AN EXCITATION DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRONIC INHALER, A METHOD OF ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLING AN EXCITATION DEVICE OF AN ELECTRONIC INHALER, AND AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREFOR

摘要

An excitation device for an electronic inhaler is disclosed. The excitation device is designed to be disposable and is pre-dosed with an amount of a formulation including nicotine which is to be at least partially aerosolised by an excitation device when supplied with an excitation energy. The excitation device consists of a substrate material to one side of which is fixedly applied an excitation means comprising one or more contact portions by means of which an appropriate energy source can be connected and at least one excitation element over which the said amount of formulation is applied, said one or more contact portions being connected or otherwise in communication with said at least one excitation element such that energy received through the one or more contact portions is communicated to the at least one excitation element causing sufficient excitement to cause at least partially aerosolisation of any formulation extant thereon. In accordance with the invention, the formulation is disposed and applied over only the excitation element, as opposed to the contact portions, so as to be in direct physical contact therewith such that at least one measurable physical property of the excitation element, usually an electrical property such as resistance when the excitation element is electrically powered, is modulated to at least some degree by virtue of said direct physical contact so that measuring the physical characteristic provides an indication of the remaining volume of formulation extant on the excitation element. Both the substrate and the at least one excitation element are substantially chemically inert as regards the formulation so that the chemistry of the formulation is not changed between successive excitations. A method of electronically controlling such excitation device of an electronic inhaler, and an electronic control circuit therefor, are also disclosed.