WO2025074089A1

WO2025074089A1 - Aerosol delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2025074089A1
Application number: PCT/GB2024/052521
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Bishop; Ugurhan Yilmaz
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-10-02
Filing date: 2024-10-01
Publication date: 2025-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-02
Also published as: GB202315064D0

Abstract

Described is an article for an aerosol delivery system, the article comprising: an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation; a substance storage region (64) within a housing of the article, the substance storage region comprising a substance (66) for inhalation; and a substance storage region outlet (68) fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation. Also described is a mouthpiece, an aerosol delivery system, a method, and article means.

Description

AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM

Field

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery system, e.g. an e-cigarette, and to an article for such a system.

Background

Electronic vapour provision systems, such as e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems, generally contain a vapour precursor material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, from which a vapour is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. When a user inhales on the device, a control unit operates a battery to provide power to a heater. This activates the heater to vaporise the vapour precursor material, which is then inhaled by the user.

Typically a user is able to select a particular flavour by selecting an appropriate source liquid which is then aerosolised for oral inhalation. This can lead to a limited user experience which depends solely on the liquid. Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address these issues.

Summary

The disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

In a first aspect there is described an article for an aerosol delivery system, the article comprising: an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within a housing of the article, the substance storage region comprising a substance for inhalation; and a substance storage region outlet fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation.

In some examples, the substance outlet comprises a plurality of openings extending through a peripheral surface of the housing.

In some examples, the substance outlet comprises a plurality of parallel linear openings extending at least partially around the peripheral surface. In some examples, the substance outlet extends at an angle through the housing towards a mouth-end of the article.

In some examples, the angle is in a range of between 30° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the article.

In some examples, the article comprises a substance storage region inlet, wherein the substance storage region is fluidly connected to the substance storage region inlet.

In some examples, the article comprises a substance storage substrate within the substance storage region, the substance storage substrate comprising the substance for inhalation.

In some examples, the substance storage substrate comprises a paper substrate.

In some examples, the article comprises a substance storage component configured to be removably retained within the substance storage region.

In some examples, wherein the aerosol pathway extends through the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region surrounds a periphery of a portion of the aerosol pathway.

In some examples, the article comprises a secondary substance outlet fluidly connected to the aerosol pathway.

In some examples, wherein the volume of the substance storage region is in the range of 100 mm² to 600 mm².

In some examples, the article is a mouthpiece for the aerosol delivery system, wherein the article comprises the aerosol inlet and the aerosol outlet.

In a second aspect there is described a mouthpiece for an aerosol delivery system, the mouthpiece comprising: a receiving cavity containing an article in accordance with the first aspect.

In some examples, the mouthpiece comprises a channel component extending through the article, wherein the article is configured to accommodate the channel component, the channel component providing at least a portion of the aerosol pathway.

In a third aspect there is described an aerosol delivery system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol-generating material; an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and an article in accordance with the first aspect or a mouthpiece in accordance with the second aspect. In a fourth aspect there is described a method of providing an aerosol delivery system for generating and modifying an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material, the method comprising: providing the aerosol-generating material; providing an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and providing an article , in accordance with the first aspect, or a mouthpiece in accordance with the second aspect.

In a fifth aspect there is described article means for an aerosol delivery system, the article means comprising: an aerosol pathway means for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from aerosol inlet means to aerosol outlet means for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within housing means of the article means, the substance storage region comprising substance means for inhalation; and substance storage region outlet means fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet means is configured to release the substance means for nasal inhalation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings:

Figure 1 schematically shows an example aerosol delivery system including a device, a replaceable cartridge comprising a liquid aerosol generating material and an article comprising a substance for inhalation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through an example article comprising a substance for inhalation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through a further example article comprising a substance for inhalation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through a still further example article comprising a substance for inhalation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 is a deconstructed cross-sectional view through an example article comprising a substance for inhalation in combination with a mouthpiece for an aerosol delivery system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

Figure 6 is a flow diagram depicting a method of providing an aerosol delivery system for generating and modifying an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material. Detailed Description

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed I described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed I described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

As will be discussed below, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to an article for an aerosol delivery system, the article comprising: an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within a housing of the article, the substance storage region comprising a substance for inhalation; and a substance storage region outlet fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation. Such an article allows for an improved user experience by allowing for a user to inhale both orally and nasally. In particular, articles in accordance with the present disclosure may allow for user to experience different combinations of inhaled substances which may allow for flexibility and customisability by the user, and I or improves the delivery of desired compositions and combinations by allowing for constituents to be delivered both orally and nasally.

As used herein, the term “aerosol delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and includes: non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system (also known as a “non-combustible” aerosol delivery system) is one where a constituent aerosolgenerating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosolgenerating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as cartridges or cartomisers throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non- combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

As noted herein, where legally permissible, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v..Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, Wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco.

In some embodiments, where legally permissible, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3- butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosolgenerating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent

The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosolmodifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosolmodifying agent may be free from filtration material. An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosolgenerating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through an aerosol delivery system 1 provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The aerosol delivery system 1 of Figure 1 is adapted to vaporise a liquid aerosol-generating material (sometimes referred to as a source liquid or an e-liquid). However, as described above, the principles of the present disclosure are not limited to aerosol delivery system 1 adapted to vaporise liquid aerosol-generating material. For example, the principles of the present disclosure could be implement in aerosol delivery devices adapted to vaporise a solid or gel aerosol-generating material.

The aerosol delivery system 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises three main components, namely an aerosol delivery device 2, a replaceable I disposable cartridge 4, and an article 8 (which also provides a mouthpiece). The aerosol delivery system 1 of Figure 1 is an example of a modular construction of an aerosol delivery system 1. In this regard, the aerosol delivery device 2 and the cartridge 4 are able to engage with or disengage from one another at a first interface 6, and the cartridge 4 and the article 8 are able to engage with or disengage one another at a second interface 9.

However, as mentioned above, the principles of the present disclosure also apply to other constructions of the aerosol delivery system 1 , such as one-part or unitary constructions where the device 2, cartridge 4 and article 8 may be integrally formed (or in other words, the aerosol provision device 2 is provided with an integrally formed aerosol-generating material storage area), or, alternatively, constructions in which the both the cartridge 4 and the article 8 are configured to directly engage with (and disengage from) the aerosol delivery device 2 (or in other words, the aerosol provision device 2 can engage (and disengage) to the cartridge 4 via the first interface 6, and the aerosol provision device 2 can engage (and disengage) to the article 8 via the second interface 9).

The aerosol delivery system 1 is generally elongate and cylindrical in shape. The aerosol delivery system 1 may be sized so as to approximate a conventional cigarette. However, it should be understood that the general size and shape of the aerosol delivery system 1 is not significant to the principles of the present disclosure. In some other implementations, the aerosol delivery system 1 may conform to different overall shapes; for example, the aerosol provision device 2 may be based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a more box-like shape.

The device 2 comprises components that are generally intended to have a longer lifetime than the cartridge 4 and the article 8. In other words, the device 2 is intended to be used, sequentially, with multiple cartridges 4 and I or articles 8. The cartridge 4 comprises components (such as aerosol-generating material) that are consumed when forming an aerosol for delivery to the user during use of the aerosol delivery system 1. Article 8 also comprises components that are consumed or exhausted over time (e.g. either actively or passively when aerosol is delivered to the user during use of the device). In some examples, the components to be consumed (or exhausted) of the cartridge 4 and the mouthpiece 8 may have similar lifetimes (e.g. close to 1 :1), whereas in other examples the components to be consumed (or exhausted) of the cartridge 4 and the mouthpiece 8 may have different lifetimes (e.g. 1 :2 or greater).

In the example modular configuration of Figure 1 , the device 2 and the cartridge 4 are releasably coupled together at the first interface 6. When the aerosol-generating material in the cartridge 4 is exhausted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different cartridge 4 (e.g., containing a different aerosol-generating material), the cartridge 4 may be removed from the device 2 and a replacement cartridge 4 attached to the device 2 in its place. The first interface 6 provides a structural connection between the device 2 and cartridge 4 and may be established in accordance with broadly conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism, bayonet fixing or magnetic coupling. In some implementations, the first interface 6 may also provide an electrical coupling between the device 2 and the cartridge 4 using suitable electrical contacts. The electrical coupling may allow for power and I or data to be supplied to I from the cartridge 4.

It should also be understood that in some implementations, the cartridge 4 may be refillable. That is, the cartridge 4 may be refilled with aerosol-generating material when the cartridge 4 is depleted, using an appropriate mechanism such as a one-way refilling valve or the like (not shown). The cartridge 4 may be removed from the device 2 in order to be refilled. In other examples, the cartridge 4 may be configured so as to be refilled while attached to the device 2.

Similarly, in the example modular configuration of Figure 1 , the cartridge 4 and the article 8 are releasably coupled together at the second interface 9. When the substance in the article 8 is exhausted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different article 8 (e.g., containing a different substance), the article 8 may be removed from the cartridge 4 and a replacement article 8 be attached to the cartridge 4 in its place. The second interface 9 provides a structural connection between the cartridge 4 and article 8 and may be established in accordance with broadly conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism, bayonet fixing or magnetic coupling. In some implementations, the second interface 9 may also provide an electrical coupling between the cartridge 4 and the article 8 using suitable electrical contacts. It will be appreciated that electrical contacts the article 8 may be electrical coupled to those of the device 2 via connections (e.g. wires) extending through the cartridge 4, where said connections form part of, or are connected to, the first interface 6. The electrical coupling may allow for power and I or data to be supplied to I from the article 8, via the cartridge 4.

It should also be understood that in some implementations, the article 8 may be refillable. That is, the article 8 may be refilled with a substance when the article is depleted, or when the user simply wishes to switch to a different substance in the article 8 (i.e. the substance contained in the article 8 can be exchanged or replaced). For example, the article 8 may include a reusable shell or housing and a removable/replaceable substance. In some examples, the article 8 may comprise a (one-way refilling) valve or the like (not shown) to allow a liquid substance to be input. In some examples, the article 8 may open or separate to allow a substance to be input (e.g. a substance comprising, or contained in, a monolithic material). The article 8 may be removed from the cartridge 4 in order to be refilled. In other examples, the article 8 may be configured so as to be refilled while attached to the cartridge 4.

In implementations where the aerosol delivery system 1 is a one-part or unitary system, the aerosol delivery system 1 may be designed to be disposable once the aerosol-generating material and I or the substance is exhausted. Alternatively, the aerosol delivery system 1 may be provided with a suitable mechanism, such as a one-way valve or the like, to enable the integrated cartridge 4 (or integrated aerosol-generating material storage area) to be refilled with aerosol-generating material, and to enable the integrated article 8 (or integrated substance storage region) to be refilled with substance.

In Figure 1 , the cartridge part 4 comprises a cartridge housing 42, an aerosol-generating material storage area 44, an aerosol generator 48, an aerosol-generating material transport component 46, an outlet or opening 50, and an air path 52.

The cartridge housing 42 supports other components of the cartridge 4 and provides the mechanical interface 6 with the device 2. The cartridge housing 42 is formed from a suitable material, such as a plastics material or a metal material. In the described implementation, the cartridge housing 42 is generally circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis along which the cartridge 4 couples to the device 2. In this example the cartridge 4 has a length of around 4 cm and a diameter of around 1.5 cm. However, it will be appreciated the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shapes, may be different in different implementations. The cartridge 4 comprises a first end, broadly defined by the interface 6, and a second end which is opposite the first end and includes the opening 50. The second end including the opening 50 is intended to be connected to the article 8, which in turn provides a mouthpiece configured to be received in / by a user’s mouth, and therefore the second end may be referred to as a mouthpiece end of the cartridge 4.

Within the cartridge housing 42 is an aerosol-generating material storage area 44 (also sometimes call a reservoir 44). The cartridge 4, or more particularly the reservoir 44, of Figure 1 is configured to store a liquid aerosol-generating material, which may be referred to herein as a source liquid, e-liquid or liquid. The source liquid may be broadly conventional, and may contain nicotine and I or other active ingredients, and I or one or more flavours, as described above. In some implementations, the source liquid may contain no nicotine.

The reservoir 44 in this example has an annular shape with an outer wall defined by the cartridge housing 42 and an inner wall that defines the air path 52 through the cartridge 4. The reservoir 44 is closed at each end with end walls to contain the liquid. The reservoir 44 may be formed in accordance with conventional techniques, for example it may comprise a plastics material and be integrally moulded with the cartridge housing 42.

The cartridge 4 further comprises an aerosol generator 48. The aerosol generator 48 is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material (e.g., the source liquid). Optionally, the cartridge 4 comprises the aerosol-generating material transport component 46, which is configured to transport the aerosol-generating material from the aerosol-generating material storage area 44 (e.g., reservoir 44) to the aerosol generator 48. In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material transport component 46 may not be required, particularly in implementations where the aerosol generator 48 is in fluid communication with the aerosol-generating material storage area 44.

The aerosol generator 48 is configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosolgenerating material. In some implementations, the aerosol generator 48 is a heater 48. The heater 48 is configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. By way of example, the heater 48 may take the form of an electrically resistive wire or trace intended to have electrical current passed between ends thereof, or a susceptor element which is intended to generate heat upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field. However, in other implementations, the aerosol generator 48 is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator 48 may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

The aerosol-generating material transport element 46 is configured to transport aerosolgenerating material from the aerosol-generating material storage area 44 (reservoir 44) to the aerosol generator 48. The nature of the aerosol-generating material may dictate the form of the aerosol-generating material transport element 46. For example, for a liquid or viscous gel aerosol-generating material, the aerosol-generating material transport element 46 is configured to transport the liquid or viscous gel aerosol-generating material using capillary action or a suitable pumping mechanism or the like. For example, the aerosol-generating material transport element 46 may comprise a porous material (e.g., ceramic) or a bundle of fibres (e.g., glass or cotton fibres) capable of transporting liquid I viscous gel using capillary action.

In the described implementation of Figure 1 , the aerosol generator 48 is a heater 48 taking the form of a coil of metal wire, such as a nickel chrome alloy (Cr20Ni80) wire. The aerosolgenerating material transport element 46 in the implementation of Figure 1 is a wick 46 taking the form of a bundle of fibres, such as glass fibres. The heater 48 is wound around the wick 46 approximately in a central region thereof as seen in Figure 1 such that the heater 48 is provided in the proximity of the wick 46 and therefore any liquid held in the wick 46. In some implementations, the aerosol generator 48 may comprise a porous ceramic wick 46 and an electrically conductive track disposed on a surface of the porous ceramic wick acting as the heater 48. In yet other implementations, the heater 48 and wick 46 may be combined into a single component, e.g., a plurality of sintered steel fibres forming a planar structure.

In the described example, the heater 48 and wick 46 are located towards an end of the reservoir 44. In this example, the wick 46 extends transversely across the cartridge air path 52 with its ends extending into the reservoir 44 of liquid through openings in the inner wall of the reservoir 44. The openings in the inner wall of the reservoir 44 are sized to broadly match the dimensions of the wick 46 to provide a reasonable seal against leakage from the liquid reservoir 44 into the cartridge air path 52 without unduly compressing the wick 46, which may be detrimental to its fluid transfer performance. The wick 46 is therefore configured to transport liquid from the reservoir 44 to the vicinity of the heater 48 via a capillary effect. The wick 46 and heater 48 are arranged in the cartridge air path 52 such that a region of the cartridge air path 52 provided around the wick 46 and heater 48 in effect defines a vaporisation region for the cartridge 4. This vaporisation region is the region of the cartridge 4 where vapour is initially generated. In use, electrical power may be supplied to the heater 48 to vaporise an amount of liquid drawn to the vicinity of the heater 48 by the wick 46.

Aerosol is delivered to the user via the mouthpiece opening 50. During use, the user may place their lips on or around the mouthpiece end of the article 8 and draw air I aerosol through the system 1 and out of cartridge 4 and into the article 8 via the opening 50. More specifically, air is drawn into and along the air path 52, past the heater 48 where aerosol is entrained into the drawn air, and the combined aerosol I air is then leaves the cartridge 4 towards the user through the opening 50.

The device 2 comprises an outer housing 12, an optional indicator 14 (i.e. an output mechanism), an inhalation sensor 16 located within a chamber 18, a controller or control circuitry 20, a power source 26, an air inlet 28 and an air path 30.

The device part 2 comprises an outer housing 12 with an opening that defines an air inlet 28 for the aerosol delivery system 1 , a power source 26 for providing operating power for the aerosol delivery system 1 , a controller or control circuitry 20 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the aerosol delivery system 1 , and an inhalation sensor (puff detector) 16 located in a chamber 18. The device 2 further comprises an optional indicator 14.

The outer housing 12 may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metallic material and in this example has a circular cross-section generally conforming to the shape and size of the cartridge 4 so as to provide a smooth transition between the two parts at the interface 6. In this example, the device 2 has a length of around 6 cm so the overall length of the aerosol delivery system 1 when the cartridge 4 and device 2 are coupled together (without the articles 8) is around 10 cm. However, and as already noted, it will be appreciated that the overall shape and scale of an aerosol delivery system 1 implementing the present disclosure is not significant to the principles described herein.

The outer housing 12 further comprises an air inlet 28 which connects to an air path 30 provided through the device 2. The device air path 30 in turn connects to the cartridge air path 52 across the interface 6 when the device 2 and cartridge 4 are connected together. In this regard, the interface 6 is also arranged to provide a connection of the respective air paths 30 and 52, such that air and/or aerosol is able to pass along the coupled air paths 30, 52. In other implementations, the device 2 does not comprise an air path 30 and instead the cartridge 4 comprises the air path 52 and a suitable air inlet which permits air to enter into the air path 52 when the cartridge 4 and device 2 are coupled.

The power source 26 in this example is a battery 26. The battery 26 may be rechargeable and may be of a broadly conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in aerosol delivery devices and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The battery 26 may be, for example, a lithium ion battery. The battery 26 may be recharged through a suitable charging connector provided at or in the outer housing 12, for example a USB connector. Additionally or alternatively, the device 2 may comprise suitable circuitry to facilitate wireless charging of the battery 26. In other examples, the power source 26 may be an alternative component suitable for storing energy such as a super capacitor.

The control circuitry or control unit 20 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system 1. The control circuitry 20 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the aerosol delivery system's operation and may be implemented by provision of a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC or similar form of control chip. The control circuitry 20 may be arranged to control any functionality associated with the aerosol delivery system 1. By way of non-limiting examples only, the functionality may include the charging or re-charging of the battery 26, the discharging of the battery 26 (e.g., for providing power to the heater 48), in addition to other functionality such as controlling visual indicators (e.g., LEDs) I displays, communication functionality for communicating with external devices, etc. The control circuitry 20 may be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB). Note also that the functionality provided by the control circuitry 20 may be split across multiple circuit boards and I or across components which are not mounted to a PCB, and these additional components and I or PCBs can be located as appropriate within the aerosol provision device 2. For example, functionality of the control circuit 20 for controlling the (re)charging functionality of the battery 26 may be provided separately (e.g. on a different PCB) from the functionality for controlling the discharge of the battery 26.

As noted above, when the device 2 and the cartridge 4 are coupled together at interface 6, the interface 6 provides an electrical connection between the device 2 and the cartridge 4. More particularly, electrical contacts on the device 2, which are coupled to the power source 26, are electrically coupled to electrical contacts on the cartridge, which are coupled to the heater 48. Accordingly, under suitable control by the control circuitry 20, electrical power from the power source 26 is able to be supplied from the power source 26 to the heater 48, thereby energising the heater 48 and allowing the heater 48 to vaporise liquid in the proximity of the heater 48 held in the wick 46.

In the example of Figure 1 , the aerosol provision device 2 comprises a chamber 18 containing the inhalation sensor 16, which in this example is a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor 16 is in fluid communication with the air path 30 in the device 2 (e.g. the chamber 18 branches off from the air path 30 in the device 2). When a user inhales on the aerosol delivery system 1 at the mouthpiece end, and subsequently draws air into the device 2 via the air inlet 28 and along the air path 30, the pressure sensor 16 detects a change (a drop) in the pressure within chamber 18. If the drop in pressure is sufficient, the pressure sensor 16 (or control circuitry 20 coupled thereto) detects a user inhalation.

The aerosol delivery system 1 is controlled to generate aerosol in response to detecting an inhalation by a user. That is, when the pressure sensor 16 detects a drop in pressure in the pressure sensor chamber 18, the control circuitry 20 responds by causing electrical power to be supplied from the battery 26 to the aerosol generator 48 sufficient to cause vaporisation of the liquid held within the wick 46. This is an example of an aerosol delivery system which is said to be “puff actuated”. The pressure sensor 16 may be used to start and I or end the power supply to the heater 48 (e.g., when the pressure sensor detects the absence of an inhalation). It should be appreciated that the inhalation sensor 16 may be any suitable sensor, such as an air flow sensor, for sensing when a user inhales on the mouthpiece end of the system 1 and subsequently draws air along the air path 30. Accordingly, the presence of the chamber 18 is optional and its presence may depend on the characteristics of the selected inhalation sensor 16. For example, an air flow sensor may sit in the air flow path 30, the airflow path 52 of the cartridge 4, or an aerosol pathway 54 of the article 8.

In other implementations, the aerosol provision device 2 includes a button or other user actuatable mechanism. When the button or other user actuatable mechanism is actuated by the user, the control circuitry 20 caused power to be supplied to the heater 48 as described above. This is an example of an aerosol delivery device which is said to be “button actuated”. The button may be used to start and I or end power supply to the heater 48 (e.g., when the button is released by the user). In some implementations, both a button (or other user actuatable mechanism) and an inhalation sensor 16 may be used to control the delivery of power to the heater 48, e.g., by requiring both the button press and a pressure drop indicative of an inhalation to be present before supplying power to the heater 48.

The aerosol provision device 2 further comprises an optional indicator 14 (i.e. an output mechanism). The indicator 14 may be provided for providing feedback to a user of the aerosol delivery device 1. For example, the indicator 14 may indicate information such as whether the aerosol generator 48 is currently active, a remaining battery life (of the battery 26), total number of activations of the aerosol generator 48, amount of liquid remaining in the reservoir 44, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the indicator 14 may display operational parameters of the aerosol provision device 2. In some implementations, the indicator 14 may be provided in conjunction with an input mechanism (such as one or more buttons or a touch screen display) which may allow operational parameters to be programmed and/or settings of the aerosol delivery device 1 to be changed. The indicator 14 may be a visual indication (such as a display or one or more LEDs), an audio indicator (such as a speaker) or a haptic indictor (such as a haptic motor).

Note that although in some implementations, the aerosol-generating material is heated to form an aerosol, e.g., via a heater 48, and thus also the temperature of the generated aerosol may be raised above ambient through the vaporisation, this is not the only way in which the temperature of an aerosol may be elevated above ambient temperature. For instance, in some implementations, the aerosol generator 48 may indirectly cause heating of the aerosolgenerating material during generation of the aerosol. In some implementations, an additional heater provided downstream of the aerosol generator 48 (with respect to the flow of air I aerosol during an inhalation) may be provided to cause the aerosol to be heated prior to exiting the aerosol delivery system 1. Hence, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to aerosol delivery systems 1 that comprise a heater as the aerosol generator 48.

In accordance with the present disclosure the aerosol delivery device 1 is capable of generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material using an aerosol generator, and comprises a rechargeable power source and recharging circuitry.

In Figure 1 , the article 8 comprises a housing 62, an aerosol pathway 54, an (aerosol or first) inlet 56 of the aerosol pathway 54, a (first or aerosol) outlet 58 of the aerosol pathway 54, a substance storage region 64, a substance 66 for inhalation, and a substance (or second) outlet or opening 68.

The article housing 62 supports other components of the article 8 and provides the mechanical interface 9 with the cartridge 4. The article housing 62 (e.g. housing means) is formed from a suitable material, such as a plastics material or a metal material. The article housing 62 may also sometimes be called a shell or casing. In the described implementation, the article housing 62 is generally circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis along which the article 8 couples to the cartridge 4. In this example the article 8 has a length of around 2 cm and a diameter of around 1.5 cm. In this examples, the overall length of the aerosol delivery system 1 when the cartridge 4, device 2 and article 8 are coupled together is around 12 cm. However, it will be appreciated the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shapes, may be different in different implementations. In some examples, article means may be in the form of a structure defining the article.

The article 8 comprises a first end, broadly defined by the second interface 9 and including the aerosol inlet 56 (sometimes called a first inlet), and a second end which is opposite the first end and includes the aerosol outlet 58 (sometimes called an aerosol opening or a first outlet). The second end including the aerosol outlet 58 is intended to be provide a mouthpiece configured to be received in / by a user’s mouth, and therefore the second end may be referred to as a mouthpiece end of the article 8. Although Figure 1 shows the mouthpiece end of the article 8 as being an integral part of the article 8, in other examples a separate mouthpiece component (i.e. a component which contacts a user’s mouth/lips in use) may be provided which releasably couples to the end of the article 8. In some examples, aerosol inlet means and aerosol outlet means may be in the form of apertures provided by respective open ends of tubular structure.

The aerosol pathway 54 (sometimes called an air (or aerosol) path, passage, passageway, or channel) extends between the aerosol (or first) inlet 56 and the aerosol (or first) outlet 58, such that aerosol entering via the aerosol inlet is able to move along the aerosol pathway towards, and out of, the aerosol outlet 58. The aerosol inlet 56 is configured to fluidly connect to (e.g. align with) the opening 50 of the cartridge 4 such that aerosol within the air path 52 can flow into the aerosol pathway 54 via the connection of the aerosol inlet 56 and the opening 50. In the example of Figure 1 , the connection of the aerosol inlet 56 and the opening 50 is facilitated by the interface 9. In other words, when the cartridge 4 and article 8 are joined via interface 9, the aerosol inlet 56 and the opening 50 of the cartridge 4 will be fluidly connected such that an aerosol may flow between them. In some examples, aerosol pathway means may be in the form of one or more pathways extending within the structure of the article means (e.g. a tubular structure defining a central pathway through the article).

In the example of Figure 1 , when a user inhales on the aerosol delivery system 1 at the mouthpiece end, air is drawn into the device 2 via the air inlet 28 and along the air path 30, air is also drawn from the device 2 into the cartridge 4 air path 52 (where an aerosol may be formed by the aerosol generator 48), air (and I or aerosol) is drawn from the cartridge 4 into article 8 via the opening 50 and the aerosol inlet 56, and air (and /or aerosol) is inhaled by a user via the aerosol outlet 58 which is provided as part of a mouthpiece of the system 1 . Within the article housing 62 is a substance storage region 64 (also sometimes called a substance storage area, volume or cavity). The article 8, or more particularly the substance storage region 64, is configured to store a substance 66 for inhalation. In other words, a substance storage region 64 for storing a substance 66 for inhalation is provided within the article 8, such as within a housing 62 of the article 8. In some examples, the volume of the substance storage region is in the range of 100 mm² to 900 mm². In some examples, the volume of the substance storage region is in the range of 300 mm² to 600 mm².

The substance 66 for inhalation may be broadly conventional, and may contain flavourants and I or active ingredients, as described above. In some examples, the substance 66 comprises a flavourant or active ingredient having a vapour pressure from about 0.001 mmHg to about 15 mmHg. In some examples, the substance 66 comprises a flavourant or active ingredient having a vapour pressure from about 0.01 mmHg to about 5 mmHg. In some examples, a vapour pressure from about 0. 1 mmHg to about 1.5 mmHg (e.g. a value of around 0.8 mmHg). For the avoidance of doubt, substances described herein with defined vapour pressures have the units “mmHg @ 25 °C”. It is to be understood that the units “mmHg” are used as an abbreviation for “mmHg @ 25 °C”.

In some examples, the substance 66 for inhalation (or substance means) comprises (or are in the form of) a liquid, gel or solid material (or a component of a liquid, gel or solid material) which is configured to transition to a vapour or aerosol over time (e.g. through evaporation (for gels and liquids) or sublimation (for solids) at room temperature) which can then be inhaled. In these examples, the substance 66 for inhalation may be one component (i.e. the aerosolisable component) of a substance or material retained within the substance storage region 64. In some examples, the substance 66 is an organic material such as a botanical material (e.g. a material sourced from a leaf material, such as a tobacco leaf). In some examples, the substance 66 may produce a vapour or aerosol without external heating, or with relatively low levels of external heating (e.g. heating to temperatures of less than 70°C and in some examples less than 50°C). In some other examples, the substance 66 for inhalation comprises a powder material, such as a dry powder, which may become entrained in the air surrounding the powder material (e.g. the powder material may be agitated by movement of the article 8, by an air flow through or adjacent to the powder material).

As described above, the second interface 9 may also provide an electrical coupling between the cartridge 4 and the article 8 using suitable electrical contacts. The electrical coupling may allow for power and I or data to be supplied to I from the article 8, via the cartridge 4. In some examples, the article 8 may include a second aerosol generator (not shown) which is supplied power by the electrical coupling and which may be configured to release the substance 66. Alternatively, the second aerosol generator may be a susceptor element which is intended to receive energy (e.g. to generate heat) upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field. The second aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy in order to generate an aerosol from the substance 66 (e.g. in order to entrain the substance 66 in the air).

In some examples, the second aerosol generator is a motor (e.g. a haptic motor) or actuator configured to agitate or shake the substance 66 or a substrate holding the substance by motion to cause substance 66 to become entrained in the air of the substance storage region 64. In some examples, the second aerosol generator is configured to subject a substance to heat energy (e.g. the second aerosol generator may be termed a heater), so as to release the substance 66 into the air to form an aerosol. In some of these examples, the second aerosol generator may be configured to heat an adjacent or surrounding material to a relatively low temperature (e.g. in comparison to the aerosol generator 48 of the cartridge 4. In some examples, the second aerosol generator may be configured to heat an adjacent or surrounding material to a temperature of up to 75°C. In some examples the second aerosol generator may be configured to heat an adjacent or surrounding material to a temperature of up to 60°C.

The article 8 includes a substance outlet 68 (sometimes called a substance storage region outlet 68) which is fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64 to allow the substance 66 for inhalation to be drawn out of the article 8 (in other words, the substance outlet 68 allows for the substance to leave or exit, or be emitted or output from the article 8). For example, the substance storage region outlet 68 is fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64, and extends through the housing 62 thereby allowing the substance 66 to move from the substance storage region 64 to the exterior of the article 8. In some examples, the substance outlet 68 extends through a peripheral surface of the article 8, in contrast to a mouth-end or downstream surface in which the aerosol outlet 58 is provided and an interface-end or upstream surface in which the aerosol inlet 56 is provided. The peripheral surface extending between the mouth-end surface and the interface-end surface, and may, in some examples, be integrally formed with one or both the mouth-end surface and the interface-end surface. Substance storage region outlet means may be provided in the form of perforations in a surface or drilled holes, or may be integrally formed in a wall as part of a manufacturing process (e.g. injection moulding).

The substance 66 for inhalation and I or air in the substance storage region 64 may be drawn out of the substance storage region 64 when a user inhales on the system 1.) It will be appreciated that even if the user is primarily inhaling orally (i.e. via the mouthpiece outlet 58), the user also simultaneously inhales nasally (assuming the nasal cavities aren’t blocked). A user can be expected to inhale the substance 66 for inhalation where this is present in air within the substance storage region 64 (e.g. carried as an aerosol in the air), because the user’s inhalation creates a localised pressure drop externally to the substance outlet 68 which generates a force on the air containing the substance 66 within the substance storage region 64 due to the pressure imbalance. As the user continues inhaling, the air and substance 66 are drawn into the user following a pressure gradient.

In some examples, the substance 66 for inhalation is provided on or within a substrate material (sometimes called a substance storage substrate) within the substrate storage region 64. In other words, in some examples the article 8 comprises a substance storage substrate within the substance storage region 64, the substance storage substrate comprising the substance 66 for inhalation. For example, the substrate material may comprise one or more of a woven material (e.g. a woven fabric such as a cellulose acetate material), a non-woven material (e.g. a paper material or a non-woven fabric), a porous material (e.g. a sponge, foam or porous ceramic material). In particular, in some examples where the substance 66 for inhalation is a liquid, the substrate material is configured to absorb or otherwise retain the liquid substance 66 for inhalation on a surface and I or within the substrate material. In some examples, the substrate material may be in the form of a sheet (e.g. paper or fabric) having a mass per unit area in the range of 15 to 50 grams per square meter (gsm). In some examples, the substrate material may be in the form of a sheet (e.g. paper or fabric) having a mass per unit area in the range of 20 to 35 gsm. A low grammage material in the ranges above, such as a paper material, may allow for a more porous structure with potentially higher retention of liquid. In some examples, the substrate material comprises a rough surface which may aid in providing a higher surface area for evaporation. A surface is considered rough if it has a substantially larger total surface area than the area of a plane parallel to the surface (e.g. more than 20% larger and more than 30 % larger). In other words, the roughness of the surface increases the total surface area in comparison to a completely smooth planar surface.

In some examples, the substrate material may be provided as one or more singular components (e.g. a porous material formed as a monolithic block, or a gathered or rolled sheet of woven or non-woven material). For example, the singular component(s) may be configured, or sized, to fit within a respective portion, or the whole, of the substance storage region 64. In these examples, the singular components may be contained such that they are unable to move within the substance storage region 64 (e.g. due to interference fits with one or more walls defining the substance storage region 64). In some examples, the one or more singular components may be configured to be removably retained by the article 8 (in these examples the singular components may be termed substance storage components). For example, the article 8 may be configured such that the one or more singular components can be removed from the article 8 (e.g. when the substrate for inhalation is depleted or exhausted), and replaced with a different singular components.

In other examples, the substrate material may be provided as a plurality of loosely retained or freely moving components (e.g. shreds of material, pellets, granules or capsules). By freely moving or loosely retained, it is meant that the components are able to move within the substance storage region 64, and with respect to each other. In these examples, any outlets for emitting the substance 66 for inhalation (or inlets for allowing air in) may be configured or sized to prevent the freely moving components from exiting the substance storage region 64.

In the example of Figure 1 , the substance storage region 64 has an annular shape with an outer wall defined by the article housing 62 and an inner wall defining the aerosol pathway 54 through the article 8 (said inner wall may be a tubular wall integrally molded with the article housing 62). By providing the aerosol pathway 54 through the article 8, latent heat in the aerosol/air flowing in the aerosol pathway 54 may be absorbed by any surfaces of the article 8 adjacent to the airflow path. For example, the aerosol in the aerosol pathway 54 may be substantially hotter than an ambient temperature if the aerosol generator 48 comprises a heater configured to heat an aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol. The absorbed heat/ energy may be transferred to the substance 66 or substrate containing the substance which may increase the amount of substance in the air of the substance storage region (and hence available for nasal inhalation). By providing the aerosol pathway 54 through the article 8, the surface area of the article 8 in contact with the aerosol pathway 54 is maximised.

In some examples, the aerosol pathway 54 extends through the substance storage region 64 with the substance storage region 64 surrounding a periphery of a portion of the aerosol pathway 54. In other words, the aerosol pathway 54 is provided by a channel that is provided through the substance storage region 64, with the substance storage region 64 surrounding the channel on all sides. For example, the substance 66 for inhalation or a substrate for retaining the substance 66 can have an annular shape (e.g. surrounding the aerosol pathway 54) within the substance storage region 64. The channel defining the aerosol pathway 54 is provided in the inner annulus. By providing the substance 66 or a substrate for retaining the substance 66 in an annular shape surrounding the aerosol pathway 54, the surface area of the substance 66 or a substrate adjacent to the aerosol pathway 54 is also maximised. In other examples, the substance storage region 64 has a shape that is not annular (e.g. is defined by walls that do not define an annular cavity). For example, the substance storage region 64 may be formed by a (non-annular) cavity defined between the article housing 62 and an inner wall defining a surface of the aerosol pathway 54. While in some examples, there may be a single substance storage region 64; in other examples, there may be multiple substance storage regions 64. Furthermore, in some examples, each of the one or more substance storage regions (64) may comprise one or more substrate materials (e.g. regions of a cavity within the article 8 that are configured to retain a substrate material). The substance storage region(s) 64 may be formed in accordance with conventional techniques; for example, substance storage region(s) 64 may be defined by walls comprising a plastics material or similar, which may include and I or be integrally moulded with the article housing 42.

In examples, one or more substance outlets 68 (sometimes called substance storage region outlets or second outlets in comparison to the first or aerosol outlet) are fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64. In examples in accordance with Figure 1 , the substance storage region 64 is closed at each end (i.e. the mouth-end and the interface end) with end walls, such that the substance 66 for inhalation within the substance storage region 64 can be emitted from the substance storage region 64 only via the one or more substance (or second) outlets 68. In other words, in these examples, the substance storage region 64 is fluidly connected with an exterior of the article only by the one or more substance outlets 68. The substance outlets 68 are provided to allow nasal inhalation of the substance by the user.

When the user inhales orally via the aerosol outlet 58 (i.e. by forming a seal within their lips on the mouthpiece), the user additionally inhales air via the nasal cavity. The pressure drop in the air adjacent to nostrils causes a flow of air from surrounding high pressure regions, including, for example, the region adjacent the one or more substance outlets 68 and the substance storage region 64 which is fluidly connected to the one or more substance outlets 68. Substance 66 either in the substance storage region 64 or in the air external to the article 8 and adjacent to one of the one or more substance outlets 68 will be drawn towards the user and may be inhaled nasally while the user is inhaling on the aerosol outlet 58. It will be appreciated that in some of these examples, relatively small amounts (e.g. trace amounts) of the substance for inhalation may be emitted by other pathways, dependent on construction of the article 8; however, the dominant release pathway by which a user may inhale the substance 66 for inhalation is via the one or more substance outlets 68. It will also be appreciated that the user may also inhale substance 66 whilst they are not inhaling on the aerosol outlet 58 (for example, if substance 66 is released passively over time into the air surrounding the article 8).

In some examples, a substance outlet 68 (or multiple substance outlets 68) extends through the housing 62 at an angle towards the mouth-end or downstream end of the article 8. As previously discussed, the aerosol delivery system 1 may be defined by a longitudinal axis (e.g. the device 2, cartridge 4, and article 8 are aligned to engage along the axis, and may have a level of symmetry with respect to the axis). The angle may be defined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery system 1 or article 8. The substance outlet 68 extends through the housing 62 at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery system 1 to direct substance towards the mouth end of the article 8 (i.e. rather than towards the interface 9 end of the article 8). This may aid in directing the substance towards the user’s nose for nasal inhalation. In some examples, the substance outlet 68 extends through the housing 62 at an angle of between 30° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal axis. In some examples, the substance outlet 68 extends through the housing 62 at an angle of between 40° and 70° with respect to the longitudinal axis. By way of context, an angle of 0° is towards the mouth-end of the article 8, an angle of 90° is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an angle of 180° is towards the interface end of the article 8.

In some examples, each of the one or more substance outlets 68 comprise a single substance outlet 68. For example, the single substance outlet 68 may be provided by a linear aperture or opening extending around the whole or a portion of a periphery or circumference of the article 8.

In some examples, the one or more substance outlets 68 may be positioned on a side of the device which is expected to be proximal to a user’s nose when a user engages their lips/mouth with the mouthpiece end of the article 8 (this side may be termed a top side).

In some examples, the one or more substance outlets 68 comprise two outlets. For example, the two outlets of the one or more substance outlets 68 may be positioned on opposite sides of the article, or each of the two outlets of the one or more substance outlets 68 may be positioned relative to an expected position of a respective nostril. As previously discussed, the aerosol delivery system 1 may be defined by a longitudinal axis (e.g. the device 2, cartridge 4, and article 8 are aligned to engage along the axis, and may have a level of symmetry with respect to the axis). In some examples, a further axis can be defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the further axis extending through the article 8 (e.g. through a top side of the article) at a mid-point between the two substance outlets 68 (e.g. a point equal distance between the centre of the each of the substance outlets 68, or a point equal distance between the peripheries of each of the outlets 68 where the separation between the two outlets 68 is at a minimum). In some examples, the centre points of each of the substance outlets 68 is in a range of between 90° and 5° either side, respectively, of the further axis. In some examples, the centre points of each of the substance outlets 68 is in a range of between 70° and 15° either side, respectively, of the further axis. In some examples, the centre points of each of the substance outlets 68 is in a range of between 50° and 20° either side, respectively, of the further axis.

In some examples, each of the one or more substance outlets 68 comprise a plurality of openings. The plurality of openings may extend through a housing of the article 8. For example, the plurality of openings may extend through a peripheral surface of the housing. For example, the one or more substance outlets 68 may comprise an array of openings extending across each of the one or more substance outlets 68. In some examples, a substance outlet 68 comprises a plurality of parallel linear openings extending at least partially around the peripheral surface of the article 8. In some examples, the array of openings formed by a mesh or lattice of bars. The bars may be interconnected with each other (e.g. integrally molded with each other) or may overlap each other (e.g. woven with each other). In some cases, the bars may be configured or arranged to provide openings having a polygonal shape such as a rectangular, or hexagonal shape. For example, the bars may comprise two or more sets of parallel bars (e.g. a first set and second set of parallel bars arranged to create an array of rectangular openings, such as square). In some other examples, the plurality of openings may comprise perforations in a surface of the one or more outlets 68 (e.g. perforations in the housing 62 in a portion providing an outlet 68). In some examples, the one or more substance outlets 68 are each provided by permeable barrier or material, comprising a plurality of openings of up to around 1 mm in diameter.

In some examples, the plurality of openings of a substance outlet 68 extend through the housing at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery system 1. In these examples, the plurality of openings are angled to direct substance towards the mouth end of the article 8 (i.e. rather than towards the interface 9 end of the article 8). In some examples, the plurality of openings of a substance outlet 68 extend through the housing at an angle of between 30° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal axis. In some examples, the plurality of openings of a substance outlet 68 extend through the housing at an angle of between 40° and 70° with respect to the longitudinal axis. This may aid in directing the substance towards the user’s nose for nasal inhalation.

In some examples, the one or more substance outlets 68 are configured to control or limit a release of the substance 66 for inhalation. For example, the size of the open area of each of the one or more substance outlets 68 (e.g. the cumulative open area of the plurality of openings of a substance outlet) controls a rate of release of the substance 66 for inhalation. In some example, the cumulative open area of each of the one or more substance outlets 68 (i.e. parallel to the plane of the openings) is in the range of 40 % to 80% of the external surface area of the substance 66 facing the housing 62 having the substance outlets 68. By the external surface area of the substance 66 facing the housing 62 having the substance outlets 68, it is meant that the substance 66 or a substrate containing the substance 66 can be defined as being provided in a volume defined by at least one surface that faces the portion of the housing 62 in which the substance outlets 68 are provided (e.g. a surface adjacent the housing 62 having the substance outlets 68), and that the surface of this volume defines an external surface area (including the surface area of the volume facing the housing 62 having the outlets 68) in contrast to the internal surface area within the volume defined by any exposed surface of the substance 66 and I or substrate.

In some examples, the open area of a substance outlet 68 is adjustable such that the rate of release of the substance 66 for inhalation can be changed. In some examples, a substance outlet can be closed such that the rate of release of the substance for inhalation is substantially zero or close to zero. In some examples, the rate of release may be less than 10%, (and in some examples less than 5%) when the substance outlet 68 is closed relative to the rate of release when the substance outlet 68 is open to its maximum extent. In some examples, the cumulative area of the one or more substance outlets 68 is larger than the cumulative area of the aerosol outlet 58. This may improve inhalation of the substance 66 in view of the fact that a seal is not created by the user over the one or more substance outlets 68 (in contrast to the aerosol outlet 58).

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through an article 8 provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The article 8 is configured for use with a cartridge 4 and device 2 in accordance with Figure 1. For example, the article 8 of Figure 2 comprises features defining, at least in part, an interface 9 as described in relation to Figure 1 . In contrast to article 8 of Figure 1 , article 8 of Figure 2 further includes two substance inlets 70 (sometimes called substance storage region inlets or second inlets) fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64.

In some examples, there may be one substance inlet 70 fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64, or there may be more than one substance inlet 70 (e.g. two substance inlets as per Figure 2) fluidly connected to the substance storage region 64. The substance inlet(s) 70 is configured to allow air to flow into the substance storage region 64. In some examples, this influx of air may replace air which is drawn out of the substance storage region 64.

For example, as previously discussed, the substance 66 for inhalation and I or air in the substance storage region 64 may be drawn out of the substance storage region 64 when a user inhales on the system 1 . As a result, the air pressure within the substance storage region 64 may be lower than an air pressure externally to the article 8 (at least in a region distal from a user’s nose). The substance inlet(s) 70 are positioned (e.g. provided in the housing 62) such that (replacement) air may flow from the relatively high air pressure region (i.e. externally to the article 8), to the relatively low air pressure region (i.e. the substance storage region). In some examples, during an inhalation, a continual flow of air may occur from the exterior of the article 8 to the substance storage region 64 via the substance inlet 70, and from the substance storage region 64 to the exterior of the article 8 via the substance outlet 68; with substance 66 for inhalation in the substance storage region 64 becoming entrained in the airflow as it passes through.

In some examples, the substance inlet(s) 70 is positioned further from the mouth-end of the article 8 than the substance outlet 68. In other words, the substance inlet(s) 70 may be positioned closer to the interface 9 of the article 8 than the substance outlet 68. In some examples, the substance inlet(s) 70 may be provided by the interface 9. For example, the article 8 and I or the cartridge 4 may be configured such that one or more inlets are provided at the join of the article 8 and the cartridge 4. In some examples, the one or more inlets may comprise a gap between a surface of the article 8 and a surface of the cartridge 3 at the join. The inlet(s) may be fluidly connected to a hole in the housing 62 of the article 8 (e.g. in the base of the article 8) to allow airflow into the substance storage region 64, thereby providing the substance inlet(s) 70.

As previously discussed, the one or more substance outlets 68 may be positioned on a side of the system 1 which is expected to be proximal to a user’s nose when a user engages their lips/mouth with the mouthpiece end of the article 8 (this side may be termed a top side). In some examples, the one or more substance inlets 70 may be positioned on a side of the system 1 which is expected to be proximal to (or closer) a user’s chin when a user engages their lips/mouth with the mouthpiece end of the article 8 (this side may be termed a bottom side). As such, the one or more substance inlets 70 may be provided on a top side of the article 8, and the one or more substance outlets 68 may be provided on an, opposite, bottom side of the article. In use, air may be drawn from the bottom side, through the substance storage region of the article 8, and out of the top side to the user.

In some examples, the one or more one or more substance inlets 70 can be provided by drilling the housing 62, or formed during a process of injection molding of the housing 62. In some examples, the one or more substance inlets may comprise or be formed as an array or lattice of openings (e.g. by perforating a surface of the housing 62). In some examples, the one or more substance inlets 70 are configured to provide a higher resistance-to-draw than the one or more substance outlets 68. For example, the one or more substance outlets 68 (e.g. the cumulative open area of the one or more substance outlets 68) may be larger than the one or more substance inlets (e.g. the cumulative open area of the one or more substance inlets 70).

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through an article 8 provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The article 8 is configured for use with a cartridge 4 and device 2 in accordance with Figure 1. For example, the article 8 of Figure 3 comprises features defining, at least in part, an interface 9 as described in relation to Figure 1. In contrast to the article 8 of Figure 1 , the article 8 of Figure 3 further includes a secondary substance outlet 72 (also called a secondary substance storage region outlet 72) fluidly connecting with the aerosol pathway 54.

A secondary substance outlet 72 is configured to allow the substance 66 for inhalation to enter the aerosol pathway 54. In other words, the secondary substance outlet 72 provides a fluid connection between the substance storage region 64 and the aerosol pathway 54. Substance 66 which enters the aerosol pathway 54 (e.g. as a result of a pressure differential) can then mix with aerosol in the aerosol pathway 54 and be inhaled orally (through a user’s mouth) along with the aerosol during use. This may provide additional sensory benefits to the user in addition to the substance 66 for inhalation which is inhaled nasally. In some examples, there may be multiple secondary substance outlets 72.

In some examples, the secondary substance outlet(s) 72 is configured to provide a higher resistance-to-draw than the one or more substance outlets 68. For example, the one or more substance outlets 68 (e.g. the cumulative open area of the one or more substance outlets 68) may be larger than the one or more secondary substance outlet 72 (e.g. the cumulative open area of the one or more secondary substance outlets 72). In some examples, the secondary substance outlet(s) 72 and the substance outlet(s) 68 are configured such that the ratio of the amount of substance 66 expelled via the secondary substance outlet(s) 72 to the amount of substance 66 expelled via the substance outlet(s) 68, in response to the same pressure drop, is in the range of 0.05 to 0.5. In some examples, the secondary substance outlet(s) 72 and the substance outlet(s) 68 are configured such that the ratio of the amount of substance 66 expelled via the secondary substance outlet(s) 72 to the amount of substance 66 expelled via the substance outlet(s) 68, in response to the same pressure drop, is in the range of 0.1 to 0.3. In some examples, the one or more one or more secondary substance outlets 72 can be provided by drilling the tube defining the aerosol pathway 54, or formed during a process of injection molding of the inner tube defining the aerosol pathway 54. In some examples, the one or more substance inlets may comprise or be formed as an array or lattice of openings (e.g. by perforating a surface of the tube).

In some examples (not shown), an article 8 can comprise both a secondary substance outlet 72 (e.g. as disclosed in relation to Figure 3) and a substance inlet 70 (e.g. as disclosed in relation to Figure 2).

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through an article 8 provided in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The article 8 is configured for use with a mouthpiece which is configured to be connected with a cartridge 4 and device 2 via an interface 9 in accordance with Figure 1. In contrast to the article 8 of Figure 1 , 2 or 3, the article 8 of Figure 4 is a separate and distinct component from a mouthpiece, and is configured to be received by a mouthpiece.

The article 8 of figure 4 comprises a housing 62 defining a substance storage region 64 configured to contain a substance 66 for inhalation. The housing 62 also comprises a substance outlet 68 configured to allow the substance 66 to leave the substance storage region (e.g. in response to an inhalation). The substance 66 for inhalation is as described in relation to figures 1 to 3. Similarly, the substance 66 for inhalation may be provided on a substrate as described in relation to figures 1 to 3.

In some examples, such as those in accordance with figure 4, the article 8 is configured to be received in a cavity of a mouthpiece. The housing 62 of the article 8 is retained inside housing or wall(s) of the mouthpiece when the article 8 is received in the mouthpiece. The housing 62 defines the substance storage region(s) 64. For example, the housing 62 comprises walls formed of a plastics material or similar. The housing 62 may further define one or more substance outlets 68. For example, an outer wall of the housing 62 may comprises a plurality of apertures providing one or more substance outlets 68. In some examples, the plurality of apertures may be formed between a plurality of parallel bars extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the system 1 , or between a plurality of bands extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the system 1. In some examples, the plurality of parallel bands extend around a circumference or a perimeter of the housing 62. In some examples, each aperture of the plurality of apertures between a respective pair of bands has a width of more than 1 mm ( and in some examples, a width of more than 2 mm) in order to prevent or reduce any capillary transport of liquid through the apertures (e.g. leakage from a liquid in the substance storage region 64). When received in a mouthpiece the one or more substance outlets 68 may align with a mouthpiece opening to allow substance 66 to leave the mouthpiece. As described in relation to figures 1 to 3, the substance outlets 68 may be positioned or angled to direct substance towards a user for nasal inhalation.

In the example of figure 4, the article 8 is shaped to accommodate a component of the mouthpiece which defines an aerosol pathway 54 leading to an aerosol outlet, as described above. In some examples, such as those in accordance with figure 4, the article 8 has an annular shape formed by the housing 62. In the example of figure 4, the housing comprises an inner wall 80 defining an inner surface of the annular shape. In some examples, the inner wall 80 defines a substantially circular channel aligned with a centre of the article, whereas in other examples, the inner wall 80 defines a different shaped channel (e.g. a channel off-set from a centre of the article, or with an irregular cross-section).

An aerosol pathway 54 extends through the channel defined by the inner wall 80 of the article 8. The aerosol pathway 54 is for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system (e.g. from aerosol generator 48 in the cartridge part 4) from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation. The aerosol pathway 54 extends through the article 8 such that aerosol is able to pass through the article 8 from one side to the other via the channel defined by the inner wall 80. In some examples, an aerosol inlet and aerosol outlet (not shown in figure 4) may be provided by a mouthpiece which is configured to receive the article 8. In other examples, an aerosol inlet and aerosol outlet may be provided at each end of the channel formed by the inner wall 80.

In some examples, the inner wall 80 defines the lateral extent or boundaries of the aerosol pathway 54 (i.e. the boundaries in the plane perpendicular to the flow direction). In some other examples, a channel component (e.g. of the mouthpiece) is received in the channel (or cavity) defined by the inner wall 80, the channel component providing at least a portion of the aerosol pathway. For example, the channel component defining the lateral boundaries or extent of the aerosol pathway 54 passing through the channel component. In these examples, the inner wall 80 is configured to have a shape and size which is large enough to accommodate the channel component within the inner wall 80. In some examples, a mouthpiece includes an upstream channel component which extends between the inner wall 80 and an aerosol inlet 56, and I or the mouthpiece includes a downstream channel component which extends between the inner wall 80 and the aerosol outlet 58. Any of the channel components described above may be provided as a tube or similar feature define a void or cavity through which a fluid, such as an aerosol, may flow (e.g. in response to an inhalation of a user). In some examples, the article 8 further comprises a spacer 82 configured to position the article 8 within the mouthpiece when the article 8 is received within the mouthpiece. The spacer 82 is configured to contact an internal wall, and I or other features, of the mouthpiece to restrict the movement of the article 8 within the mouthpiece. In some examples, the spacer 82 comprises one or more projections or protrusions which extends from a portion of the housing 62 defining the substance storage region 64. In some examples, the spacer 82 comprises a ring shape protrusion that extends from the inner wall 80 of the article, thereby extending the inner wall 80. By providing a spacer 82, the substance outlet 68 and I or the substance 66 can be adjusted (during manufacture) to an optimal position.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through a combination of an article 8 in accordance with Figure 4 and a mouthpiece configured to receive an article 8 in accordance with Figure 4. In Figure 5, the article 8 and the mouthpiece 100 are shown in a disassembled/disconnected configuration. The mouthpiece 100 is configured to connected with a cartridge 4 and device 2 via an interface 9 in accordance with Figure 1.

In some examples, such as those in accordance with Figure 5, a mouthpiece 100 (for use with an aerosol delivery system) comprises a receiving cavity 110 which is configured to receive an article 8, such as an article 8 as described in relation to Figure 4.

The mouthpiece 100 is configured to attach to the aerosol delivery system 1. For example the mouthpiece 100 and a cartridge 4 of the system 1 are configured to attach to each other via an interface 9, as discussed in relation to Figure 1.

In the example of Figure 5, the mouthpiece 100 comprises an upstream (or first) mouthpiece section 102 and a downstream (or second) mouthpiece section 104. By upstream and downstream it is meant the respective sections are provided at or towards the upstream or downstream ends of the aerosol pathway 54 extending through the article 8.

The upstream mouthpiece section 102 and downstream mouthpiece section 104 are configured to connect to each other to provide the mouthpiece 100. In some examples, the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and downstream mouthpiece section 104 are releasably connected to allow removal and replacement of the article 8. By releasably connected it is meant that the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and the downstream mouthpiece section 104 can be engaged and disengaged with each other repeatedly (e.g. attached to and detached from each other repeatedly). For example, the mechanism for connecting the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and the downstream mouthpiece section 104 may allow connection without inelastic deformation or breakage (therefore allowing repeated operation). When the substance in the article 8 is exhausted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different article 8 (e.g., containing a different substance), the upstream and downstream mouthpiece sections 102, 104 may be disengaged from one another, and a replacement article 8 may be inserted in its place.

The downstream mouthpiece section 104 comprises a downstream (or second) mouthpiece housing 108 and an aerosol outlet 58. The downstream mouthpiece housing 108 is formed from a suitable material, such as a plastics material or a metal material. The aerosol outlet 58 is provided in or by the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 (in other words, the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 may comprise the aerosol outlet 58). For example, the aerosol outlet 58 may be provided as one or more apertures or holes that extend through the downstream mouthpiece housing 108. The aerosol outlet 58 is configured to allow aerosol conveyed along an aerosol pathway 54 from an aerosol inlet 56 to be inhaled orally by a user during use.

The upstream mouthpiece section 102 comprises a upstream (or first) mouthpiece housing 106 and an aerosol inlet 56. The upstream mouthpiece housing 106 is formed from a suitable material, such as a plastics material or a metal material. The upstream mouthpiece section 102 is configured to attach to a cartridge 4 via an interface 9, as discussed in relation to Figure 1. In some examples, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 of the upstream mouthpiece section 102 may be configured to allow a structural connection with the cartridge 4, whereas in some other examples an interface element of the upstream mouthpiece section 102 (not shown) may facilitate the interface 9. In some examples, the aerosol inlet 56 is provided in or by the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 (in other words, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 may comprise the aerosol inlet 56). In some other examples, the aerosol inlet is provided in or by an interface element of the upstream mouthpiece section 102 (not shown). The aerosol inlet 56 is configured to allow aerosol from the cartridge 4 to enter the aerosol pathway 54 of the mouthpiece (e.g. aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 48 into air path 52).

In the example of Figure 5, the upstream mouthpiece section 102 comprises an upstream (or first) connector component 112, and the downstream mouthpiece section 104 comprises a downstream (or second) connector component 114. The upstream connector component 112 and the downstream connector component 114 facilitate the releasable coupling (e.g. engaging and disengaging of the upstream and downstream mouthpiece sections 102,104). For example, the upstream connector component 112 and the downstream connector component 114 can be configured to engage with one another to retain the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 relative to the downstream mouthpiece housing 108. In other words, the upstream connector component 112 and the downstream connector component 114 provide a structural connection between the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and the downstream mouthpiece section 104. The connection may be established in accordance with broadly conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism, bayonet fixing, magnetic coupling, or an interference fit.

In some examples, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 comprise the upstream and downstream connector components 112,114, respectively. In some examples, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 are configured such that a smooth transition is provided between the external surfaces of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 10, when the upstream and downstream mouthpiece sections 102,104 are connected by the upstream and downstream connector components 112,114. For example, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 can have corresponding outer shapes (e.g. both of the housings may be generally circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery system 1).

In some examples such as those in accordance with Figure 5, the upstream mouthpiece section 102 further comprises a receiving cavity 110. The receiving cavity 110 is configured to receive an article 8, such as an article 8 as described in relation to Figure 4. The receiving cavity 110 is a void or volume which is large enough to accommodate an article 8. The receiving cavity 110 is a substantially enclosed space within the mouthpiece 100 when the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and the downstream mouthpiece section 104 are combined. By substantially enclosed it is meant that the cavity 110 is internal to and enclosed by the mouthpiece 100, although the cavity 110 is still fluidly connected to the exterior of the mouthpiece 100 by one or more openings 112 (e.g. corresponding to one or more substance inlets or one or more substance outlets).

The boundary or extent of the receiving cavity 110 is defined by at least the configuration of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 (e.g. an inner surface of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106). In some examples, the boundary or extent of the receiving cavity 110 may be defined by further components, such as a part of the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 and/or a tube 116 defining an aerosol pathway 54. For example, the receiving cavity 110 may have an annular shape with an inner surface of the annulus defined by the tube 116, an upstream surface defined by the upstream mouthpiece housing 106, a downstream surface defined by the downstream mouthpiece housing 108, and an outer surface of the annulus defined by one or both of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108, thereby creating a substantially enclosed space. While in Figure 5, the receiving cavity 110 is provided by the upstream mouthpiece housing 106; in some examples, the receiving cavity 110 may be provided in part or wholly by the downstream mouthpiece housing 108.

In some examples, one or both of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 comprises an opening 112 (or multiple openings) configured to allow substance 66 in the article 8 to be released for inhalation by the user. For example, in the example of Figure 5, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 comprises one or more openings 112. Each of the one or more openings 112 may be provided adjacent to, or otherwise aligned with, one or more substrate storage region outlets 68 (or substrate outlets) such that the substrate storage region 64 is fluidly connected to the outside of the mouthpiece 100 via the one or more substrate outlets 68 and the openings 112. For example an opening 112 may overlap with one or more substrate outlets 68 thereby creating a continuous path from the outside of the mouthpiece 100 to the inside of the article 8 (i.e. to the substrate storage region 64). In some examples, one or more openings 112 may be provided by the connection of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 to the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 (e.g. when the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 are connected, opposing surfaces of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 and the downstream mouthpiece housing 108 are configured to be displaced from one another (i.e. not in contact) to create a gap extending around at least a part of the periphery of the boundary between the two housings 106,108).

In some examples, the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 comprises one or more openings (not shown) configured to allow ambient air to flow into the receiving cavity. In some examples, the opening is fluidly connected to the allows ambient air to a substrate storage region inlets 70 such that ambient air may flow into the substrate storage region 64 via the opening. In some examples, the spacer 82 of the article 8 engages with a base wall (or upstream wall) of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106, to position the article 8 with respect to the base wall of the upstream mouthpiece housing 106. In particular, the interaction of the spacer 82 with the base wall may create an additional cavity or space upstream of the article 8 (the additional cavity sometimes called an upstream space or cavity). In some examples, the opening(s) configured to allow ambient air to flow into the receiving cavity may be positioned to allow ambient air into the additional cavity upstream of the article 8 created by the interaction of the spacer 82 with the base wall when the article 8 is received in the receiving cavity 110.

In some examples, such as the example of Figure 5, the upstream mouthpiece section 102 comprises a channel component 116 (e.g. a tube) through which the aerosol pathway 54 extends. The channel component 116 is received by an inner wall 80 of the article which defines a cavity suitable for accommodating the channel component 116. As a result, the aerosol pathway 54 extends through the cavity formed by the inner wall 80 too, when the channel component 116 is received by the inner wall. In some examples, the channel component 116 extends from an aerosol inlet 56 (provided by the upstream mouthpiece section 102) to an aerosol outlet 58 (provided by the downstream mouthpiece section 104) when the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and downstream mouthpiece section 104 are connected. In some examples, a channel component 116 may be provided by the downstream mouthpiece section 104 instead, or the upstream mouthpiece section 102 and the downstream mouthpiece section 104 may each comprise a portion or section of a channel component 116.

In some examples, the inner wall 80 defines a cavity having a cross-sectional shape in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the system 1 , that is the same shape as, but larger than the cross-sectional shape of the channel component 116 in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the system 1. For example, the cavity defined by the inner wall 82 and the channel component 116 may both have a circular cross-sectional shape in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the system 1 (e.g. the cavity and the outer dimensions of the channel component 116 are both cylindrical and aligned with the longitudinal axis) with the circular cross-sectional shape of the cavity having a larger diameter than the circular crosssection of the channel component 116. In some examples, the inner wall 80 may have a cross- sectional shape that corresponds to, but is slightly larger, than the channel component 116 of the aerosol pathway 54 in order to create an interference fit.

In some examples, a section of the channel component 116 may comprise one or more openings configured to allow substance into the aerosol pathway 54. For example, the channel component 116, may comprise an opening that is fluidly connected to a secondary substance outlet 72 of the article 8. In some examples, the secondary substance outlet 72 may be provided in the inner wall 82 and the opening in the channel component 116 may be provided adjacent to (e.g. overlapping) the secondary substance outlet 72. In some examples, the secondary substance outlet 72 may be provided on a downstream side of the article 8 (e.g. towards the mouth-end), and the opening in the channel component 116 may be provided downstream of the article 8 (e.g. between the article 8 and the aerosol outlet 58), with the secondary substance outlet 72 and the opening in the channel component 116 being fluidly connected via a downstream cavity.

As indicated by the arrows “A” and “B” in Figure 5, the mouthpiece 100 and the article 8 can be assembled by inserting the article 8 into the receiving cavity 110, and subsequently combining together the upstream mouthpiece component 102 and the downstream mouthpiece component 104.

In particular, in the example of Figure 5, the receiving cavity 110 is provided by the upstream mouthpiece component 102. The article 8 is inserted or otherwise provided into the receiving cavity 110 (see arrow “A”). The position of the article 8 may be determined by the walls defining the cavity (e.g. the upstream mouthpiece housing 106) and / or the article housing 62 including any spacers 82. The receiving cavity 110 and I or the article 8 may include a retention mechanism to aid in retaining the article 8 within the receiving cavity prior to assembly of the mouthpiece 100, or the article 8 may be retained by gravity when the upstream mouthpiece housing 106 is in a suitable orientation (e.g. downstream side of the housing 106 vertically downwards).

When the article 8 is provided in the receiving cavity 110, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 can be connected to the upstream mouthpiece component 102, thereby enclosing the article 8 (see arrow “B”). As described above, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 can be connected to the upstream mouthpiece component 102 by a conventional mechanism, such as corresponding screw threads or latches, amongst others.

In some examples, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 is configured such that the connection of the downstream mouthpiece component 104 to the upstream mouthpiece component 102 further constrains the position of the article 8 within the mouthpiece 100. For example, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 can comprises a retaining surface 120 (or ledge) which is configured to contact the article 8 when the downstream mouthpiece component 104 is connected to the upstream mouthpiece component 102. The retaining surface 120 is configured to restrict the movement of the article 8 in a downstream direction (e.g. by blocking the movement of the article 8 towards the mouth-end).

In some examples, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 is configured such that the connection of the downstream mouthpiece component 104 to the upstream mouthpiece component 102 constrains the position of the channel component 116 and I or seals a downstream end of the channel component 116. For example, the downstream mouthpiece component 104 can comprises an abutting surface 1118 (or ledge) which is configured to contact the channel component 116 when the downstream mouthpiece component 104 is connected to the upstream mouthpiece component 102. The abutting surface 118 may be provided substantially adjacent to the aerosol outlet 58.

In some examples, the abutting surface is configured to restrict or inhibit the movement of the channel component 116 in a downstream direction (e.g. by blocking the movement of the article 8 towards the mouth-end). The abutting surface 118 may also be configured to restrict or inhibit the movement of the channel component 116 in a lateral direction (e.g. by blocking movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the system 1).

In some examples, the abutting surface 120 and the channel component 116 are in contact around a periphery of the downstream end of the channel component 116. This continual contact may substantially inhibit or restrict the flow of air between the two. In some other examples, the abutting surface 120 and the channel component 116 are in contact only around a portion of the periphery of the downstream end of the channel component 116, to provide an opening in fluid communication with a secondary substance outlet 72 thereby allowing substance into the aerosol path 54.

Alternatively, an article 8 such as has been described in relation to figure 4 and 5 can be termed, or described as, a substance storage component, with an article 8 such as is disclosed in Figures 1 to 3 (e.g. an article in the form of a mouthpiece) being configured to receive the substance storage component. For example, the mouthpiece 100 of figure 5 may be an article 8 comprising an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation (e.g. the channel component 116), a substance storage region within a housing of the article (e.g. the receiving cavity 110), the substance storage region comprising a substance for inhalation (e.g. the substance storage component provided by the depicted article 8 of Figure 4 and 5); and a substance storage region outlet fluidly connected to the substance storage region (e.g. the one or openings 112), wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation (e.g. via the fluid connection provided by the depicted one or more openings 112 and the depicted corresponding outlet 68 in the substance storage component).

Furthermore, while the mouthpiece 100 of Figure 5 is depicted as receiving an article 8; in some other examples, the mouthpiece 100 of figure 5 may be an article which is configured to receive the substance 66 for inhalation directly in the receiving cavity 110 (i.e. without the substance being provided in a substance storage component). For example, an article provided by a mouthpiece such as the mouthpiece 100 of Figure 5 may be configured to receive a substance 66 for inhalation in the form of a solid, liquid or gel. In some examples, an absorbent substrate material saturated with a liquid substance 66 for inhalation may be inserted into the receiving cavity 110, before connection of the mouthpiece 100 sections 102,104. In some examples, solid or gel beads, or a loose solid material (e.g. granules, powder, or shreds of a natural sourced material such as tobacco or coffee) may be inserted into the receiving cavity 110, before connection of the mouthpiece 100 sections 102,104. Figure 6 is a flow diagram depicting a method 600 of providing an aerosol delivery system for generating and modifying an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material. The method 600 starts with a first step 610 of providing an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material may be a liquid, solid or gel material as described above (see for example the discussion in relation to Figure 1). In some examples, the aerosol-generating material may be provided in a cartridge which is attached to a device part of the aerosol delivery system; whereas in other examples, the aerosol-generating material may be provided in or adjacent to the aerosol delivery system (e.g. poured or inserted into a cavity of the aerosol delivery system).

The method continues with a second step 620 of providing an aerosol-generator. The aerosol generator is configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material. The aerosol generator may be provided as discussed above (see for example the discussion in relation to Figure 1). In some examples the second step 620 occurs before the first step 610. In some examples, the aerosol generator is provided as a component of a cartridge containing the aerosol-generating material (i.e. the cartridge is a cartomiser), with the first step 610 and the second step 620 occurring simultaneously due to the combined nature of the aerosol generator and the aerosol-generating material.

The method continues with a third step 630 of providing an article or a mouthpiece comprising an article. The article comprises the aerosol-modifying agent and may be as described above in relation to any of the examples of the present invention. The aerosolmodifying agent is for modifying the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator from the aerosol-generating material. For example, by providing an article in addition to the aerosol generating material and the aerosol generator, the aerosol-modifying agent in the article may be released, in use, to modifying a characteristic or property of the generated aerosol. For example the aerosol-modifying agent may mix with the generated aerosol in an air flow path, and may modify a characteristic such as a flavour or acidity of the aerosol.

Figures 1 to 5 depict examples of articles 8 which can form a part of an aerosol delivery system 1 and Figure 6 depicts a method of providing an article 8 (such as an article of Figure 1 to 5) as part of an aerosol delivery system 1. While the above described embodiments have in some respects focussed on some specific example aerosol provision systems, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied to other example aerosol provision systems, and in particular an example article 8 can be provided as part of an aerosol provision system 1 in ways other than those described above. For example, while an article 8 of Figure 5 is depicted as being received in an receiving cavity 110 of a mouthpiece 100; in some examples an upstream mouthpiece section 102 is not present, and instead, the components of the upstream mouthpiece section 102 may instead be provided by a cartridge 4, and I or the downstream mouthpiece section 104 (e.g. the mouthpiece 100 consists of the downstream mouthpiece section 104 which connects directly to the cartridge 4 via an interface 9, the connection retaining the article 8 within the system 1).

Thus there has been described an article for an aerosol delivery system, the article comprising: an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within a housing of the article, the substance storage region comprising a substance for inhalation; and a substance storage region outlet fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation.

In some examples, the article is a mouthpiece for the aerosol delivery system, whereas in other examples, the article is received by a mouthpiece for an aerosol delivery system, the mouthpiece comprising: a receiving cavity containing the article.

There has also been described an aerosol delivery system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol-generating material; an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and an article as described in the above description.

Thus there has also been described a method of providing an aerosol delivery system for generating and modifying an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material, the method comprising: providing the aerosol-generating material; providing an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and providing the article or the mouthpiece as described in the above description.

There has further been described there is described article means for an aerosol delivery system, the article means comprising: an aerosol pathway means for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from aerosol inlet means to aerosol outlet means for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within housing means of the article means, the substance storage region comprising substance means for inhalation; and substance storage region outlet means fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet means is configured to release the substance means for nasal inhalation.

While the above described embodiments have in some respects focussed on some specific example aerosol provision systems, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied for aerosol provision systems using other technologies. For example, while Figure 1 has focussed on cartridge containing a liquid aerosol-generating material, it will be appreciated that the aerosol delivery device or system in accordance with the embodiments of the disclosure may instead use a solid- or gel-based aerosol-generating material. That is to say, the specific manner in which various aspects of the aerosol provision system function are not directly relevant to the principles underlying the examples described herein.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An article for an aerosol delivery system, the article comprising: an aerosol pathway for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from an aerosol inlet to an aerosol outlet for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within a housing of the article, the substance storage region comprising a substance for inhalation; and a substance storage region outlet fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet is configured to release the substance for nasal inhalation.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the substance outlet comprises a plurality of openings extending through a peripheral surface of the housing.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the substance outlet comprises a plurality of parallel linear openings extending at least partially around the peripheral surface.

4. The article of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the substance outlet extends at an angle through the housing towards a mouth-end of the article.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the angle is in a range of between 30° and 80° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the article.

6. The article of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article comprises a substance storage region inlet, wherein the substance storage region is fluidly connected to the substance storage region inlet.

7. The article of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the article comprises a substance storage substrate within the substance storage region, the substance storage substrate comprising the substance for inhalation.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein the substance storage substrate comprises a paper substrate.

9. The article of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the article comprises a substance storage component configured to be removably retained within the substance storage region.

10. The article of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosol pathway extends through the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region surrounds a periphery of a portion of the aerosol pathway.

11. The article of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the article comprises a secondary substance outlet fluidly connected to the aerosol pathway.

12. The article of any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the volume of the substance storage region is in the range of 100 mm² to 600 mm².

13. The article of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the article is a mouthpiece for the aerosol delivery system, wherein the article comprises the aerosol inlet and the aerosol outlet.

14. A mouthpiece for an aerosol delivery system, the mouthpiece comprising: a receiving cavity containing the article of any of claims 1 to 12.

15. The mouthpiece of claim 14, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a channel component extending through the article, wherein the article is configured to accommodate the channel component, the channel component providing at least a portion of the aerosol pathway.

16. An aerosol delivery system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol-generating material; an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and the article of any of claims 1 to 13 or the mouthpiece of claim 14 or 15.

17. A method of providing an aerosol delivery system for generating and modifying an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material, the method comprising: providing the aerosol-generating material; providing an aerosol generator configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material; and providing the article of any of claims 1 to 13 or the mouthpiece of claim 14 or 15.

18. Article means for an aerosol delivery system, the article means comprising: an aerosol pathway means for conveying aerosol received from the aerosol delivery system from aerosol inlet means to aerosol outlet means for oral inhalation; a substance storage region within housing means of the article means, the substance storage region comprising substance means for inhalation; and substance storage region outlet means fluidly connected to the substance storage region, wherein the substance storage region outlet means is configured to release the substance means for nasal inhalation.