Wick

Abstract

A wick is provided that is suitable for an electronic nicotine delivery system. The wick is permeable and is formed from a sintered metal powder.

1 . A wick for an electronic nicotine delivery system, wherein the wick is formed from a sintered metal powder, and wherein the wick is permeable. 
     
     
         2 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick has a bubble test pore size of 5 μm or greater. 
     
     
         3 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick has a bubble test pore size of 100 μm or less. 
     
     
         4 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein a porosity of the wick is substantially uniform throughout the wick. 
     
     
         5 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick consists of sintered metal powder. 
     
     
         6 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the wick has an elongate form. 
     
     
         7 . The wick according to  claim 6 , wherein the wick is suitable for transporting a nicotine-containing solution along its length. 
     
     
         8 . The wick according to  claim 6 , wherein the wick has a length of between 10 mm and 25 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the sintered metal powder comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a wick for an electronic nicotine delivery system, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming a green body of metal powder; and   sintering the green body to form the wick, wherein the wick is permeable.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic nicotine delivery device comprising:
 a housing, wherein the housing is connectable to a mouthpiece;   a heater within the housing;   a wick within the housing, wherein the heater is arranged and configured to provide heat to the wick, and wherein the wick is configured to extend between the heater and a reservoir containing fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the heater is arranged around the wick. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir contains a nicotine-containing solution. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising the mouthpiece, wherein the housing is connected to the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is integrated with the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The wick according to  claim 1 , wherein the sintered metal powder comprises steel, iron, silver, copper, gold, platinum, tungsten, titanium, aluminium, vanadium, niobium, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The wick according to  claim 9 , wherein the stainless steel comprises 316L stainless steel.