US 11,872,573 B2
Method for producing an aperture plate
Brendan Hogan, Gort (IE); and Hong Xu, Redwood City, CA (US)
Assigned to Stamford Devices Limited, Galway (IE)
Filed by Stamford Devices Limited, Dangan (IE)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/818,484.
Application 17/818,484 is a continuation of application No. 16/358,338, filed on Mar. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,440,030.
Application 16/358,338 is a continuation of application No. 14/719,036, filed on May 21, 2015, granted, now 10,279,357, issued on May 7, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/002,435, filed on May 23, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0032517 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B05B 1/02 (2006.01); B05B 17/00 (2006.01); B05B 1/06 (2006.01); C25D 7/04 (2006.01); C25D 1/08 (2006.01); B05B 17/06 (2006.01); A61M 11/00 (2006.01); A61M 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 1/02 (2013.01) [B05B 17/0638 (2013.01); B05B 17/0653 (2013.01); C25D 1/08 (2013.01); C25D 7/04 (2013.01); A61M 11/005 (2013.01); A61M 15/0085 (2013.01); A61M 2207/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an aperture plate wafer, the method comprising:
providing a substrate,
applying a mask over the substrate in a pattern of columns, each column having a top surface;
electroplating a plating material around the columns to form a first thickness;
continuing electroplating the plating material such that the plating material is over-plated to form a second thickness directly on the top surfaces of the pattern of columns so as to form a plurality of aerosol-forming apertures with entry surfaces with a convex shape in a direction of intended flow through the aerosol-forming apertures and wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness; and
removing the plated material from the mask and the substrate to provide a wafer of electroplated material with the plurality of aerosol-forming apertures with entry surfaces with a convex shape that are fluidly coupled with a plurality of droplet entrainment openings; and
forming the aperture plate wafer into a domed shape to increase a size of the entrainment openings.