WO2022194917A1 - Ceramic for an evaporator device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a ceramic (4) for an evaporator device (1) for evaporating a liquid (22), in particular a liquid with a low viscosity. Variable application possibilities as well as a simplified implementation of the ceramic (4) and the evaporator device (1) are achieved in that the ceramic (4) has a pore structure (7) consisting of pores (23) of the ceramic (4) with an average pore size between 0.05 µm and 50 µm in order to absorb the liquid (22) to be evaporated. The invention additionally relates to an evaporator device (1) comprising such a ceramic (4).

Description

Ceramic for an evaporator device

The present invention relates to a ceramic for accommodating a liquid to be evaporated in an evaporator device. The invention also relates to an evaporator device with such a ceramic.

An evaporator device is generally used for evaporating a liquid and is usually used in inhalers. Such an evaporator device usually has a wick for receiving the liquid to be evaporated and a felt wire which is connected to the wick in a heat-transferring manner and generates heat when supplied with electricity in order to evaporate the liquid held in the wick.

DE 102018 119566 A1 discloses an evaporator device with an evaporator made of an electrically conductive porous element, which is used at the same time to store the liquid and to flow for the purpose of evaporating the liquid in order to prevent the formation of so-called dry hits, i.e. local , to avoid excessive heating, which can lead to the destruction of the wick.

DE 102016 120803 A1 discloses an evaporator device with an evaporator consisting of a doped and electrically conductive evaporator ceramic. The evaporator ceramic is provided with microchannels that are regulated and have a predetermined orientation, through which liquid is conducted for the purpose of evaporation. When supplied with electricity, the evaporator ceramic generates heat in order to evaporate the liquid contained therein. The evaporator device also has a flow control device, which controls the flow of the liquid through the microchannels in order to achieve metering of the liquid to be evaporated. DE 102017 123868 A1 discloses an evaporator device which, like the evaporator device known from DE 102016 120803 A1, has an evaporator ceramic with parallel microchannels for storing and evaporating the liquid. In order to avoid the formation of bubbles in the inlet area of the microchannels, a wick structure is additionally provided in the inlet area and is connected to the inlet side in a surface-contacting manner.

A disadvantage of the solutions known from the prior art is that the liquid to be evaporated is subject to narrow limits in terms of its nature in order to be able to store the liquid in the ceramic without draining the liquid. This results in a limited selection of possible liquids that can be used and consequently limited possible uses of the associated evaporator device and/or the associated inhaler.

The present invention is therefore concerned with the task of specifying improved or at least different embodiments for a ceramic for receiving a liquid to be evaporated in an evaporator device and for an evaporator device for evaporating a liquid, which are characterized in particular by more variable possible uses and/or a simplified implementation .

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea of using pores in a ceramic to hold a liquid to be evaporated, the pores having an average size of between 0.05 μm and 50 μm. The mean sizes of the pores lead to such a relationship between the Surface and the volume of the respective pores that these have capillary forces, which compensate for the gravitational and / or pressure-related forces acting on a recorded in the volume drop-shaped particle of a liquid, preferably outweigh. The result of this is that the droplet-shaped particles, also referred to below as droplets, remain in the pores. Consequently, the outflow of the droplets and consequently of the liquid from the ceramic is prevented or at least considerably reduced. This means that even low-viscosity liquids can be absorbed and stored in the ceramic. It is therefore possible with the ceramic to absorb and store a greater variability of liquids of different viscosities without the liquids flowing out of the ceramic. As a result, the liquids can be provided more cost-effectively and in a wider range. In particular, active ingredients taken up in the liquids can thus be simplified and/or provided with a more precise dose. Thus, the ceramic and the associated evaporator device can also be used for a controllable inhalation of said active ingredients and thus a controllable and/or predetermined dosing of the active ingredients. The capillary forces described above also lead to the ceramic being saturated with the liquid in the event of a hydraulic connection to the liquid to be evaporated without any further action, such as for example actively pumping the liquid into the ceramic. Overall, separate seals for the ceramic can be omitted or at least reduced and/or devices for actively introducing the liquid into the ceramic can be omitted. Thus, both the ceramic and an associated evaporator device can be implemented easily and inexpensively. In addition to an increase in the possible uses of the ceramic and the associated evaporator device, the idea according to the invention therefore leads to a simplified implementation of the same. According to the idea of the invention, the ceramic is used to hold a liquid, in particular a low-viscosity liquid, and is used in an evaporator device. The evaporator device serves to evaporate the liquid contained in the ceramic. The liquid vaporized with the vaporizer device is preferably used for inhalation. For receiving the liquid to be evaporated, the ceramic has a receiving structure consisting of pores in the ceramic, which is also referred to below as a pore structure. According to the invention, the pore structure has an average pore size of between 0.05 μm and 50 μm.

A further advantage of the idea according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the mean sizes of the pore structure according to the invention lead to an increase in the area of the droplets that is in contact with the ceramic. In other words, an increased area of the ceramic transfers heat to the droplets to vaporize the liquid. This leads to a more even vaporization of the liquid and thus improved control over the vaporization. In addition, the liquid evaporates more quickly in this way.

In the present case, mean pore size is to be understood in particular as meaning the ratio between four times the volume and the area of the pores, ie 4V/A, as specified in particular in the ISO 15901 standard.

The pores of the ceramic are expediently formed during the firing of the ceramic, which can take place, for example, by means of sintering. In other words, the pores for receiving the liquid are advantageously not introduced separately, in particular not subsequently, into the ceramic. This means that an intrinsic property of the ceramic, given by the open position, is used to store the liquid to be evaporated. This leads to a simple and inexpensive preparation of the ceramic. Different mean Pore sizes can be achieved through different components and/or by means of an adapted production of the ceramic.

As described above, the ceramic is used in particular to hold low-viscosity liquids. Low-viscosity liquids are to be understood in particular as liquids which have a viscosity of 45 mPas and less.

The liquid can be any liquid. In particular, it is possible to use liquids containing medicinal active substances.

The advantages according to the invention can be increased in that the pore sizes of the pores of the pore structure are at least largely within the mean pore size. This means in particular that a maximum of 10% of the pores have pore sizes that are larger than four times the average pore size. This means that pores with pore sizes above the mean pore size are reduced, preferably not present. As a result, the effects of pores with pore sizes above the mean pore size on the overall behavior of the ceramic, and consequently the effects of larger volume droplets in these pores on the overall behavior of the liquid imbibed in the ceramic, are negligible or at least reduced. In this way, it is possible in particular to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the ceramic. This also means that the droplets taken up in the pores have essentially the same volume, corresponding to the size distribution of the pores. This leads to a homogeneous distribution of the liquid absorbed in the ceramic over the volume of the ceramic. In addition, the liquid can be evaporated in a more homogeneous and/or controlled manner in this way. Embodiments are considered advantageous in which the average pore size is between 0.1 gm and 25 gm, preferably between 0.15 gm and 10 gm, particularly preferably between 0.2 gm and 5 gm. In this way, there is an advantageous interaction between the droplets absorbed in the pores, the capillary forces and the distribution of the liquid in the volume of the ceramic, which leads to improved absorption of the liquid in the ceramic and improved evaporation of the liquid absorbed in the ceramic to lead.

In advantageous embodiments, the ceramic is used in addition to receiving the liquid to generate heat for evaporating the liquid. This means that the ceramic has an integrated heating function for heating and thus evaporating the liquid. As a result, there is effective and simple heat transfer to the liquid to be evaporated, so that it evaporates evenly and/or in a controlled manner.

For this purpose, the ceramic is preferably an electrically conductive ceramic, which is also referred to below as an evaporator ceramic. During operation with an electrical supply, the evaporator ceramic generates homogeneous heat for evaporating the liquid contained in the pore structure by means of its electrical conductivity. In particular, the evaporator ceramic is a heating resistor. In this way, in particular, losses during the heat transfer to the liquid are avoided or at least reduced and at the same time a uniform heat transfer to the liquid is achieved. As a result, the liquid can be evaporated in a more controlled manner.

The evaporator ceramic can be an electrically conductive ceramic of any type, as long as it has the pore structure and generates heat homogeneously in a predetermined area when there is an electrical supply, in particular when an electrical voltage is applied. It is conceivable that the evaporator ceramic is electrically conductive per se.

These include, for example, ceramics made of metal oxides, such as titanium oxides, or metal carbides and silicon carbides. Likewise, composite ceramics can be used which have electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive networks of different materials, with the conductive networks expediently being homogeneously distributed in the ceramic. Examples of such composite ceramics are those with metal oxides of different oxidation states. Mixed oxide ceramics can also be used, which are produced by mixing different starting materials, with a new material being created by chemical reactions during the production of the ceramic, typically during sintering. Examples of the starting materials are different metal oxides. Furthermore, doped ceramics can be used, which become electrically conductive through doping. Of course, any combination of the ceramics mentioned can also be used, provided the evaporator ceramic is an electrically conductive ceramic with the receiving structure, which generates heat homogeneously during operation.

It goes without saying that, in addition to the ceramic, an evaporator device with the ceramic also belongs to the scope of this invention.

In addition to the ceramic, the evaporator device has two electrical connections for the electrical supply of the evaporator device.

In principle, the evaporator device can have a heater separate from the ceramic, in particular an electric heater, which generates heat during operation when electrically supplied and transfers it to the ceramic in order to evaporate the liquid contained in the pore structure. It is also conceivable to design the ceramic as an evaporator ceramic. In this case, the evaporator ceramic is electrically supplied during operation by means of the connections. A path of the electrical current, also referred to below as the current path, runs through the connections and through the evaporator ceramic. In this case, a separate heater for generating heat for the purpose of evaporating the liquid can be dispensed with. The evaporator device can thus be implemented in a simplified manner.

The ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is designed for operation in a thermal operating range that is limited by a lower initial operating temperature and an upper final operating temperature. In other words, for evaporating the liquid, the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, generates heat in the operating range and thus between the initial operating temperature and the final operating temperature when electrically supplied.

In principle, the temperature can be monitored by means of a corresponding sensor system, which is expediently connected in a communicating manner to a control device.

Embodiments are considered to be advantageous in which the evaporator device has an electrical conductor, which is also referred to below as a blocking conductor. The blocking conductor is arranged in the current path so that the electric current flows through the blocking conductor during operation. The blocking conductor is connected to the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, in a heat-transferring manner. In addition, the blocking conductor is designed in such a way that it has a suddenly increasing electrical resistance at the final operating temperature. Due to the heat-transferring connection of the blocking conductor to the ceramic, when the final operating temperature is reached, there is a sudden increase in the electrical resistance in the current path and thus an interruption or at least a significant reduction in the electrical supply of the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic. Accordingly, the final operating temperature is at least essentially influenced, preferably determined, by means of the blocking conductor. The final operating temperature is thus specified and determined without additional sensors. When the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is electrically supplied, the ceramic therefore has a temperature between the initial operating temperature and the final operating temperature. The amount of liquid evaporated can thus be controlled in a simple and reliable manner over the duration of the electrical supply to the evaporator. In particular, it is possible in this way to achieve complete evaporation of all of the liquid contained in the ceramic over a predetermined duration of the electrical supply of the evaporator. Furthermore, it is possible in this way to operate the evaporator device, in particular the evaporator ceramic, with a power that would lead to overheating without the blocking conductor. This makes it possible to bring the ceramic to temperatures in the operating range and to keep it in the operating range quickly and with high power without complex control.

The heat-transferring connection of the blocking conductor to the ceramic is advantageously such that the temperature of the blocking conductor corresponds at least essentially to the temperature of the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic.

In principle, the evaporator device can have a single blocking conductor.

It is also conceivable to provide the evaporator device with two or more such blocking conductors. It is preferred here if the blocking conductors are identical. In the present case, a sudden increase in the electrical resistance when the final operating temperature is exceeded is to be understood as meaning an increase that exceeds a linear increase.

It is preferred if at least one of the at least one blocking conductor shows a potential increase in the electrical resistance when the final operating temperature is exceeded. Embodiments are particularly preferred in which at least one of the at least one blocking conductor is designed in such a way that its electrical resistance begins to increase exponentially when the final operating temperature is exceeded. Embodiments have proven to be advantageous in which the electrical resistance of at least one of the at least one blocking conductor, advantageously of the respective blocking conductor, increases by at least one power of ten in the 50° C. following the final operating temperature. In this way, the evaporation parameters can be controlled particularly easily and effectively.

Embodiments are considered advantageous in which at least one of the at least one blocking conductor, advantageously the respective blocking conductor, is configured as a PTC thermistor, with the final operating temperature lying between an initial temperature and an end temperature of the at least one PTC thermistor. PTC thermistors have a characteristic current curve, with the electrical resistance suddenly increasing by several powers of ten from the initial temperature onwards. What is achieved in this way is that the blocking conductor does not affect the electrical resistance of the entire evaporator device, also referred to below as the overall resistance, up to the initial temperature or as little as possible, and that the blocking conductor only has an effect that increases the overall resistance when the initial temperature is reached. In other words, the total resistance is in this way until reaching the final operating temperature of the ceramic and possibly the heater, in particular of the evaporator ceramic, and when the End operating temperature dominated by the at least one blocking conductor. As a result, operation in the thermal operating range can take place with reduced energy consumption and thus increased efficiency. At the same time, when the final operating temperature is reached, there is a precisely defined and reliable interruption or at least a reduction in the electrical supply.

In principle, the final operating temperature can be anywhere between the initial temperature and the final temperature, advantageously between the initial temperature and the nominal temperature, of the PTC thermistor.

It is advantageous if the final operating temperature corresponds to the initial temperature of the PTC thermistor. In this way, it is achieved in particular that no increased expenditure of energy, in particular no increased power consumption, is necessary to reach the final operating temperature. This leads to an increased efficiency of the evaporator device. In addition, the evaporator device can be operated in this way with batteries, in particular rechargeable batteries, easily and with an increased service life. Furthermore, this leads to the blocking conductor generating no heat, or as little heat as possible, in the operating range. This results in improved control over the evaporation parameters.

In principle, the respective at least one blocking conductor can be arranged anywhere in the current path, provided that it is connected to the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, in a heat-transferring manner.

In particular, it is conceivable to arrange at least one of the at least one blocking conductor between the ceramic and one of the connections. This allows a simple and compact design of the evaporator device. In principle, the heat-transferring connection between the respective blocking conductor and the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, can be configured as desired.

Embodiments are preferred in which at least one of the at least one blocking conductor, advantageously the respective blocking conductor, lies flat on the ceramic. In particular, one of the at least one blocking conductor can lie directly flat on the ceramic. This leads to a simple and compact design of the evaporator device, with simple and reliable heat transfer from the ceramic to the blocking conductor being provided at the same time. At the same time, it is possible in this way to arrange the blocking conductor in the current path in a simple manner.

The ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, is advantageously formed in one piece and coherently. It is preferred here if a blocking conductor is arranged on at least one outside of the ceramic. Thus, a compact and simple manufacture and construction of the evaporator device is possible.

It is also conceivable to form the ceramic in two or more parts. The ceramic can therefore have two ceramic bodies that are separate from one another. A blocking conductor can be arranged between at least two of the at least two ceramic bodies.

The respective at least one blocking conductor can in principle be made from any desired material or material, provided that it has a suddenly increasing electrical resistance when the final operating temperature is exceeded. In particular, it is conceivable that at least one of the at least one blocking conductor is ceramic.

The at least one blocking conductor is expediently dimensioned in such a way that it accounts for a smaller proportion in terms of volume compared to the ceramic. This allows in particular a more compact design of the evaporator device.

Embodiments are preferred in which at least one of the at least one blocking conductor is designed as a layer. In particular, in this way the at least one blocking conductor has a significantly reduced volume compared to the ceramic.

In principle, the respective position can have any configuration. In particular, at least one of the at least one layer can be designed as a foil, a coating and the like.

As described above, it is preferred if the total electrical resistance of the evaporator device in the thermal operating range is dominated by the ceramic and possibly the heater, in particular by the evaporator ceramic, and above the operating range, i.e. when the final operating temperature is exceeded, by the blocking conductor.

This is preferably realized in such a way that the electrical resistance of the blocking conductor in the operating range corresponds at most to half the electrical resistance of the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic.

The electrical resistance of the at least one blocking conductor is composed in particular of the specific resistance and the volume or distance along the current path. Accordingly, a reduction in the electrical resistance of the blocking conductor in the operating range be achieved by reducing the relative volume of the blocking conductor in the evaporator device.

The ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, preferably has an electrical resistance which increases slightly up to the final operating temperature, in particular in comparison to the increase in the resistance of the blocking conductor from the final operating temperature. The electrical resistance of the ceramic, in particular the evaporator ceramic, preferably has a temperature-dependent profile in the operating range such that the resistance increases with temperature by a maximum of one power of ten.

The evaporator device is advantageously used in an inhaler which, during operation, generates vapor for inhalation by means of the evaporator device.

The inhaler is preferably a mobile and hand-portable inhaler, which can therefore be carried along. The inhaler can preferably be gripped and carried by hand by a user. The inhaler and the vaporizer device are designed accordingly with regard to their dimensions and their weight.

The inhaler preferably has a battery, preferably a rechargeable battery, for the electrical supply. The control device is expediently designed in such a way that it supplies the evaporator device with electricity during operation for evaporating the liquid contained in the pore structure.

The inhaler can also have a liquid container for storing the liquid to be evaporated, for example a cartridge, which is fluidically connected or can be connected to the ceramic for refilling the pore structure with the liquid. The evaporator device, in particular the inhaler, can be operated either continuously or discontinuously. The evaporator device is designed accordingly.

In the case of continuous operation, the ceramic is continuously supplied with liquid for at least a limited period of time and this liquid is at least partially evaporated. The supply of the liquid can be implemented by means of a permanent fluidic connection between the ceramic and a liquid container in which the liquid is stored, so that liquid flows continuously into the ceramic. The evaporation takes place as long as the evaporator device is supplied with electricity and generates heat for evaporating the liquid contained in the pore structure. The amount of liquid evaporated can be monitored over the operating time of the evaporator device, if required.

In discontinuous operation, the ceramic is supplied with a predetermined dose of the liquid, which is then vaporized. In particular, during discontinuous operation, the ceramic is not continuously supplied with the liquid. The evaporated quantity can thus be controlled in particular via the volume of the liquid held in the ceramic.

In the case of discontinuous operation, liquid can be supplied to the ceramic after the liquid previously contained in the ceramic has at least partially evaporated and/or the evaporator device is not being operated in the operating range, in particular is not in operation. The ceramic can thus be refillable.

In the case of discontinuous operation, it is also conceivable to store the ceramic, in particular the evaporator device, with a dose of the liquid which is evaporated during operation. The pottery, especially the Evaporator device can be designed for single use. The ceramic that absorbs the liquid, in particular the evaporator device, can be designed in the manner of a tablet.

Further important features and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, with the same reference numbers referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

Show it, each schematically

1 shows a section through a ceramic with an enlarged view,

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of an evaporator device with the

ceramics,

3 shows a highly simplified representation of an inhaler with the evaporator device in the manner of a circuit diagram.

A ceramic 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is usually used in an evaporator device 1 as shown in FIGS is. The evaporator device 1 can be a component of an inhaler 2, as is shown, for example, in FIG. 3 in a greatly simplified manner and in the form of a circuit diagram. During operation, the evaporator device 1 vaporizes a liquid 22 (see FIG. 3) and thus generates vapor 3 (see FIG. 3), which is made available, for example, to a user (not shown) for inhalation.

The evaporator device 1 serves in particular to evaporate a predetermined dose of the liquid 22. The liquid 22 is, for example, one which contains a medical active substance, so that a vapor 3 (see FIG. 2) containing the active substance is emitted during evaporation. inhaled by a user.

The inhaler 2 is a mobile and hand-portable inhaler 2 which, when in use, is gripped by hand by a user (not shown) and is portable. The inhaler 2 and the vaporizer device 1 are designed accordingly with regard to their dimensions and their weight.

The ceramic 4 serves to receive and store the liquid 22 to be evaporated. As can be seen in FIG. The pores 23 are only indicated in the enlarged view of FIG. The pore structure 7 has an average pore size between 0.05 μm and 50 μm, advantageously between 0.1 μm and 25 μm, preferably between 0.15 μm and 10 μm, particularly preferably between 0.2 μm and 5 μm. Thus, capillary forces act in the pores 23 which exceed the gravitational forces of the droplets (not shown) of the liquid 22 received in the pores 23 . As a result, the liquid 22 remains in the pore structure 7 and therefore does not flow off. Likewise, the pore structure 7 is saturated by the capillary forces with the liquid 22 to be evaporated when the pore structure 7 is in fluid communication with the liquid 22. Here, liquids 22 with low viscosities, ie low-viscosity liquids 22, can also be accommodated in the pore structure 7, with the liquid 22 being prevented or at least considerably reduced from flowing out of the pore structure 7. A maximum of 10% of the pores preferably have pore sizes that are more than four times the average pore size.

In the exemplary embodiments shown and preferably, the ceramic 4 is an electrically conductive evaporator ceramic 6 which, by means of its electrical conductivity, when electrically supplied, generates homogeneous heat for evaporating the liquid 22 contained in the pore structure 7 . In particular, the evaporator ceramic 6 is therefore a heating resistor. Thus, the absorption and generation of heat for evaporating the liquid 22 are both implemented in the ceramic 4 . In this way, there is a uniform heat transfer to the liquid 22 and/or reduced heat losses for evaporating the liquid 22. In particular, the evaporator ceramic 6 can contain at least one metal oxide.

In order to evaporate the liquid, the evaporator ceramic 6 is operated in a thermal range, which is also referred to below as the operating range. The operating range is limited by a low temperature, also referred to below as the initial operating temperature, and by a high temperature, also referred to below as the final operating temperature. This means that the evaporation of the liquid to be evaporated and absorbed in the pores takes place in the operating range and thus between the initial operating temperature and the final operating temperature.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the evaporator device 1 has two electrical connections 5 in addition to the ceramic 4 electrical supply evaporator device 1, in the examples shown, the evaporator ceramic 6 on.

In order to generate heat, the evaporator ceramic 6 is supplied with electricity by means of the connections 5, so that a path 8 of the electric current, indicated in FIG.

When there is an electrical supply, the evaporator ceramic 6 uses its electrical resistance to generate heat for evaporating the liquid 22 contained in the pore structure 7.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, at least one blocking conductor 9 is arranged in this path 8, also referred to below as the current path 8, in such a way that the current path 8 necessarily leads through the blocking conductor 9. In the exemplary embodiments shown, this is achieved in that the at least one blocking conductor 9 is arranged between the connections 5 . The at least one blocking conductor 9 is connected to the evaporator ceramic 6 in a heat-transferring manner. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the heat-transferring connection of the at least one blocking conductor 9 to the evaporator ceramic 6 is realized by a planar arrangement of the blocking conductor 9 on the evaporator ceramic 6 . In particular, the blocking conductor 9 is in direct contact with the evaporator ceramic 6 . The temperature of the at least one blocking conductor 9 thus corresponds to the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6. The at least one blocking conductor 9 is designed in such a way that it has a rapidly increasing electrical resistance when the final operating temperature is exceeded. Below the final operating temperature, the at least one blocking conductor 9 is therefore electrically conductive, so that the evaporator ceramic 6 is operated in the operating range when electrically supplied, ie temperatures up to the final operating temperature are reached. The abrupt increase in the electrical resistance of the at least one blocking conductor 9 means that the electrical current flowing through the evaporator ceramic 6 is interrupted when the final operating temperature is exceeded or is significantly reduced, so that the sudden increase in the electrical resistance of the at least one blocking conductor 9 defines or at least dominates the final operating temperature. It is thus possible to operate the evaporator device 1 with controlled evaporation parameters. In particular, this makes it possible to vaporize a predetermined quantity of the liquid 22 to be evaporated and thus a predetermined dose of the liquid 22 . Separate control electronics (not shown) and/or separate sensors (not shown), for example for determining the temperature of the evaporator ceramic 6, are not necessary for this purpose. Furthermore, the evaporator ceramic 6 can be operated in this way without separate control technology with such a high power that the operating range is reached more quickly, but without the blocking conductor 9 the evaporator ceramic 6 and thus the evaporator device 1 would overheat and thus be damaged .

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the electrical connections 5 are each designed as a printed circuit board 10, for example made of a metal or a metal alloy. In this case, the evaporator ceramic 6 is arranged between the connections 5 .

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the evaporator ceramic 6 and the at least one blocking conductor 9 form a coherent module 11 which is arranged between the connections 5 . In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator ceramic 6 and the module 11 have a cuboid design, purely by way of example. A ring-shaped design of the ceramic 4 (not shown) is also conceivable. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, a volume proportion of the evaporator ceramic 6 in the total volume of the module 11 is considerably larger than a volume proportion of the at least one blocking conductor 9. In particular, the volume proportion of the at least one blocking conductor 9, hereinafter also referred to as blocking volume, maximum 1/10 of the volume fraction of the evaporator ceramic 6, also referred to below as the evaporator volume. This leads in particular to the volume for receiving the liquid 22 being determined or at least dominated by the evaporator ceramic 6 . In addition, this means that the at least one blocking conductor 9 plays a negligible role in the overall electrical resistance of the module 11 in the operating range. In other words, the total electrical resistance of the module 11, in particular of the evaporator device 1, is dominated by the evaporator ceramic 6 in the operating range, whereas it is dominated by the at least one blocking conductor 9 above the operating range.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective blocking conductor 9 is designed as a thin layer 13 compared to the evaporator ceramic 6 and can therefore also be referred to as a blocking layer 14 .

The respective blocking conductor 9 is preferably a PTC thermistor 15, which from an initial temperature has an abrupt electrical resistance that increases by several powers of ten. In this case, the final operating temperature advantageously corresponds to a temperature between the initial temperature and an end temperature of the PTC thermistor 15, in particular the initial temperature of the PTC thermistor 15.

In particular, the PTC thermistor 15 is a ceramic 16 that differs from the evaporator ceramic 6 and is also referred to below as a blocking ceramic 16 . Due to the lower barrier volume of the barrier ceramic 16 in comparison to the evaporator volume of the evaporator ceramic 6, the total capacity of the module 11 is determined or at least dominated by the evaporator ceramic 6. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the evaporator device 1 is accommodated in a housing 17 of the inhaler 2 which has an outlet opening 18 for letting out the vapor 3 generated by the evaporator device 1 . The inhaler 2 of the exemplary embodiment shown also has a preferably refillable or replaceable container 19 for storing the liquid to be vaporized, which, as indicated by a dashed line, is fluidically connected or connectable to the ceramic 4, in particular the evaporator ceramic 6.

In this case, the evaporator device 1 and the container 19 can form a unit which is accommodated in the inhaler 2 in an exchangeable manner.

Alternatively, it is possible that the container 19 is permanently accommodated in the inhaler 2 and can be refilled. In this case, the evaporator device 1 can also be accommodated permanently in the inhaler 2 .

Alternatively, it is possible for the container 19 to be exchangeable. In this case, the evaporator device 1 can also be accommodated permanently in the inhaler 2 .

The inhaler 2 also has a rechargeable battery 20 for the electrical supply of the evaporator device 1 and a control device 21 which is electrically connected to the evaporator device 1 . The control device 21 is connected to the battery 20 in such a way that it can establish and interrupt the electrical connection of the battery 20 to the evaporator device 1 for the purpose of supplying electricity to the evaporator device 1 , in particular to the evaporator ceramic 6 .

It is conceivable to use an electrically non-conductive ceramic 4 instead of the evaporator ceramic 6 . As indicated in Figure 3, the Evaporator device 1 in this case has a heater 12 that is separate from the ceramic 4 and, when electrically supplied, generates heat for evaporating the liquid 22 contained in the pore structure 7 . For this purpose, the heater 2 is connected to the ceramic 4 in a heat-transferring manner.

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Claims

Expectations 1. Ceramic (4) for receiving a low-viscosity liquid (22) in an evaporator device (1), characterized in that - that the ceramic (4) for receiving the liquid (22) has a pore structure (7) consisting of pores (23) of the ceramic (4), - that the pore structure (7) has an average pore size between 0.05 μm and 50 μm. 2. Ceramic according to claim 1, characterized in that a maximum of 10% of the pores (23) have pore sizes which are more than four times the average pore size. 3. Ceramic according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mean pore size is between 0.1 μm and 25 μm. 4. Ceramic according to claim 3, characterized in that the mean pore size is between 0.15 μm and 10 μm. 5. Ceramic according to claim 4, characterized in that the mean pore size is between 0.2 μm and 5 μm. 6. Ceramic according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the ceramic (4) is designed as an electrically conductive evaporator ceramic (6), such that the evaporator ceramic (6) generates heat for evaporating the liquid (22) contained in the pore structure (7) by means of its electrical conductivity during operation when there is an electrical supply. 7. Evaporator device (1) for evaporating a liquid (22), in particular for an inhaler (2), with a ceramic (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and with two electrical connections (5) for the electrical supply of the evaporator device (1 ). 8. Evaporator device according to claim 7, characterized in that the ceramic (4) is designed according to claim 6 and the evaporator ceramic (6) is electrically supplied during operation via the connections (5). 9. Evaporator device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the evaporator device (1) has a heater (12) which, during operation, heats the liquid (22) contained in the ceramic (4) for evaporation. 10. Evaporator device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that - that an electrical current path (8) for the electrical supply of the evaporator ceramic (6) runs through the connections (5) and through the evaporator ceramic (6), - that the evaporator ceramic (6) is designed for the homogeneous generation of heat in an operating range between an initial operating temperature and an operating end temperature, - that the evaporator device (1) has at least one blocking conductor (9) arranged in the current path (8), which is connected to the evaporator ceramic (6) in a heat-transferring manner, - that the at least one blocking conductor (9) is designed in such a way that it has a suddenly increasing electrical resistance when the final operating temperature is exceeded. 11. Evaporator device according to claim 10, characterized in that - that at least one of the at least one blocking conductor (9) is designed as a PTC thermistor (15), - That the final operating temperature is between an initial temperature and an end temperature of the at least one PTC thermistor (15).