Inhaler

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an inhaler component for producing a steam/air mixture or/and condensation aerosol in an intermittent and inhalation- or pull-synchronous manner, the inhaler component including: a housing; a chamber arranged in the housing; an air inlet opening for the supply of air from the surroundings to the chamber; an electrical heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material; and a wick having a capillary structure, which wick forms a composite structure with the heating element and automatically supplies the heating element with fresh liquid material after evaporation.

1 . An inhalator for the intermittent formation, synchronous with inhalation or drawing, of at least one of a vapor-air mixture or a condensation aerosol, the inhalator comprising:
 a reusable inhalator part for use with an inhalator component, wherein the inhalator component comprises:
 a housing, 
 a chamber arranged in the housing, 
 an air admission opening for the supply of air from the surroundings to the chamber, 
 an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material, wherein a vapor which is formed is mixed in the chamber with the air supplied through the air admission opening, and the at least one of the vapor-air mixture or the condensation aerosol is formed; 
   wherein the reusable inhalator part comprises:
 at least one energy store and an integrated switching circuit, wherein the integrated switching circuit is configured to carry out the control operations of the inhalator, and wherein the integrated switching circuit is configured to receive identification information related to one or more of:
 the inhalator component, 
 the liquid material present in the inhalator component, 
 a user of the inhalator, or 
 a misuse of the inhalator component. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the identification information is derived from the inhalator component. 
     
     
         3 . The inhalator of  claim 2 , wherein the identification information is derived by measuring a resistance of the electric heating element, or by reading information from an identification chip on the inhalator component. 
     
     
         4 . The inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the identification information is derived from the reusable inhalator part. 
     
     
         5 . The inhalator of  claim 4 , wherein the identification information is biometric information from the user. 
     
     
         6 . The inhalator of  claim 5 , wherein the biometric information comprises a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The inhalator of  claim 4 , wherein the inhalator component comprises a touch display. 
     
     
         8 . The inhalator of  claim 7 , wherein the identification information is generated by the user inputting a code into the touch display. 
     
     
         9 . The inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated switching circuit is configured to prevent unauthorized use of the inhalator component based on the identification information. 
     
     
         10 . The inhalator of  claim 9 , wherein the unauthorized use is unauthorized use by a third party. 
     
     
         11 . The inhalator of  claim 9 , wherein the unauthorized use is use beyond a pre-defined changeover interval. 
     
     
         12 . The inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated switching circuit is configured to select operating parameters of the inhalator based on the identification information. 
     
     
         13 . The inhalator of  claim 1 , further comprising the inhalator component. 
     
     
         14 . An inhalator for the intermittent formation, synchronous with inhalation or drawing, of at least one of a vapor-air mixture or a condensation aerosol, the inhalator comprising:
 a reusable inhalator part for use with an inhalator component, wherein the inhalator component comprises:
 a housing, 
 a chamber arranged in the housing, 
 an air admission opening for a supply of air from the surroundings to the chamber, 
 an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material, wherein a vapor which is formed is mixed in the chamber with the air supplied through the air admission opening, and the at least one of the vapor-air mixture or the condensation aerosol is formed; 
   wherein the reusable inhalator component comprises:
 at least one energy store and an integrated switching circuit, and 
 a data interface. 
   
     
     
         15 . The inhalator of  claim 14 , wherein the data interface is a USB data interface or a Bluetooth data interface. 
     
     
         16 . The inhalator of  claim 14 , wherein the data interface is configured to facilitate firmware updates and software updates, diagnosis of functions, and reading of information relating to a dose of the liquid material administered. 
     
     
         17 . An inhalator component comprising:
 a housing;   a chamber arranged in the housing;   an air admission opening for a supply of air from the surroundings to the chamber;   an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material, wherein a vapor which is formed is mixed in the chamber with the air supplied through the air admission opening, and at least one of a vapor-air mixture or a condensation aerosol is formed; and   an identification means.   
     
     
         18 . The inhalator component of  claim 17 , wherein the identification means is configured to contain identification information relating to the liquid material. 
     
     
         19 . The inhalator component of  claim 17 , wherein the identification means is an identification chip.