Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 1 -
Delivery systems and compositions for inclusion therein
Technical Field
The invention relates to delivery systems comprising a tobacco flavour
composition
comprising volatile and semi-volatile tobacco flavour components. The
invention also
relates to aerosol-generating materials comprising the tobacco flavour
composition,
consumables, and the use of said tobacco flavour compositions.
Background
io Many delivery systems use tobacco or tobacco extracts to provide
flavours as well as to
deliver other tobacco components including nicotine.
There is a need in the art for compositions suitable for addition to delivery
systems to
introduce desired sensory characteristics. In particular, it is desirable to
provide
enhanced tobacco characteristics, including tobacco flavours and aromas.
Summary
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-
combustible aerosol provision system comprising a concentrated tobacco flavour
composition comprising at least one volatile tobacco flavour compound having a
boiling
point of less than 200 C at atmospheric pressure and at least one semi-
volatile tobacco
flavour compound having a boiling point between 200 and 250 C at atmospheric
pressure.
In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system is a tobacco heating product
comprising an aerosol-generating material which is to be heated to volatilise
constituents.
In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system is a hybrid product
comprising an
aerosol-generating material which is to be heated to volatilise constituents,
and a liquid
which is to be heated to form a vapour.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises the tobacco
flavour
composition.
In some embodiments, the liquid comprises the tobacco flavour composition.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 2 -
In some embodiments, the liquid is a nicotine-free liquid.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an
aerosol-
generating material for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system,
comprising
a concentrated tobacco flavour composition comprising at least one volatile
tobacco
flavour compound having a boiling point of less than 200 C at atmospheric
pressure
and at least one semi-volatile tobacco flavour compound having a boiling point
between
200 and 250 C at atmospheric pressure.
In some embodiments of either aspect, the tobacco flavour composition
comprises a
tobacco extract and a solvent, wherein the tobacco extract is prepared by
molecular
distillation and high vacuum fractionation, and wherein the extract comprises
concentrated volatile tobacco flavour compounds, including a first fraction of
tobacco
compounds having a boiling point of less than 200 C at atmospheric pressure,
and a
second fraction of tobacco compounds having a boiling point between 200 and
250 C
at atmospheric pressure.
In some embodiments, the tobacco extract comprises a high concentration of
volatile
flavour and aroma compounds compared to a tobacco extract prepared by a
conventional aqueous extraction process.
In some embodiments, the extract is diluted from about wo fold to about moo
fold to
make a 1% w/w to 0.1% w/w solution.
In some embodiments, a volume of the diluted extract is applied to tobacco
material to
give final extract concentration in the tobacco material of 0.01-0.1% by dry
weight.
In some embodiments, the extract comprises from about 1% to about 20% nicotine
prior to dilution.
In some embodiments, the extract diluted in the solvent comprises from about
0.1% to
about 0.001% w/w nicotine.
In some embodiments, the extract comprises from about 5 x 10-5 to about 5 x 10-
4 %
TSNAs prior to dilution.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 3 -
In some embodiments, the extract diluted in the solvent comprises from about 1
x 10-10
to about 1 x io % w/w TSNAs.
In some embodiments, the flavour composition comprises a solvent, optionally
selected
from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerine, vegetable glycerine,
triacetin
and ethanol.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a
consumable for
io a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol-
generating material
according to the first aspect.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided the
use of a
concentrated tobacco flavour composition comprising at least one volatile
tobacco
flavour component having a boiling point of less than 200 C at atmospheric
pressure
and at least one semi-volatile tobacco flavour component having a boiling
point
between 200 and 250 C at atmospheric pressure, for providing long-lasting
flavour
from a non-combustible aerosol provision system.
Brief Description of the Figures
Embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of example only,
with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tobacco heating product for
heating an
aerosol-generating material to volatilise at least one component of the
aerosol-
generating material; and
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a hybrid device for heating an aerosol-
generating
material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating
material.
Detailed Description
A first aspect of the invention provides a non-combustible aerosol provision
system
comprising a concentrated tobacco flavour composition comprising at least one
volatile
tobacco flavour compound or component having a boiling point of less than 200
C at
atmospheric pressure and at least one semi-volatile tobacco flavour compound
or
component having a boiling point between 200 and 250 C at atmospheric
pressure.
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition is a liquid.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 4 -
Where the tobacco flavour composition is extracted from tobacco material, the
extract
will need to be diluted before it is incorporated into the aerosol provision
system. This
is because the flavours will otherwise be too concentrated or strong in the
aerosol that
is generated. This is because these desirable tobacco components are so
effectively
selected and enriched as a result of the extraction processes.
The diluted extract will comprise at least one volatile tobacco flavour
compound having
a boiling point of less than 200 C at atmospheric pressure and at least one
semi-
/0 volatile tobacco flavour compound having a boiling point between 200 and
250 C at
atmospheric pressure. Even when diluted, the tobacco flavour composition may
be
described as being concentrated compared to the presence of these flavour
compounds
in tobacco.
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition is included in an aerosol-
generating material. For example, the composition may be applied to an aerosol-
generating material or may be incorporated into an aerosol-generating
material.
The boiling points of the tobacco flavour compounds are selected to provide a
tobacco
flavour composition that is tailored to the temperatures to which the
composition is
heated by the delivery system. Upon heating by the delivery system, the
temperature of
the composition will increase to within a predetermined target temperature
range and
the composition contains volatile and semi-volatile tobacco compounds
including
flavour compounds that will be gradually released as the temperature of the
composition increases and then reaches and is held within the target
temperature
range. Such a composition will provide longer lasting flavour generation and
greater
puff by puff flavour consistency.
For example, upon heating of the tobacco flavour composition by the delivery
system,
the volatile tobacco compounds with lower boiling points will be released
first, followed
by the semi-volatile tobacco compounds with higher boiling points. The less
volatile
compounds typically volatilise or distil towards the end of the heating
session. It is
crucial to have both these volatile and semi-volatile tobacco compounds in
order to
avoid all of the flavour being rapidly released when the composition is heated
to a
particular temperature.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 5 -
This is in contrast to conventional tobacco extracts that usually include only
highly
volatile flavour compounds. When such extracts are used in tobacco heating
products,
the highly volatile flavour compounds tend to be rapidly released as soon as
heating
starts, so that the flavour delivery is very short-lived.
Upon use in a delivery system, the components of a tobacco flavour composition
may
not necessarily have to be heated to their boiling points in order to be
volatilised.
Rather, some compounds will be volatilised at lower temperatures, for example
as a
result of the presence of solvents such as water, propylene glycol or the
like.
In addition, the rate at which the tobacco flavour composition is heated and
the
temperature to which it is heated will also be affected by the composition of
the aerosol-
generating material. For example, where the concentrated tobacco flavour
composition
is included with a carrier material, such as a tobacco material, the amount
and
properties, such a density, of the carrier material will also affect the
heating of the
flavour composition and the release of the volatile and semi-volatile
compounds.
In some embodiments, the delivery system heats an aerosol-generating material
comprising the tobacco flavour composition to a predetermined target
temperature
range target of from about 240 to about 250 C. Accordingly, the composition
includes
tobacco flavour compounds with boiling points in range of from about 240 to
about
250 C. As explained elsewhere, similar to what is seen with nicotine, some of
these
tobacco flavour compounds will start to volatilise or distil out of the
aerosol-generating
material at temperatures lower than their boiling point.
Tobacco flavour compounds
Cured tobacco contains hundreds of volatile, semi-volatile and non-volatile
compounds
or components. Most of the desirable flavour/aroma compounds (volatiles/semi-
volatiles) are believed to be generated by the oxidative and chemical
degradation of
terpenoids and carotenoids during the curing and aging process.
In some embodiments, the compounds included in the tobacco flavour
compositions
include: lactones, such as beta-damascenone and beta-ionone; carboxylic acids,
such as
acetic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid; phenols, such as
2-
methoxyphenol and eugenol; pyrazines, such as 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine;
and
alcohols, such as furaneol and geraniol.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 6 -
In some embodiments, the components of the tobacco flavour compositions
discussed
herein are extracted from cured tobacco.
Extraction processes
Many techniques have been developed in order to isolate volatile flavor
compounds
from tobacco, including, for example, distillation techniques such as short-
path
distillation, simultaneous distillation¨extraction, cold-finger molecular
distillation and
reduced-pressure steam distillation. However, these techniques tend to give
low
recoveries for flavour compounds of low volatility. Extraction techniques such
as solid
phase microextraction and hollow-fiber liquid phase rnicroextraction, have
also been
developed and are used as rapid and convenient methods of isolating volatile
flavour
compounds. However, they also extract higher boiling point compounds such as
pigments and high molecular compounds in tobacco leaf.
In the present invention, higher boiling point compounds (e.g. 200-300 C) are
selectively extracted and isolated, whilst minimizing the extraction and
isolation of
non-volatiles which are undesirable, such as, for example, fatty acids, amino
acids,
sugars and polyphenols, etc.
00
This provides the compositions disclosed herein with advantageous properties
compared with conventional extracts which frequently do not include both
volatile and
semi-volatile compounds.
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition is a tobacco extract
prepared
from tobacco material by solvent extraction and molecular distillation,
wherein the
extract comprises concentrated volatile and semi-volatile tobacco flavour
compounds,
including a first fraction of volatile tobacco compounds having a boiling
point of less
than 200 C at atmospheric pressure, and a second fraction of semi-volatile
tobacco
components having a boiling point between 200 and 250 C at atmospheric
pressure.
In some embodiments, the extracts are diluted in a solvent before use.
In some embodiments, the tobacco extracts are prepared from a tobacco starting
material and involve conventional solvent extraction followed by molecular
distillation
under high vacuum conditions. Conducting the extraction process under high
vacuum
conditions means that higher boiling point compounds can be isolated whilst
also
CA 03173496 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 7 -
minimizing the time of exposure of the tobacco material to elevated
temperatures. The
high vacuum reduces the natural boiling points of the desired components of
the
tobacco material, allowing the compounds to be isolated at lower temperatures.
Conventional solvent extraction processes for tobacco material often involve
an
aqueous extraction step. The tobacco material is contacted with an aqueous
solution
and water soluble tobacco components are extracted with the liquid component
whilst
water insoluble components remain in the tobacco material. The liquid extract
is
separated from the solid extracted tobacco material and may undergo further
processing, such as vacuum concentration.
The aqueous extraction process may be used on ground tobacco and/or at
elevated
temperatures, to enhance the extraction of the water soluble components. Other
solvents may also be included in the aqueous solution to maximise the
extraction of
compounds with different polarities.
These conventional extraction processes have the drawback that they fail to
efficiently
extract the desirable volatile flavour and aroma compounds. Indeed, many of
the
desirable flavour and aroma compounds are not water soluble. Furthermore, the
extracts produced are dilute and will generally need to be concentrated before
they can
be used. This concentration step will often involve heating and can lead to
the further
loss of volatile compounds, especially the highly volatile flavour and aroma
compounds.
In contrast, the use of molecular distillation results in a highly
concentrated extracts
which are rich in volatile tobacco compounds (namely those having a boiling
point of
less than 200 C at atmospheric pressure) and semi-volatile compounds (namely
including a first fraction of tobacco compounds having a boiling point between
200 and
250 C at atmospheric pressure).
The highly desirable volatile flavour and aroma compounds that are contained
in the
extracts are tobacco components that have a boiling point of less than 250 C
at
atmospheric pressure. As a result, when incorporated into a delivery system,
the
system will release these desirable compounds in a highly controlled,
consistent and
predictable manner, especially in contrast to conventional tobacco extracts.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 8 -
The extracts contain such high concentrations of the highly desirable volatile
and semi-
volatile flavour and aroma compounds that they need to be included in a
delivery
system in diluted form. Consequently, the amounts of less desirable tobacco
components such as nicotine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines included in the
delivery
system are actually reduced as a result of the dilution of the extract.
In some embodiments, the concentration range of nicotine in the tobacco
flavour
compositions is from about 0.001% to about 0.1% w/w. In some embodiments, the
concentration range of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in the tobacco
flavour
io compositions is from about 1 x 10-1 to about 1 x 10-8 % w/w.
Extraction solvents
Solvents suitable for use in extracting the compositions disclosed herein
include non-
polar, volatile solvents such as petroleum ether/hexane. These are chosen as
they are
efficient at extracting non-polar flavour compounds from the tobacco and are
volatile
enough so that the solvent can be completely removed (under vacuum) prior to
fractionation.
Diluting solvents
It is necessary for the highly concentrated tobacco flavour compositions to be
diluted in
one or more solvents. The flavour compositions are insoluble or only very
poorly
soluble in water. Suitable solvents for diluting the compositions therefore
include
polyols and glycols. In some embodiments, the solvent is selected from the
group
consisting of: propylene glycol, glycerine, vegetable glycerine, triacetin and
ethanol.
In some embodiments, propylene glycol (PG) is particularly preferred solvent
as it is
less hydrophilic than other solvents, such as glycerine, and therefore
dissolves the
tobacco flavour composition well. Also PG is useful as it is easily applied to
the tobacco
material in a manner similar to the application of flavours which are usually
sprayed
on.
In some embodiments, the solvent is selected based upon the type of delivery
system
the diluted tobacco flavour composition is to be used in. For example,
propylene glycol
(PG) and/or vegetable glycerine (VG) are both solvents and acceptable aerosol
former
materials that are used in a variety of delivery systems, including vapour
products
(commonly known as "electronic cigarettes" or "e-cigarettes"), heat-not-burn
products
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 9 -
(such as Tobacco Heating Products (THPs) and Carbon Tip Heating Products
(CTHPs)), and hybrid products.
Tobacco
As used herein, the term "tobacco material" refers to a material derived from
a plant of
the Nicotiana species. The selection of the plant of the Nicotiana species is
not limited,
and the types of tobacco or tobaccos used may vary.
In some embodiments, the tobacco material is selected from flue-cured or
Virginia,
Burley, sun-cured, Maryland, dark, dark-fired, dark air cured, light air
cured, Indian air
cured, Red Russian and Rustica tobaccos, and mixtures thereof, as well as
various other
rare or specialty tobaccos, green or cured. Tobacco material produced via any
other
type of tobacco treatment which could modify the tobacco taste, such as
fermented
tobacco or genetic modification or crossbreeding techniques, is also within
the scope of
the present invention. For example, it is envisaged that tobacco plants may be
genetically engineered or crossbred to increase or decrease production of
components,
characteristics or attributes.
In some embodiments, the tobacco material is selected from the leaves, stems,
stalks of
the plant, and various combinations of these parts. The tobacco material used
to form
the tobacco extracts may thus comprise an entire plant or any portion of a
plant of the
Nicotiana species.
Delivery systems
As used herein, non-combustible aerosol provision systems are 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 is
one where a constituent aerosol-generating 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.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 10 -
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 50 wt%, 6o wt% or 70
wt%
io of amorphous solid, to about go wt%, 95 wt% or loo wt% 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. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating
material
comprises the tobacco extract and solvent.
In some embodiments, the delivery system is 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 aerosol-generating material.
The
solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-
tobacco product.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 11 -
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition is included in the
aerosol-
generating material. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a
solid,
liquid or gel.
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition according to the present
disclosure is included in the aerosol-generating material in the form of a
flavourant, a
casing or a combination thereof, or in the form of reconstituted tobacco which
includes
the tobacco flavour composition.
Where the tobacco flavour composition is included in a liquid aerosol-
generating
material, the tobacco flavour composition may be mixed with further liquid
components, optionally including those conventionally used in non-combustible
aerosol provision systems such as e-cigarettes and hybrid devices. Where the
tobacco flavour composition includes a solvent to dilute the tobacco flavour
components, the solvent may be added to the tobacco flavour composition before
addition to the further liquid components or they may be added separately.
Where the tobacco flavour composition includes a solvent to dilute the tobacco
flavour compounds and the flavour composition is included in a solid or gel
aerosol-generating material, the solvent is, in some embodiments, added to the
tobacco flavour composition before the tobacco flavour composition is added to
the
other components of the aerosol-generating material.
The tobacco flavour composition may, in some embodiments, be added to the
solid
or gel material by application onto the surface of the solid or gel material,
for
example by being sprayed onto the solid or gel material. In some embodiments,
the solid or gel aerosol-generating material may be impregnated with the
tobacco
flavour composition, for example by injecting the tobacco flavour composition
into
the solid or gel aerosol-generating material, or by co-processing the
components of
the solid or gel aerosol-generating material and tobacco flavour composition.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises tobacco and the
tobacco flavour composition may be included within a flavour or casing
formulation for
application to a tobacco or within a top dressing formulation. Alternatively,
the tobacco
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 12 -
flavour composition may be included as an ingredient of a reconstituted
tobacco
material.
In some embodiments, the tobacco flavour composition is included in the
aerosol-
generating material in a suitable amount depending on the desired function of
the
tobacco flavour composition, the chemical composition of the flavour
composition and
the type of aerosol-generating material to which the flavour composition is
added. In
some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises the tobacco
flavour
composition in an amount of from about o.000t% to about 10% of the aerosol-
/0 generating material based on the total dry weight of the aerosol-
generating material to
which the flavour composition is added. In some embodiments, the aerosol-
generating
material comprises the tobacco flavour composition in an amount of from about
0.01%
to about 1% by weight of the aerosol-generating material based on the total
dry weight
of the aerosol-generating material to which the flavour composition is added.
In some
embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises the tobacco flavour
composition in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the
aerosol-
generating material based on the total dry weight of aerosol-generating
material to
which the flavour composition is added. The tobacco flavour compositions
referred to
herein may comprise a solvent, if appropriate, and the amounts may then refer
to the
composition including the solvent.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material further comprises an
aerosol-former 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 glycerine, 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.
In some embodiments where the tobacco flavour composition is soluble in an
aerosol-
former material, the aerosol-former material may be used as the solvent or one
of the
solvents for diluting the tobacco extract.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 13 -
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 articles
throughout the disclosure.
/o 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.
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a tobacco heating
product for
heating an aerosol-generating material. The apparatus ii has a heating chamber
14
which in use contains the aerosol-generating material to be heated and
volatilised. In
this embodiment, the aerosol-generating material is a monolithic form 13. The
aerosol-
generating material could however be multiple particles of aerosol-generating
material
held in the heating chamber or provided in a cartridge.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 14 -
The apparatus ii of Figure 1 further has an electronics/power chamber 16 which
may,
for example, contain electrical control circuitry and/or a power source (not
shown).
The electrical control circuitry may include a controller, such as a
microprocessor
arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-
generating
material via a heating element (not shown). The electrical control circuitry
may in use
receive a signal from for example a puff-actuated sensor which is sensitive to
for
example changes in pressure or changes in rate of air flow that occur upon
initiation of
a draw on the apparatus ii by a user. The electrical control circuitry can
then operate
so as to cause heating of the aerosol-generating material "on demand". Various
io arrangements for a puff-actuated sensor are available, including for
example a
thermistor, an electro-mechanical device, a mechanical device, an optical
device, an
opto-mechanical device and a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) based
sensor.
As an alternative, the apparatus may have a manually operable switch for a
user to
initiate a puff.
The heating chamber 14 is contained within the housing 12. There may be a
support
and/or insulating means (not shown) positioned between the heating chamber 14
and
the housing 12, for example to assist in heat-insulating the housing 12 from
the heating
chamber 14, so that the housing 12 does not become hot or at least too hot to
touch
during use.
The housing 12 includes an inlet 15 through which air is drawn into the
apparatus. The
housing 12 also includes an outlet 17 at a mouthpiece 18 of the apparatus ii.
Air is
drawn into the apparatus ii through the inlet 15, travels through the
apparatus picking
up the active substance and other volatile constituents released by the
aerosol-
generating material 13, and the resulting aerosol generated by the apparatus
ii leaves
the apparatus ii through the outlet 19 and is inhaled by the user.
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a hybrid product for
heating an
aerosol-generating material and a liquid. The apparatus 21 has a housing 22
containing a chamber 24 which in use contains the aerosol-generating material
to be
heated and volatilised. In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating material is
in a
monolithic form 23. The aerosol-generating material could however be multiple
particles of aerosol-generating material held in the chamber or provided in a
cartridge.
The housing 22 also contains a liquid reservoir 25 containing a liquid 26 to
be heated
to form a vapour.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 15 -
The apparatus 21 further has an electronics/power chamber 27 which may, for
example, contain electrical control circuitry and/or a power source (not
shown). The
electrical control circuitry may include a controller, such as a
microprocessor
arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-
generating
material and of the liquid 26 via one or more heating elements (not shown).
The
electrical control circuitry may allow the apparatus 21 to be puff-actuated,
so as to
cause heating of the aerosol-generating material "on demand". As an
alternative, the
apparatus 22 may have a manually operable switch for a user to initiate a
puff.
The housing 22 also includes an inlet 28 through which air is drawn into the
apparatus. The housing 22 also includes an outlet 29 at a mouthpiece 30 of the
apparatus 21. Air is drawn into the apparatus 21 through the inlet 28, travels
through
the apparatus picking up the vapour created by heating the liquid 26 in the
liquid
reservoir 25, and active substance(s) and volatile component released by the
aerosol-
generating material 23, and the resulting aerosol generated by the apparatus
21 leaves
the apparatus 21 through the outlet 29 and is inhaled by the user.
The hybrid device 21 shown schematically in Figure 2 represents just one
possible
configuration of such an apparatus. The relative positions of the liquid
reservoir 25
and the aerosol-generating material chamber 24 can be changed, as can the path
of the
air flowing through the apparatus.
In one embodiment, the liquid reservoir is positioned upstream of the aerosol-
generating material to be volatilised. Alternatively, the liquid reservoir may
be
positioned downstream of the aerosol-generating material to be volatilised. In
a yet
further arrangement, the two sources of aerosol in the apparatus may be
arranged side-
by-side, etc.
In some embodiments, the vapour produced by heating the liquid in the liquid
reservoir
flows over or through the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments,
the
elevated temperature of the vapour causes the active substance and volatile
components to be released. Alternatively or in addition, the aerosol-
generating
material may be separately heated by a heating means.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 16 -
In some embodiments, a hybrid device is provided in which the vapour created
by
heating a liquid heats the aerosol-generating material in order to volatilise
at least one
component of the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the liquid
is a
nicotine-free liquid. In other embodiments, the liquid contains nicotine.
Where the
aerosol-generating material is heated by the vapour to volatilise at least one
component
of the aerosol-generating material, in certain embodiments the device does not
include
a separate means for heating the aerosol-generating material.
In other embodiments, the vapour produced by heating the liquid in the liquid
reservoir does not flows over or through the aerosol-generating material.
Rather, this
vapour and the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol-generating material
only mix
after they are both formed.
The tobacco heating products and hybrid products described herein may, in some
embodiments, include containers or cartridges containing the aerosol-
generating
material. These containers or cartridges may be removable. They may replace
both the
chamber holding the aerosol-generating material and the aerosol-generating
material
in the apparatus described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and in the
alternative embodiments discussed.
Examples
Aerosol-generating materials according to the present disclosure were prepared
and
used in non-combustible aerosol provision systems, namely in a Tobacco Heating
Product (THP) and in a vapour product (an e-cigarette).
A tobacco flavour composition was prepared from tobacco material by solvent
extraction and molecular distillation, producing a first fraction of volatile
tobacco
compounds having a boiling point of less than 200 C at atmospheric pressure,
and a
second fraction of semi-volatile tobacco compounds having a boiling point
between 200
and 250 C at atmospheric pressure. The composition was enriched with volatile
and
semi-volatile tobacco compounds to the extent that the extract had to be
diluted in
propylene glycol before use in a delivery system. Two different dilutions were
tested,
including 0.01% w/w and 0.1% w/w tobacco extract in PG.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
WO 2021/260359
PCT/GB2021/051574
- 17 -
For inclusion in a THP, the diluted extract samples were sprayed onto a base
of
reconstituted tobacco material, in a similar manner to how top flavours are
added to
reconstituted tobacco prior to manufacture of sticks and consumables.
The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in
understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are
provided as
a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or
exclusive.
It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features,
structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered
limitations
io on the scope of the invention 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 claimed invention. Various
embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially
of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features,
parts,
steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In
addition, this
disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may
be
claimed in future.
CA 03173498 2022- 9- 26
