Patent ID: 6854461

Claim:
An aerosol generator, comprising: a reservoir containing a liquid; a flow passage in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a heater arranged to heat the liquid in the flow passage to produce a vapor, the vapor admixing with air to produce an aerosol; wherein: a) the reservoir comprises a chamber, a liquid stored in a bladder in the chamber, and a free weight which compresses the bladder such that the liquid can be subjected to substantially constant pressure; b) the reservoir is removably attachable to a fluid delivery assembly of the aerosol generator; c) the flow passage is defined by an elastomeric member which comprises at least a first depression which defines a metering chamber, the first depression being sized to contain a predetermined volume of the liquid; and/or d) the flow passage is defined by an elastomeric member which comprises a first depression which defines a metering chamber, a second depression which defines an inlet valve, and a third depression which defines an outlet valve.