of the heater arrangements and the heater arrangements being selectively operable by the controller, each of the flow passages being supplied the same or different liquid material and outlets of the flow passages being directed into a manifold arrangement. 10. A method of programmable generation of volatilized material, comprising: supplying liquid material from a liquid supply to at least one flow passage having an outlet; heating the flow passage with at least one heater to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the liquid material in the flow passage such that the volatilized material exits from the outlet of the flow passage; and controlling operation of a valve in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow passage such that the volatilized material or aerosol (i) flows through a first flow path in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow passage when the heater is in a non-conforming condition and (ii) flows through a second flow path, which is in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow passage and different from the first flow path, when the heater is in a confirming condition. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: optionally admixing the volatilized material with air to form an aerosol; and monitoring the heater. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the conforming condition of the heater is a steady state resistance value. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the conforming condition of the heater is a selected temperature range of the flow passage. 14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising filtering the volatilized material or aerosol that flows through the first flow path and exhausting air to the environment. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: detecting a pressure drop in a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the second flow path with a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the mouthpiece when a user inhales on the mouthpiece. 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising controlling operation of the valve using a controller such that the volatilized material flows through the second flow path and into the mouthpiece when the pressure sensor detects a threshold pressure drop in the mouthpiece. 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising controlling operation of the valve using a controller such that the volatilized material or aerosol flows through the second flow path and into the mouthpiece for a selected period of time. 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising terminating formation of volatilized material by the heater if, after a predetermined time interval, the controller does not receive a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that the threshold pressure drop has been detected. 19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising continuing formation of volatilized material by the heater if, within a predetermined time interval, the controller receives a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that the threshold pressure drop has been detected. 20. The instrument according to claim 11, further comprising admixing the volatilized material with air to form the aerosol.