US 12,329,897 B2
Vaporizer including positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTCR) heating element
William W. Alston, Lincoln, CA (US); Adam Bowen, San Mateo, CA (US); Joshua A. Kurzman, San Francisco, CA (US); and James Monsees, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to JUUL Labs, Inc., Washington, DC (US)
Filed by JUUL Labs, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/875,697.
Application 17/875,697 is a continuation of application No. 16/566,842, filed on Sep. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,413,409.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/897,229, filed on Sep. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/730,257, filed on Sep. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0370736 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 11/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 11/042 (2014.02) [A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/8206 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material; and
a PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity) heating element configured to receive an electrical current flow and heat the vaporizable material to form an aerosol, the PTCR heating element comprising a PTCR material having an electrical resistivity that varies based on temperature, such that when the PTCR heating element is heated above a first temperature, the electrical current flow is reduced to a level that limits further temperature increases of the PTCR heating element;
wherein the PTCR heating element includes a hole feature extending though the PTCR heating element.