US 12156533

US Patent 12156533B2, titled "Nicotine salt formulations for aerosol devices and methods thereof," was filed on February 9, 2021, and issued on December 3, 2024. The inventors are Adam Bowen and Chenyue Xing. The current assignee is JLI National Settlement Trust, while the original assignee was Juul Labs Inc. The patent is currently active and is expected to expire on March 18, 2035.

Abstract:
The patent describes a nicotine salt liquid formulation for generating an inhalable aerosol in an electronic cigarette, where the formulation comprises a nicotine salt constituting about 0.5% to about 20% nicotine.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:
The patent's independent claims broadly cover methods, formulations, and devices related to the delivery of nicotine salts in electronic cigarettes, distinguishing them by specific physical characteristics of the acid used to form the nicotine salt, or by the resulting pharmacokinetic profile.

1. Method of Delivering Nicotine:

   • A method involving an electronic cigarette and a nicotine salt formulation, where the acid used to form the nicotine salt has a vapor pressure greater than 20 mmHg at 200° C., and a user inhales the generated aerosol.
   • A variation of the method where the acid's vapor pressure is between approximately 20 to 200 mmHg at 200° C.
   • A method where the acid's melting point is less than or equal to 160° C., its boiling point is greater than 160° C., and there's at least a 50-degree Celsius difference between these points.
   • A method where the acid's melting point is at least 40 degrees lower than the electronic cigarette's operating temperature, its boiling point is no more than 40 degrees lower than the operating temperature, and there's at least a 50-degree difference between these points.
   • A method delivering nicotine to a user's blood at a level of at least 5 ng/mL about 1.5 minutes after the first of ten puffs, each taken at 30-second intervals.

2. Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette:

   • A formulation residing within an electronic cigarette for generating an inhalable aerosol, comprising a nicotine salt in a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, where the acid used to form the salt has a vapor pressure greater than 20 mmHg at 200° C.
   • A variation where the acid's vapor pressure is between approximately 20 to 200 mmHg at 200° C.
   • A variation where the acid's melting point is less than or equal to 160° C., its boiling point is greater than 160° C., and there's at least a 50-degree difference between these points.
   • A variation where the acid's melting point is at least 40 degrees lower than the electronic cigarette's operating temperature, its boiling point is no more than 40 degrees lower than the operating temperature, and there's at least a 50-degree difference between these points.

3. General Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation:

   • A nicotine salt liquid formulation, intended for aerosol generation upon heating in an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine salt in a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, where the acid used to form the salt has a vapor pressure greater than 20 mmHg at 200° C.
   • Variations of this formulation with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

4. Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation for Use in an Electronic Cigarette:

   • A nicotine salt liquid formulation designed for use in an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine salt in a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, where the acid used to form the salt has a vapor pressure greater than 20 mmHg at 200° C.
   • Variations of this formulation with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

5. Use of a Nicotine Salt Formulation for Delivery:

   • The use of a nicotine salt formulation for delivering nicotine from an electronic cigarette, where the acid used to form the salt has a vapor pressure greater than 20 mmHg at 200° C., and the formulation is heated to produce an inhalable aerosol.
   • Variations of this use with the specific acid characteristics or blood nicotine levels outlined in the "Method of Delivering Nicotine" section above.

6. Cartomizer for an Electronic Cigarette:

   • A cartomizer comprising a nicotine salt liquid formulation (where the acid has a vapor pressure >20 mmHg at 200° C.), an atomizer with a heating element, and a fluid storage compartment.
   • Variations of this cartomizer with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

7. Electronic Cigarette:

   • An electronic cigarette for generating an inhalable aerosol, comprising a fluid storage compartment, a heater, a nicotine salt liquid formulation in the compartment (where the acid has a vapor pressure >20 mmHg at 200° C.), a battery, and a mouthpiece.
   • Variations of this electronic cigarette with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

8. Cartridge in an Electronic Cigarette:

   • A cartridge for an electronic cigarette, comprising a fluid storage compartment that stores a nicotine salt liquid formulation (where the acid has a vapor pressure >20 mmHg at 200° C.).
   • Variations of this cartridge with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

9. Kit:

   • A kit comprising an electronic cigarette (as described in the electronic cigarette claims, including a nicotine salt liquid formulation where the acid has a vapor pressure >20 mmHg at 200° C.) and instructions for using it to generate an inhalable aerosol.
   • Variations of this kit with the specific acid characteristics outlined in the "Nicotine Salt Liquid Formulation in an Electronic Cigarette" section above.

USPTO and CAFC Dockets:
A PTAB case, IPR2026-00161, was filed against US12156533B2 in 2026, though it has been marked as "Not Instituted - Procedural" and is currently pending. Additionally, there are US cases filed in the International Trade Commission (337-TA-1460) and the Arizona District Court (2:25-cv-02853) related to this patent family. No specific outcomes or details regarding these CAFC or ITC cases for 2026 were found directly for patent 12156533B2 in the provided search results beyond their filing.