Device for generating an inhalable medium, its use to provide sustained nicotine delivery, cartridge and tobacco composition pod suitable for use therein

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for generating an inhalable medium, the device including a container for holding a liquid; a heater for volatilizing liquid held in the container; a chamber containing a tobacco composition; and an outlet; the arrangement being such that in use, an inhalable medium passes out of the outlet, the medium comprising volatilized liquid in the form of a vapor and/or an aerosol and one or more constituents of the tobacco composition; wherein the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base.

1 . A device for generating an inhalable medium, the device comprising:
 a container for holding a liquid;   a heater for volatilizing liquid held in the container;   a chamber containing a tobacco composition; and   an outlet;   wherein, in use, an inhalable medium passes out of the outlet, the inhalable medium comprising (i) volatilized liquid in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition, and wherein the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured such that in use, liquid volatilized by the heater passes, in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol, through the tobacco composition to thereby entrain one or more constituents from the tobacco composition to produce the inhalable medium which passes out of the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated base comprises one or more hydroxides or carbonates of sodium, potassium or calcium or other soluble bases. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated base is encapsulated by an encapsulating material that melts, decomposes, reacts, degrades, swells, dissolves or deforms to release the encapsulated base at a temperature above room temperature but at or below a temperature reached during use. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated base is encapsulated by an encapsulating material comprising at least one of a polysaccharide or cellulosic barrier material, a gelatin, a gum, a gel, a wax or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the encapsulating material is one or more of alginates, dextran, maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, pectin, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose ethers, gum Arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, Karaya, locust bean, acacia gum, guar, quince seed, xanthan gums, agar gel, agarose gel, carrageenans, furoidan, furcellaran, or carnauba wax. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein tobacco material is encapsulated with the encapsulated base. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge for use in a device for generating an inhalable medium, the cartridge comprising:
 a volatilizable liquid in a first chamber; and   a tobacco composition in a second chamber, wherein the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the encapsulated base comprises one or more hydroxides or carbonates of sodium, potassium or calcium or other soluble bases. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the encapsulated base is encapsulated by an encapsulating material that melts, decomposes, reacts, degrades, swells, dissolves or deforms to release the encapsulated base at a temperature above room temperature but at or below a temperature reached during use. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated base is encapsulated by an encapsulating material comprising at least one of a polysaccharide or cellulosic barrier material, a gelatin, a gum, a gel, a wax or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulating material is one or more of alginates, dextran, maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, pectin, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose ethers, gum Arabic, gum ghatti, gum tragacanth, Karaya, locust bean, acacia gum, guar, quince seed, xanthan gums, agar gel, agarose gel, carrageenans, furoidan, furcellaran, or carnauba wax. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein tobacco material is encapsulated with the encapsulated base. 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating an inhalable medium using the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 volatilizing the liquid held in the container;   forming an inhalable medium, the inhalable medium comprising (i) the volatilized liquid in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition; and   passing the inhalable medium out of the outlet;   wherein the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 volatilizing the liquid held in the container;   entraining one or more constituents from the tobacco composition in at least one of a vapor or and an aerosol formed by the volatilized liquid by passing the at least one of a vapor or an aerosol through the tobacco composition to generate the inhalable medium; and   passing the inhalable medium out of the outlet.   
     
     
         16 . Use of an encapsulated base in a tobacco composition to provide sustained nicotine delivery in use, wherein the tobacco composition is provided in the device according to  claim 1 , the device comprising; the arrangement being such that in use, an inhalable medium passes out of the outlet, the inhalable medium comprising (i) volatilized liquid in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing sustained release of nicotine from the device according to  claim 1 , the arrangement being such that in use, an inhalable medium passes out of the outlet, the inhalable medium comprising (i) volatilized liquid in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition, wherein the tobacco composition comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base, the method comprising:
 releasing the encapsulated base from encapsulation in use in order to liberate nicotine from the tobacco material.   
     
     
         18 . A kit comprising
 a liquid pod containing a volatilizable liquid; and   a tobacco composition pod according to  claim 19 ;   wherein the liquid pod and the tobacco composition pod are configured for use in a device for use in generating an inhalable medium, the device being such that in use, an inhalable medium is generated, the inhalable medium comprising (i) volatilized liquid from the liquid pod in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition.   
     
     
         19 . A tobacco composition pod containing a tobacco composition that comprises a tobacco material and an encapsulated base, wherein the tobacco composition pod is configured for use in a device for use in generating an inhalable medium, the device being such that in use, an inhalable medium is generated, the inhalable medium comprising (i) volatilized liquid in the form of at least one of a vapor or an aerosol and (ii) one or more constituents of the tobacco composition.