Abstract:
The invention relates to an inhaler component for forming a vapor/air mixture or/and condensation aerosol by evaporation of a liquid material and, if appropriate, condensation of the formed vapor, comprising: an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of the liquid material; a wick with a capillary structure, which wick forms a composite with the heating element and automatically supplies the heating element with the liquid material; a carrier plate, preferably a printed circuit board, which carries the composite and on which the heating element is electrically contacted; a capillary gap formed at least partially by the carrier plate and automatically supplying the composite with the liquid material, by means of an end portion of the wick extending into the capillary gap; a liquid container which contains the liquid material and from which the capillary gap draws the liquid material. In order to achieve a compact overall arrangement, it is proposed that the capillary gap at least partially covers the liquid container on the outside, in a view perpendicular to the carrier plate.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/235,210 filed Mar. 4, 2014, which in turn is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2012/003103 filed Jul. 24, 2012, which claims the benefit of AT Application No. A 1095/2011 filed Jul. 27, 2011, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention concerns an inhaler component for forming a vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol by evaporation of a liquid material and optionally condensation of the formed vapor, comprising: an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of the liquid material; a wick with a capillary structure, which wick forms a composite with the heating element and automatically supplies the heating element with the liquid material; a carrier plate, preferably a printed circuit board, which carries the composite and on which the heating element is electrically contacted; a capillary gap formed at least partly by the carrier plate, for the automatic supplying of the composite with the liquid material, while one end portion of the wick extends into the capillary gap; a liquid container containing the liquid material, from which the capillary gap draws the liquid material. 
       DEFINITION OF TERMS 
       [0003]    In the present patent application, the term “inhaler” pertains to medical and nonmedical inhalers. Moreover, the term pertains to inhalers for the administering of pharmaceuticals and substances which have not been declared to be pharmaceuticals. The term furthermore pertains to smoking articles and cigarette replacement articles, such as are contained in European patent class A24F47/00B, insofar as these are intended to provide the user with a vapor/air mixture and/or a condensation aerosol. Nor should the term “inhaler” be subjected to any limitations in regard to how the formed vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol is supplied to the user or his body. The vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol can be inhaled into the lungs, but also supplied only to the oral cavity—without inhalation into the lungs. 
         [0004]    By “capillary gap” is meant any gap which brings about a transport of liquid solely by virtue of the capillary effect of its boundary walls. Wicks, jacketed wicks, or channels filled with wick material are not capillary gaps. 
         [0005]    The use of the singular “composite” does not exclude the presence of several composites. The invention explicitly includes arrangements with several composites. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0006]    WO 2010/045671 (Helmut Buchberger) specifies an inhaler component for the intermittent, inhalation-synchronized or draught-synchronized formation of a vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol, consisting of ( FIGS. 9-12  and  FIGS. 17-18 ) a housing 3, a chamber 21 arranged in the housing 3, an air inlet opening 26 for the supply of air from the surroundings into the chamber 21, an electric heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material 16, wherein the formed vapor mixes in the chamber 21 with the air taken in through the air inlet opening 26, and the vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol is formed. The inhaler component further comprises a wick with a capillary structure, which wick forms a sheetlike composite 22 with the heating element and automatically resupplies the heating element with the liquid material 16 after an evaporation. The sheetlike composite 22 rests by two end segments on two electrically conducting platelike contacts 23, on whose surface the heating element is electrically contacted at the same time. The platelike contacts can alternatively be formed also by printed circuit boards or a shared printed circuit board. At least one heated section of the sheetlike composite 22 is arranged in the chamber 21 contact-free, and the capillary structure of the wick lies largely free in said section at least on one side 24 of the sheetlike composite. The sheetlike composite 22 or its wick extends by one end into a capillary gap 41, which for its part is or can be capillary coupled to a liquid container 4 containing the liquid material 16. The liquid container 4 has a closure 18 which can be opened and which is still closed before use. The closure 18 can be opened manually by a user, whereupon the liquid material 16 floods a reservoir 45 and wets the capillary gap 41. The capillary gap 41 draws the liquid material 16 out from the liquid container 4 or reservoir 45 and transports it to the composite 22. The capillary gap 41 is formed essentially by one of the two platelike contacts 23 and a top part 42 which is placed on them in a sheetlike manner. Furthermore, a vent channel 52 is fashioned in the platelike contact 23, which connects the reservoir 45 or the liquid container 4 to the chamber 21. The vent channel 52 brings about a pressure equalization, in that each portion of liquid material 16 getting into the capillary gap 41 is replaced immediately by an equal volume of air. 
         [0007]    The liquid container 4 in the view according to  FIG. 9  is arranged above the platelike contacts 23 carrying the composite 22. This arrangement proves to be definitely space-consuming and means that the dimensions of the inhaler component are relatively large. A further drawback is the fact that the capillary gap 41 is very limited in its surface coverage, inasmuch as a partial vacuum occurs when the capillary gap is in the vertical position due to the weight of the liquid column in the reservoir 45 that is acting on it, which needs to be compensated by the capillarity of the vent channel 52. But if the capillarity of the vent channel 52 is no longer enough to maintain equilibrium, the entire liquid material 16 in the liquid container 4 is liable to run out through the capillary gap 41. Especially when several composites are arranged next to each other (see  FIG. 29 ), and/or when the wick is supposed to be infiltrated by two end segments that are spaced apart from each other, a correspondingly large surface coverage of the capillary gap 41 is required, which can hardly be realized with the above-described arrangement of WO 2010/045671 on account of the effects pointed out. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The problem of the invention is to eliminate the above-indicated disadvantages of the arrangement known from the prior art. In particular, the problem of the invention is to configure an inhaler component of the kind described above so that a relatively compact overall arrangement can be accomplished with a correspondingly small structural volume. Moreover, it should also be possible to provide capillary gaps with a larger surface coverage. 
         [0009]    The problem is solved by the characterizing features of patent claim  1 . Accordingly, it is provided that the capillary gap at least partially covers the liquid container on the outside, in a view perpendicular to the carrier plate. In the sense of the present invention, it also counts as “covering” when yet other components are arranged between the capillary gap and the liquid container. If one considers the fact that the components forming the capillary gap require but little space vertically to the carrier plate, it will be appreciated that the arrangement of the invention can save on structural space. 
         [0010]    In one modification of the invention, the composite at least partially covers the liquid container on the outside, in a view perpendicular to the carrier plate. In the sense of the present invention, it also counts as “covering” when yet other components are arranged between the composite and the liquid container. If one considers the fact that the composite is generally a relatively thin structure, it will be clear that this further covering can save on structural space even more. 
         [0011]    In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier plate is mounted for at least a section on the liquid container. Thus, the liquid container and the carrier plate are arranged in a stack. It is especially advantageous in terms of design for the liquid container to have essentially the shape of a cuboid, and the carrier plate is mounted for at least a section on one side surface of the cuboid. In this way, the available structural space can be utilized optimally. The carrier plate preferably consists of a printed circuit board, especially a so-called multilayer printed circuit board. In this way, the printed tracks carrying electric heating current to and from can be divided among several layers, so that even very large heating currents can be transported mostly free of loss. 
         [0012]    The invention furthermore involves an inhaler comprising an inhaler component according to the invention, as described above. Thus, the inhaler component can also be only one part, especially an interchangeable part, of an inhaler. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention will now be explained more closely by means of a sample embodiment according to the drawings. There are shown: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1 , an inhaler according to the invention in different views; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2 , the inhaler of  FIG. 1  with a reusable inhaler part and an interchangeable inhaler component in the decoupled state; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , the interchangeable inhaler component in different views; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , 4 d  and 4 e   , sectional views of the interchangeable inhaler component along line A-A in  FIG. 3 b    in different assembly states; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5 , feature a from  FIG. 4 a    in a magnified representation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6 , feature b from  FIG. 4 b    in a magnified representation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7 , a carrier plate configured as a multilayer printed circuit board; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8 , a sectional view of the interchangeable inhaler component along line B-B in  FIG. 3   b;    
           [0022]      FIG. 9 , feature c from  FIG. 8  in a magnified representation; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10 , a sectional view of the interchangeable inhaler component at the height of the composite along line C-C in  FIG. 3 . b.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an inhaler according to the invention, whose shape and size are such that the inhaler can be handled easily and conveniently by users. In terms of volume, the inhaler is only around half the size of a cigarette pack. The example of the inhaler depicted consists essentially of two parts, namely, an inhaler part  1  and an inhaler component  2 . 
         [0025]    The inhaler component  2  consists of a housing  3 , which [has] a mouthpiece  4  similar to a tobacco pipe formed at one end face. The housing  3  is preferably made of plastic. The inhaler component  2  contains a liquid material, which is electrically evaporated inside the housing  3  and converted into an inhalable vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol. The formed vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol is presented to the user through the mouthpiece  4 . Essentially, all substances and preparations can be considered as the liquid material that evaporate mostly free of residue under atmospheric conditions This condition is also fulfilled when the particular substance or preparation is present in diluted form, such as dissolved in water and/or ethanol, and the solution evaporates largely free of residue. Thanks to a sufficiently high dilution in an easily volatile solvent such as water and/or ethanol, even hard to evaporate substances can also fulfill the above given condition, and avoid or substantially reduce a thermal decomposition of the liquid material. 
         [0026]    The aerosol particles produced by condensation generally have a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of less than 2 μm and therefore also reach the alveoli. The inhaler according to the invention is especially suitable for administration of substances with systemic action—especially active substances which display their principal effect in the central nervous system. As an example, one can mention nicotine, whose boiling point is 246 degrees C. The aerosol particles containing nicotine are deposited primarily in the bronchi and alveoli, where the active substance instantly passes into the blood stream. A few seconds later the nicotine reaches the brain in targeted concentration and can display the known effects there. 
         [0027]    The inhaler part  1  consists of a main housing  5 , which again is preferably made of plastic. The main housing  5  contains at least one battery  6  and an electrical circuit  7  (shown by dotted lines in  FIG. 1 ) with switch  7   a . The battery  6  and the electrical circuit  7  provide the necessary electrical energy for the evaporation of the liquid material. The battery  6  preferably consists of a rechargeable battery, such as the type CGR18650K from Panasonic, www.industrial.panasonic.com. This is a cylindrical lithium ion cell of size 18650 with a storage capacity of 1650 mAh and a current capacity up to 30 A. Comparable cells are also manufactured in large numbers by other manufacturers, such as Sony, Samsung, LG Chem. 
         [0028]    As shown by  FIG. 2 , the inhaler part  1  and the inhaler component  2  can be separated from each other in the specific sample embodiment. This arrangement makes the inhaler part  1  reusable, which is basically advisable when one considers that, first, the inhaler part  1  does not come in contact with the liquid material, i.e., it is not contaminated with the liquid material, and second, it contains components which are more long-lived than the parts of the inhaler component  2 . The inhaler component  2 , after the liquid material has been consumed, is properly disposed of by the user in its entirety and replaced by a new inhaler component  2 . Thus, the inhaler component  2  constitutes a disposable, interchangeable article. A proper disposal is especially warranted when the liquid material contains pharmaceuticals or toxins such as nicotine. Essentially, of course, it would also be conceivable to make the inhaler part  1  and the inhaler component  2  as a single piece, i.e., inseparable from each other. However, this embodiment would be less economical, because in this case all parts and components of the inhaler, i.e., the inhaler as a whole, forms a disposable article for onetime use. Of course, the present invention also encompasses this embodiment, and in this case the entire inhaler is to be seen as the inhaler component. 
         [0029]    The mechanical coupling between the interchangeable inhaler component  2  and the reusable inhaler part  1  is by insertion tongues  8   a  and guide tabs  9   a  formed by the housing  3 , which fit into corresponding insert sockets  8   b  and guide slots  9   b  formed by the main housing  5  of the reusable inhaler part  1 . The insert tongues  8   a  and insert sockets  8   b  at the same time serve to channel the electrical energy into the interchangeable inhaler component  2  for evaporation of the liquid material, as will be shown in further detail below. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    show different views of the interchangeable inhaler component  2 .  FIGS. 4-9  give further insight into the interior construction of the inhaler component  2 . Accordingly, the housing  3  of the inhaler component  2  has an essentially rectangular shape. Inside the rectangular housing  3  are the essential components for forming the vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol. These include in particular the composites  10 , which bring about the evaporation of the liquid material. In the specific sample embodiment, there are six composites  10  arranged next to one another, and the composites have a sheetlike shape. The sheetlike composites  10  each consist of a wick and an electrical heating element, which are joined together or integrated in each other in sheetlike manner. For example, the sheetlike composites  10  can be formed by a metal foil and metal weave layers sintered thereupon. Instead of the metal weave, open-pore metal foams can also be used. The open-pore capillary structure of the weave layers sintered on the metal foil or the metal foam form the wick, and the electrical resistance of the metal forms the heating element. Suitable metallic resistance materials are, for example, refined steels such as AISI 304 or AISI 316, as well as heatsealing band alloys, especially NiCr alloys. The manufacture of such sheetlike composites  10  is prior art and is disclosed in detail, for example, in the already cited WO 2010/045671 (Helmut Buchberger). 
         [0031]    As is best shown by  FIG. 4 b    and  FIG. 7 , the sheetlike composites  10  are mounted by two end segments  10   a ,  10   b  on a carrier plate  11 . The carrier plate  11  has a large recess  12 , which the composites  10  span with no contact. In the specific sample embodiment, the carrier plate  11  is configured as a printed circuit board, especially a multilayer printed circuit board. Basically all known circuit board materials are suitable as the material for the circuit board  11 , especially material types FR1 to FR5. The sheetlike composites  10  are electrically contacted in the region of the end segments  10   a ,  10   b  on printed conductor tracks  13  of the circuit board  11 . In  FIG. 7 , the conductor tracks  13  are represented as dark areas. In the case of the above-mentioned metal foil composites, the electrical contacting occurs preferably by a soldering at the foil side, optionally after pretreatment with a suitable flux. Special steels of material grades AISI 304 and AISI 316 can be soldered with no problem using a solder concentrate with the brand name “50505-Nirosta” from Stannol GmbH, www.stannol.de, for example. Alternatively, the electrical contacting can consist of a glue connection by means of an electrically conducting adhesive, such as an epoxy-based glue containing silver. The placement of the sheetlike composites  10  on the printed circuit board  11  and their contacting are done fully automatic, in which methods of the printed circuit industry can be used, which methods are also suitable for a mass production. 
         [0032]    The printed circuit board  11  protrudes from the housing  3  in the form of the already mentioned insertion tongues  8   a . The two insertion tongues  8   a  serve to channel the electrical energy into the inhaler component  2 . The electrical energy is supplied to the composites  10  via the conductor tracks  13 . In  FIG. 7 , the conductor tracks  13  are arranged on both the front side  11   a  and the back side  11   b  of the circuit board  11 , where the front side  11   a  is the mounting side, that is, the side on which the composites  10  are contacted. Additional conductor tracks can also be arranged optionally in intermediate layers. The individual conductor track layers are advisedly joined together by means of so-called through contact points of the prior art. Moreover, the current flow is represented in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, in the specific example, each time three composites  10  are hooked up in series. In this way, one can influence the resulting heating resistance and thus the heating power and rate of evaporation within certain limits. It can also be provided that the individual electrical resistances of the six composites  10  are of different magnitude, for example, by varying the thickness of the metal foil. In this way, one can also make the evaporation process dependent on location, as in a cigarette. 
         [0033]    On the front side  11   a  of the printed circuit board  11  is placed an essentially platelike upper part  14 , preferably consisting of plastic (see  FIG. 4 c    and  FIG. 8-10 ). The upper part  14  has a recess  15 , which in terms of size and arrangement correlates with the recess  12  in the circuit board  11 . In the simplest case, the upper part  14  rests directly on the end segments  10   a ,  10   b  of the sheetlike composites  10 . In this way, the upper part  14  together with the circuit board  11  forms a capillary gap  16 , whose clear width or gap width corresponds essentially to the thickness of the sheetlike composites  10  (see  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ). Typically, the gap width is 0.2 mm. In  FIG. 4 d   , the surface coverage of the capillary gap  16  is shown as a dark surface. The upper part  14  is fastened to the circuit board  11  by a glue connection, specifically, by two o projections  14   a ,  14   b  and by a support bracket  17 . 
         [0034]    The circuit board  11  rests by its back side  11   b  on a liquid container  19  containing the liquid material  18  (see  FIG. 4 a   / 4   b ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 10 ). The liquid container  19  or its wall is formed by the housing  3  and has a rectangular shape. The circuit board  11  is preferably fastened by means of a glue connection to the wall of the liquid container. The filling of the liquid container  19  with the liquid material  18  is done at the factory at the end of the manufacturing process, preferably through a small hole in the container wall (not shown) in a fully automatic process using a cannula and a dispensing unit. The hole is sealed after the filling, for example, it is melted shut, and the entire inhaler component  2  is packed air tight. 
         [0035]    The liquid container  19  has at its lower end two closely arranged openings—the supply opening  20  and the vent opening  21  (see  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 9 ). The supply opening  20  corresponds with an admission opening  22  that is formed by the edge of the printed circuit board  11  and a shoulder  23  of the wall of the liquid container (see  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 9 ). The shoulder  23  at the same time forms an end stop for the upper part  14 . For stiffness, the shoulder  23  is braced by a web  24  against the housing  3 . The supplying of the capillary gap  16  with the liquid material  18  occurs via the supply opening  20  and the admission opening  22  and is driven by the capillary forces working in the capillary gap  16 . In order for these capillary forces to work at all, it is necessary for the liquid material  18  to thoroughly wet all exposed surfaces. To ensure this, the affected parts—namely, the liquid container  19 , the printed circuit board  11  and composites  10  and the upper part  14 —must be made hydrophilic in a suitable process even before the assembly process. Suitable processes are hydrophilization in oxygen plasma and hydrophilization by means of plasma polymerization. Both processes are offered in the course of contract manufacture by the firm Diener electronic GmbH u. Co. KG, www.plasma.de, for example. The mentioned firm is furthermore also capable of planning and constructing suitable customer-specific plants for a mass production. 
         [0036]    The vent opening  21  corresponds with a vent groove  25  worked into the printed circuit board  11 , which communicates in turn via the recess  12  with an inner space standing at atmospheric pressure. The vent opening  21  and the vent groove  25  bring about a pressure equalization, so that each portion of liquid material  18  that arrives in the capillary gap  16  is immediately replaced by an equal-volume portion of air. 
         [0037]    The overlapping arrangement of the printed circuit board  11  and the liquid container  19 , as well as the above-described arrangement of the supply opening  20 , the admission opening  22  and the vent opening  21 , make it possible to assure a relatively large capillary gap surface, which is necessary when several composites  10  alongside each other need to be supplied with the liquid material  18 . The danger of liquid material  18  escaping at any site due to the action of gravity can be largely prevented. In the vertical position of the inhaler component  2  shown in  FIG. 8  (an arrow shows the direction of gravity), approximate atmospheric pressure prevails in the vent opening  21 , since the capillary gap  16  does not expand further at the bottom in relation to the admission opening  22  (see  FIG. 4 d   ). When the inhaler component  2  is placed on its head (the mouthpiece  4  is pointing downward), the liquid column in the capillary gap  16  can induce a partial vacuum, but this cannot act backwards on the liquid material  18  in the liquid container  19 , because an air cushion in the liquid container  19  interrupts the capillary coupling. When the liquid container  19  is being filled at the factory, it is only necessary to pay attention so that a small air volume  26  remains to form the air cushion in the container. 
         [0038]    Before discussing in greater detail the mode of operation of the inhaler according to the invention, some further parts of the inhaler component  2  shall be described below. Even though these parts might not be immediately relevant to the invention, their description will help better understand the functioning of the invented inhaler component as a whole, and guarantee even more the implementability of the invention: between the upper part  14  and the housing  3  are arranged two open-pore absorbent sponges  27   a ,  27   b  (see  FIG. 4 e    and  FIG. 10 ). The space between the sponges together with the recess  15  forms a chamber  28  (also see  FIG. 8 ), in which the actual formation of the vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol takes place. The sponges  27   a ,  27   b  take up in their pores the condensate deposits formed from the vapor phase and prevent freely movable condensate build-up in the inhaler component  2 , which might impair the function of the inhaler component. Such condensate build-up could also represent a problem from a hygiene standpoint, if it could get into the oral cavity of the user through the mouthpiece  4 . The sponges  27   a ,  27   b  preferably consist of a fine-pore fiber composite. The firm Filtrona Fibertec GmbH, www.filtronafibertec.com, specializes in the production of such fiber composites, in which both cellulose acetate fibers bound by means of triacetin and thermally bound polyolefin and polyester fibers are processed. 
         [0039]    The sponges  27   a ,  27   b  rest on angle profiles  29   a ,  29   b  formed by a U-shaped carrier  29  (see  FIG. 4 e    and  FIG. 10 ). The carrier  29  is joined to the upper part  14  by a glue connection. The carrier  29  and the angle profiles  29   a ,  29   b  preferably consist of a hydrophobic plastic. The hydrophobic material acts like a liquid barrier and makes sure that no liquid material  18  can get to the sponges  27   a ,  27   b  by capillary effects. In the leg  29   c  which joins the angle profiles  29   a ,  29   b , an indentation  30  is worked into the side facing the upper part  14 , which together with the upper part  14  forms an air nozzle  31  (see  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ). The air nozzle  31 , as presented in greater detail below, serves to bring ambient air into the chamber  28 . So that condensate build-up does not block the air nozzle  31 , it is recommended to glue a thin hydrophobic adhesive tape (not shown) onto the upper part  14  in the area of the air nozzle  31 . 
         [0040]    The supply of ambient air to the inhaler component  2  to form the vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol occurs through an intake snorkel  32  formed by the housing  3  (see  FIG. 3 a   / 3   b  and  FIG. 8 ). The intake snorkel  32  is arranged on the side of the inhaler component  2  opposite the mouthpiece  4 . This position best protects against entry of rain water. In the coupled state, the intake snorkel  32  of the inhaler component  2  protrudes through a hole  33  formed by the main housing  5  of the inhaler part  1  (see  FIG. 2 ). A flow throttle  34  is located in the intake snorkel  32 . The flow throttle  34  has the purpose of creating a flow resistance, which is similar to that of a cigarette, so that the user in drawing on it experiences a similar drawing resistance as when drawing on a cigarette. Specifically, the flow resistance for a flow rate of 1.05 L/min should lie in the range of 8 to 16 mbar and have the most linear possible characteristic. The flow throttle  34  is required when the formed vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol is supposed to be furnished as in a cigarette, namely, by drawing it into the oral cavity (draught volume: around 20 to 80 mL), optionally followed by inhaling into the lungs. This mode of operation is primarily recommended when the liquid material  18  contains nicotine. However, the flow throttle  34  is eliminated when the inhaler is supposed to provide a direct lung inhalation in a single step, as is the case with most medical inhalers. The flow throttle  34  preferably consists of a fiber composite similar to a cigarette filter, the density of the material being attuned to the aforementioned flow characteristic. Once again, the material can be ordered from the firm Filtrona Fibertec GmbH, www.filtronafibertec.com. 
         [0041]    In what follows, the functioning of the inhaler shall be described in detail: a user couples a new inhaler component  2  to the reusable inhaler part  1 . The electrical circuit  7  registers the coupling and allows if appropriate the performance of certain preparatory operations, such as one or more evaporation cycles with the goal of supplying the composites  10  with fresh liquid material  18  and/or to produce steady-state conditions. As soon as these operations are completed, the electrical circuit  7  signals the readiness of the inhaler, for example, by a light-emitting diode. The user brings the mouthpiece  4  of the inhaler up to his mouth and activates the switch  7   a . At the same time, he begins to draw on the mouthpiece  4 . The partial vacuum created in this way has the effect that air flows from the surroundings into the intake snorkel  32 . After the air has passed through the flow throttle  34 , the flow diverges at a right angle (see arrow in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ) and issues into a plenum chamber  35 , where the air collects and is then smoothly supplied to the slitlike air nozzle  31 . The air flow is accelerated in the air nozzle  31  and enters the chamber  28  with a high exit velocity. 
         [0042]    The activating of the switch  7   a  has the effect that the circuit  7  turns on the heating current. The heating current is preferably switched on by means of a power MOSFET, while the supplied power can be adapted to the particular requirements by a clock pulse (duty cycle). This adapting can also be done within certain limits by the user with an interface, which enables him to influence the quantity of aerosol or smoke produced. The heating current is turned on for a preset period of time (“heating period”), which is typically 1.0 to 1.8 seconds. The heating current is supplied to the composites  10  via the insert tongues  8   a  and the conductor tracks  13  of the circuit board  11  and brings about an instant heat-up of the composites  10  and the liquid material  18  stored in the wicks, whereupon the liquid material  18  evaporates. The vapor is emitted into the chamber  28 , where it mixes with the air flowing in through the air nozzle  31 . The arrangement and dimensioning of the air nozzle  31  brings about a smooth and quick flow across the composites  10 . This ensures that the vapor given off by the composites  10  experiences approximately the same mixing conditions all around, and the mixture of vapor and air is intimate. The air produces a cooling of the vapor, so that a condensation aerosol can also be formed, insofar as the evaporated liquid material  18  contains substances with sufficiently low vapor pressure—so-called aerosol-forming substances. A typical example of such aerosol-forming substances is glycerol. 
         [0043]    The vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol formed in the chamber  28  finally flows, in the sample embodiment, through yet another cooler  36  before it is presented to the user for inhalation through the mouthpiece  4  (see  FIG. 4 e    and  FIG. 8 ). The cooler  36  can consist, for example, of a porous filler material, a fleecelike fiber material, or an open-cell foam material whose pores are permeated by the formed vapor/air mixture and/or condensation aerosol. The cooler  36  can also be multistage, wherein the individual cooler stages have different properties. If the material being evaporated contains nicotine, it can be advantageous to coat the cooler material of at least one cooler stage with a suitable absorbent, such as citric acid. The absorbent removes volatile nicotine fractions from the flowing condensation aerosol, such as would otherwise be deposited in the oral cavity and in the throat, which is neither pharmacokinetically nor organoleptically desirable. Moreover, fragrances such as menthol can be added to the cooler material. 
         [0044]    Suitable fleecelike fiber materials can be ordered, for example, from the firm Freudenberg Vliesstoffe KG, www.freudenberg-filtercom. The material consisting of polyolefin fibers and marketed under the brand Viledon® filter mats is prepared by customer specification, and the material properties can be adjusted so that the end product is largely permeable to the fine particles of the condensation aerosol created. A suitable foam material can be ordered, for example, from the firm Dunlop Equipment, www.dunlop-equipment.com. This supplier offers Ni and NiCr foam under the brand name Retimet® (Grade 80) with a porosity of 90 to 95% and a pore diameter from around 300 μm in sheet form up to thicknesses of 15 mm. According to verbal communication of the company representative, even somewhat more fine-pored foams can be manufactured from a technology standpoint. The metal foams, furthermore, can be additionally compacted by rolling processes. The sheets can be further processed by laser cutting or wire erosion. Ni foam and especially NiCr foam are distinguished by high strength and resistance to high temperatures and oxidation. These properties make it advisable to recycle and reuse the relatively costly metal foams at the end of the life cycle of the inhaler component  2 . If the liquid material  18  contains nicotine, the inhaler component  2  should only be sold to the consumer at a reasonable deposit. This ensures that the major portion of the cooler  36 , sponges  27   a ,  27   b  and liquid container  19 , contaminated with nicotine residue, is properly disposed of and optionally recycled. 
         [0045]    At the end of the heating period, the circuit  7  deactivates the switch  7   a  for a couple of seconds. The deactivation is reported to the user, for example, by a light-emitting diode and is necessary so that the composites  10  can cool down, and the wicks can again take up the liquid material  18 . The liquid transport is originally induced by the capillarity of the composites  10  or their wicks. The wicks imbibe the liquid material  18  through the composite end segments  10   a ,  10   b  from the capillary gap branches  16   a ,  16   b  (see  FIG. 4 b    and  FIG. 10 ). The wicks are thus infiltrated from two sides. The removal of liquid material  18  from the capillary gap branches  16   a ,  16   b  induces in the capillary gap  16   a  capillary pressure, which has retroactive effect as far back as the liquid container  19 , so that liquid material  18  can flow out from the liquid container  19  into the capillary gap  16  through the supply opening  20  and the admission opening  22  (see arrows in  FIG. 4 b   ). The quantity of liquid material  18  removed from the liquid container  19  is replaced by an equivalent quantity of air in the course of a pressure equalization. The pressure equalization occurs via the vent groove  25  and the vent opening  21 . As soon as the composites  10  and wicks are fully infiltrated with the liquid material  18 , the inhaler is ready for a new evaporation cycle. 
         [0046]    Finally, we shall disclose as an example a nicotine-containing preparation of the liquid material  18 , which was evaporated in the prototypes (see table  1 ). The condensation aerosol formed and delivered in this case came very close to the smoking of a conventional cigarette in terms of the pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and organoleptic effects. All the ingredients listed are also found in cigarette smoke. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Substance 
                 CAS number 
                 wt. % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 water 
                 7732-18-5 
                 52.92 
               
               
                   
                 ethanol 
                 64-17-5 
                 3.80 
               
               
                   
                 glycerol (E422) 
                 56-81-5 
                 40.10 
               
               
                   
                 nicotine 
                 54-11-5 
                 1.60 
               
               
                   
                 lactic acid (E270) 
                 50-21-5 
                 0.29 
               
               
                   
                 succinic acid (E363) 
                 110-15-6 
                 0.32 
               
               
                   
                 benzoic acid (E210) 
                 65-85-0 
                 0.26 
               
               
                   
                 acetic acid (E260) 
                 64-19-7 
                 0.71 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Total: 
                 100.00 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0047]    It should also be pointed out that the invention is of course not limited to one or more sheetlike composites  10  according to the sample embodiment just described. The composites  10  can likewise be liner or threadlike in form. Neither do the composites necessarily have to be straight or regular, but instead they can have any given shape. Moreover, the composites can be electrically hooked up to each other in any desired way. Finally, the invention also covers devices in which the liquid container  19  can be separated from the housing  3 , so that the liquid container  19  can be replaced by a new liquid container as soon as it is empty. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1  reusable inhaler part 
               2  interchangeable inhaler component 
               3  housing 
               4  mouthpiece 
               5  main housing 
               6  battery 
               7  electrical circuit 
               7   a  switch 
               8   a  insertion tongues 
               8   b  insert sockets 
               9   a  guide tabs 
               9   b  guide slots 
               10  sheetlike composite 
               10   a ,  10   b  composite end segments 
               11  carrier plate, circuit board, multilayer circuit board 
               11   a  carrier plate front side 
               11   b  carrier plate back side 
               12  recess 
               13  conductor tracks 
               14  upper part 
               14   a ,  14   b  projections 
               15  recess 
               16  capillary gap 
               16   a ,  16   b  capillary gap branch 
               17  support bracket 
               18  liquid material 
               19  liquid container 
               20  supply opening 
               21  vent opening 
               22  admission opening 
               23  shoulder 
               24  web 
               25  vent groove 
               26  air volume, air cushion 
               27   a ,  27   b  open-pore absorbent sponges 
               28  chamber 
               29  U-shaped carrier 
               29   a ,  29   b  angle profiles 
               29   c  leg 
               30  indentation 
               31  air nozzle 
               32  intake snorkel 
               33  hole 
               34  flow throttle 
               35  plenum chamber 
               36  cooler