The present invention relates to an oral nicotine product containing an ingestible battery. The present invention further relates to a system configured for providing an oral nicotine flavor including the oral nicotine product.

Oral nicotine products, such as oral tobacco can be made from cured tobacco leaves. Oral tobacco can be sweetened and flavored with licorice and other substances. Oral nicotine products can be consumed by placing a portion of the nicotine product or the tobacco product between the cheek and gum or upper lip and teeth. These oral nicotine products are often chewed in order to increase the release of the tobacco flavors and the other flavor components. Flavor perception for oral nicotine products currently relies on the ingredients provided in the oral nicotine products and in the addition of further flavorants. A user cannot further influence the flavor perception of an oral nicotine product during consumption. Often, the taste of an oral nicotine product changes during the course of consumption and may induce a negative consumer experience.

It would be desirable to provide an oral nicotine product providing a taste perception which can be adapted and adjusted individually by the user. It would furthermore be desirable to provide an oral nicotine product which does not include chemical flavourings for altering a user’s taste perception.

According to an embodiment of the present invention an oral nicotine product is provided. The oral nicotine product may comprise a first electrode area and a second electrode area. The oral nicotine product may comprise an ingestible battery. The ingestible battery may be configured for providing a current to the first and second electrode area. The nicotine product may also comprise a flavor material containing nicotine.

According to another embodiment of the present invention an oral nicotine product is provided. The oral nicotine product comprises a first electrode area and a second electrode area. The oral nicotine product furthermore comprises an ingestible battery. The ingestible battery is configured for providing a current to the first and second electrode area. Furthermore, the oral nicotine product comprises flavor material containing nicotine.

The first electrode area and the second electrode area may be configured for providing a current to a user’s oral cavity. The current may stimulate the user’s taste perception. The first and second electrode area of the oral nicotine product may alter the user’s taste perception of the flavor material including nicotine during use. Electrical taste stimulation is known to alter the taste perception of a user, when the user’s oral cavity comes in contact with an electrode arrangement which is able to apply differing current to the electrode arrangement (Ranasinghe, “Digitally Stimulating the Sensation of Taste Through Electrical and Thermal Stimulation”, PhD thesis national university of Singapore 2012). In particular section 2.3 of this PhD thesis titled “"Non-chemical based approaches" and Chapter 3 titled “Design Methodology" disclose approaches for electrically stimulating the taste perception. These sections are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Thus, at current applied to the first and second electrode area of the oral nicotine product may modify the user’s taste perception of the flavor material. This may provide an additional flavor perception for a user in addition to the flavor material containing nicotine. This may prolong a user’s pleasant flavor perception while consuming the oral nicotine product.

The first and second electrode area may form a part of the surface of the oral nicotine product. This may ensure that the first and second electrode area can come in contact with parts of the user’s oral cavity in order to stimulate the user’s taste perception.

The ingestible battery may be configured for providing one or both of a variable magnitude of the current and a variable frequency to the first and second electrode area. The ingestible battery may be configured for providing an alternating current for altering a user’s taste perception. This may provide one or more of: a salty taste perception, a sweet taste perception, a sour taste perception or a bitter taste perception to a user. The ingestible battery may be configured for providing a magnitude of the current of between 10 microamperes and 140 microamperes. The ingestible battery may be configured for providing a frequency of between 50 hertz to 1200 hertz. Preferably, the magnitude of the current may be between 10 microamperes and 160 microamperes. Preferably, the frequency of the current may be between 50 hertz to 1000 hertz.

A magnitude of the current between 20 to 55 microampere and a frequency of between 50 and 590 hertz may provide a salty taste perception. A magnitude of the current between 40 to around 200 microampere and a frequency of between 50 and 1200 hertz may provide a sour taste perception. A magnitude of the current of between 40 microamperes to 120 microamperes and a frequency of between 400 hertz to 1000 hertz may provide a bitter taste perception. A magnitude of the current of between 80 microamperes to 120 microamperes and a frequency of between 500 hertz to 700 hertz may provide a sweet taste perception if the current is inverted.

The magnitude of the current delivered by the ingestible battery may be up to 0.1 milliamperes at the voltage of less than or equal 1 volt. The operation lifetime of the ingestible battery after activation may be approximately 1 hour for a total charge capacity of approximately 0.1 milliamperes/hour.

The user’s oral cavity preferably may be the user’s mouth. In particular, the oral nicotine product may be configured to stimulate a user’s tongue. The ingestible battery may stimulate the taste buds of the user’s tongue. The user’s tongue is particularly well suited in order to be electrically stimulated by the oral nicotine product for stimulating of the taste perception.

The ingestible battery may comprise a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode may be an anode. The second electrode may be a cathode. Furthermore, a separator electrically separating the first electrode and the second electrode may be present. The ingestible battery also may comprise an electrolyte. The electrolyte may be configured to provide an ion transport between the first electrode and the second electrode of the ingestible battery. The ingestible battery also may comprise a first electrode lead and a second electrode lead. The first electrode lead may electrically connect the first electrode area with the first electrode. The second electrode lead may electrically connect the second electrode area with the second electrode of the ingestible battery. In particular, the first electrode lead may be the anode lead connecting the anode of the ingestible battery to the first electrode area, the first electrode area being an anode. The second electrode lead may be a cathode lead connecting the cathode of the ingestible battery to the second electrode area, the second electrode area being a cathode area.

The ingestible battery of the oral nicotine product may be configured to be activated by water. In particular, the ingestible battery may be configured to be activated by a user’s saliva. This may ensure, that the battery is only activated if the oral nicotine product comes in contact with a user’s aqueous body fluids, in particular saliva. This may ensure, that the ingestible battery is only activated, if the oral nicotine product is introduced into the user’s oral cavity.

The ingestible battery of the oral nicotine product may comprise an outer water- soluble casing. The water-soluble casing may protect the components of the ingestible battery from moisture, in particular water during storage. The water-soluble casing may enclose the anode, the cathode, the separator, the electrolyte and the first electrode lead in the second electrode lead. The outer water-soluble casing may comprise gelatine. The outer water-soluble casing may be dissolved when the oral nicotine product comes in contact with water, in particular when the oral nicotine product is introduced into the user’s oral cavity.

The ingestible battery of the oral nicotine product may comprise a reservoir of electrolyte. The reservoir may be configured to release the electrolyte upon contact with water. The electrolyte may be configured to be dissolved by water or a user’s saliva.

The electrolyte may comprise a salt. The electrolyte may comprise a salt selected from the group consisting of: sodium sulfate and potassium sulfate.

A water-permeable biocompatible polymer may be present in the ingestible battery. The water-permeable biocompatible polymer may enclose the reservoir of the electrolyte. Upon contact with water, the water-permeable biocompatible polymer may release the electrolyte. The electrolyte may be dissolved by the water. The electrolyte may diffuse into the ingestible battery, thereby activating the ingestible battery.

The water-permeable biocompatible polymer may be selected from a group of materials consisting of: polyester, an alpha-hydroxy polyester, a poly(L-lactide), a poly(glycolide), a poly(L-lactide) copolymer, a poly(glycolide) copolymer, a poly(e- caprolactone) (PCL), a polycarbonate, a polyorthoester, a polyanhydride, a polyphosphoester, and a polyamide.

The ingestible battery may be configured to be orally ingestible. The battery may comprise non-toxic materials that can be consumed, absorbed, metabolized and excreted by a user. The battery may comprise food-safe materials. The battery may comprise biocompatible materials. Preferably, the anode, the cathode, the separator, the electrolyte and the first electrode lead and second electrode lead may be made of biocompatible materials.

The anode may comprise an activated carbon electrode with intercalated sodium titanium phosphate. The cathode may comprise MnC>2. The separator may comprise fibrous cellulosic material. One or both of the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: gold, graphite material, a carbon material or a conducting polymer.

The oral nicotine product may comprise a hollow body. The ingestible battery may be located within the hollow body. The ingestible battery located within the hollow body may at least be partly protected when a user chews on the oral nicotine product.

The hollow body of the oral nicotine product may comprise a central part, a first end part and a second end part. The first end part and the second end part may be separated by the central part. The first end part may comprise the first electrode area. The second end part may comprise the second electrode area.

Such a hollow body may be shaped like a capsule. Such a capsule may be well suited in order to stimulate a user’s taste perception via the first electrode area and the second electrode area.

The central part may form a separator. The separator may electrically separate the first end part from the second end part.

The central part may comprise one or both of an absorbent material including the flavor material or a plant-based material comprising nicotine. Preferably, the central part may comprise a fibrous retention material, such as cotton or a plant-based material comprising nicotine, such as tobacco.

In one form, the tobacco may include finely ground particles of a blend of tobaccos, including blends comprising Bright, Burley. Dark Air Cured or Oriental tobaccos and other blend components, such as ground improved stem, and also including traditional tobacco flavors, tobacco flavor enhancers or combinations thereof such as those found in cigarettes. In one form, the tobacco may comprise up to 100 percent improved stem. In another form, the tobacco may comprise 100 percent improved bright stem. In another form, the tobacco may instead include individual tobacco blend components, such as the natural tobaccos, reconstituted tobacco sheet, or tobacco substitutes of natural or synthetic origin. A single variety of the aforementioned tobaccos may be used instead of a blend. The tobacco may be cured or uncured; however, cured tobacco is preferred. The tobacco may include one or more of ground tobacco laminae, powdered tobacco laminae and stem (e.g., tobacco fines) having an average particle size of less than about 1 mm (e.g., less than about 0.5 mm or less than about 0.1 mm). Further, the average particle size may be greater than about 100 nanometers or greater than about 1 micron. In a further form, the compressed tobacco product is infused with at least one lipid. In a further form, the tobacco may comprise binder. The binder can comprise pullulan, cellulose ethers, sodium alginate, pectin, gums, starches, sugar alcohols, sodium carbonate, calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, maltodextrin, and mixtures thereof.

One or both of the first electrode area and the second electrode area may comprise one or more of: semiconducting polymers, and polystyrene silver. One or both of the first electrode area and the second electrode area may be selected from a group consisting of: polyacetylene; polyphenylene vinylene; polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline and polyphenylene sulfide.

These materials may be food safe on the one hand, but on the other hand also might be sufficiently electrically conductive in order to provide a current to a user’s oral cavity.

The oral nicotine product may further comprise a communication element configured for providing a wireless communication with an external device. The communication element may comprise a transponder. The transponder may be configured to send data and to receive data from the external device.

The oral nicotine product furthermore may comprise a control element, the control element being configured for one or more of: processing user preferences about taste perception, and processing data about the current provided by the battery, processing data about the frequency provided by the battery, controlling the current including the alternating current applied to the first and second electrode area.

Preferably, the control element may comprise an integrated circuit board.

The ingestible battery of the oral nicotine product may be configured for being remotely controlled by the external device.

The external device may be an electronic handheld device. Preferably the handheld device may be selected from a group consisting of: a smart phone, and a tablet computer. This may enable a user to remotely control the oral nicotine product. In particular a user may be able to control one or both of the current in the frequency provided by the ingestible battery in order to change the taste perception of the oral nicotine product during use.

This may provide a user with the possibility to change the taste perception of the oral nicotine product at a user’s convenience. The oral nicotine product therefore may be configured to provide an oral nicotine flavor with variable taste perception to a user. In particular, a user may be able to change the taste perception of the oral nicotine product after a prolonged use, in order to counter any uncomfortable taste perception developing during the use. This may prolong the consumption time of the oral nicotine product.

The oral nicotine product may be mounted on a handling element. This handling element may enable the use of the oral nicotine product similar to a “lollipop” In that the user may operate the handling element during use, so that the user maintains control of the positioning of the oral nicotine product. The handling element may have any suitable structure permitting the user to engage with and control the oral nicotine product within the user’s mouth. For example, the handling element may be a loop, a stick, or a curved structure. The handling element may be collapsible or extentable by the user.

The invention also provides a system configured for providing an oral nicotine flavor with variable taste perception to a user. The system may comprise an oral nicotine product as described herein. The system may also comprise an external device configured to remotely control the oral nicotine product.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a system configured for providing an oral nicotine flavor with variable taste perception to a user. The system comprises an oral nicotine product as described herein. The system furthermore comprises an external device configured to remotely control the oral nicotine product.

Such a system may be configured to allow a user to remotely control the taste perception of the oral nicotine product via the external device.

The external device may be configured to control one or both of the magnitude of the current and the frequency provided by the ingestible battery. This may provide one or more of salty taste perception, a sweet taste perception, a sour taste perception or a bitter taste perception to the user.

The external device of the system may be an electronic handheld device. Preferably the handheld device may be selected from a group consisting of: a smart phone, a smart watch, a smart or electronic bracelet, or a tablet computer.

The external device may be configured to send a signal to the oral nicotine product. In particular its communication element. This signal may apply a specific current to first electrode area and second electrode area of the oral nicotine product. Thus, an alternating current in a range from 20 milliamperes to 200 milliamperes with steps of 20 milliamperes may be applied in order to alter the user’s taste perception.

Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example A: Oral nicotine product comprising:

- a first electrode area and a second electrode area, ,

- an ingestible battery configured for providing a current to the first and second electrode area, and

- a flavor material containing nicotine.

Example B: Oral nicotine product according to example A, wherein the ingestible battery is configured to be activated by water, preferably by the user’s saliva.

Example C: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, further comprising a communication element configured for providing a wireless communication with an external device, preferably wherein the communication element comprises a transponder.

Example D: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding example C, further comprising a control element, being configured for one or more of: processing user preferences about taste perception, processing data about the current provided by the battery , processing data about the frequency provided by the battery , preferably wherein the control element is an integrated circuit board, more preferably wherein the ingestible battery is configured for being remotely controlled by the external device.

Example E: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the ingestible battery is configured for providing one or both of a variable magnitude of current and a variable frequency to the first and second electrode area for providing one or more of a salty taste perception, a sweet taste perception, a sour taste perception or a bitter taste perception, preferably wherein the ingestible battery is configured for providing a current between 10 microamperes and 140 microamperes and a frequency between 50 hertz to 1200 hertz.

Example F: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the ingestible battery comprises an outer water-soluble casing, preferably wherein the casing comprises gelatine.

Example G: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, further comprising a hollow body, preferably wherein the ingestible battery is located within the hollow body.

Example H: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding example, wherein the hollow body comprises a central part, a first end part and a second end part, the first and the second end part separated by the central part, preferably wherein the first end part comprises the first electrode area and wherein the second end part comprises the second electrode area.

Example I: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding examples I, wherein the central part comprises the flavor material containing nicotine, preferably wherein the central part forms a separator electrically separating the first end part and the second end part.

Example J: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding example I, wherein the central part comprises one or both of an absorbent material including the flavor material, or a plant based material comprising nicotine, preferably wherein the central part comprises one or both of a fibrous retention material, more preferably cotton or a plant-based material comprising the nicotine.

Example K: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the ingestible battery comprises a reservoir of electrolyte, the reservoir being configured to release the electrolyte upon contact with water, preferably wherein the electrolyte is configured to being dissolved by water or a user’s saliva.

Example L: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the ingestible battery comprises a first electrode and a second electrode being separated by a separator, preferably wherein the first electrode is the anode and the second electrode is the cathode.

Example M: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding example, wherein the anode, the cathode and the separator are made of biocompatible materials, preferably wherein one or more of:

- the anode comprises an activated carbon electrode with intercalated sodium titanium phosphate,

- the cathode comprises MnO2, or

- the separator comprises fibrous cellulosic material.

Example N: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the ingestible battery is electrically connected to the first electrode area by a first electrode lead and is electrically connected to the second electrode area by a second electrode lead, preferably wherein the first electrode lead is an anode lead connecting the anode to the first electrode area and wherein the second electrode lead is a cathode lead connecting the cathode to the second electrode area.

Example O: Oral nicotine product according to the preceding example, wherein one or both of the first electrode lead and the second electrode lead comprise a material selected from the group consisting of: gold material, a graphite material, a carbon material, or a conducting polymer. Example P: Oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding examples, wherein one or both of the first electrode area and the second electrode area comprise one or more of: semiconducting polymers, polystyrene silver, preferably wherein one or both of the first electrode area and the second electrode area are selected from a group consisting of: polyacetylene; polyphenylene vinylene; polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyaniline and polyphenylene sulfide.

Example Q: System configured for providing an oral nicotine flavour with variable taste perception to a user, the system comprising:

- an oral nicotine product according to any of the preceding claims, and

- an external device configured to remotely control the oral nicotine product.

Example R: System according to the preceding example, wherein the external device is configured to control one or both of the current and the frequency provided by the ingestible battery for providing one or more of a salty taste perception, a sweet taste perception, a sour taste perception or a bitter taste perception.

Example S: System according to any of the preceding examples Q or R, wherein the external device is an electronic handheld device, preferably wherein the handheld device is selected from a group consisting of: a smartphone, and a tablet computer.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1A to 1C show a disassembled oral nicotine product as well as different embodiments of the assembled oral nicotine product;

Fig. 2B shows a transparent view of the oral nicotine product detailing the ingestible battery;

Fig. 3 depicts a schematic view of the ingestible battery; and

Fig. 4 depicts a graph detailing the different taste perception’s depending on the magnitude of the current and the frequency applied to the electrode area is of the oral nicotine product.

In the following the same elements are marked with the same reference numerals throughout all the figures.

Fig. 1A depicts a disassembled oral nicotine product 10. The oral nicotine product 10 includes a hollow body 20 comprising a central part 18 and a first end part 14 and a second end part 16. The central part 18 comprises the flavor material containing nicotine, for example in the form of an absorbent material including liquid, absorbed flavor material. Alternatively, the central part may comprise a plant-based material comprising the nicotine, such as oral tobacco including a binder, as already described herein. The first end part and the 2 ^nd end part each include up first locking element 14A and a second locking element 16A, respectively. These locking elements allow first end part and the second end part to be connected to central part 18. The first end part and the second end part together with the central part 18 form a hollow body 20. In the interior of the hollow body 20 an ingestible battery 12 is positioned. This ingestible battery 12 can provide a current to the first electrode area via a first electrode lead 12B. Similarly, the ingestible battery 12 can also provide a current to the second end part via the second electrode lead 12A. In particular, the first end part can form the first electrode area, for example the anode. The second end part can form the second electrode area of the oral nicotine product, for example the cathode. On top of the ingestible battery 12 a communication element 9, for example a transponder is present. This communication element allows the oral nicotine product to be remotely controlled.

Fig. 1 B depicts the oral nicotine product 10 of Fig. 1A after assembly of the different parts. The ingestible battery is accommodated in the interior of the hollow body 20 and is not visible anymore. Only the central part 18 and the first end part 14 and the second end part 16 are visible. The oral nicotine product can have the form of a typical capsule. Upon introducing the oral nicotine product into a user’s oral cavity, the ingestible battery is activated by a user’s saliva. This battery can provide a current to the first end part, the first electrode area and to the second end part, the second electrode area of the oral nicotine product. This can impart a certain taste perception to the user in addition to the flavor material being present in the central part 18 of the oral nicotine product 10.

Fig. 1C depicts another embodiment of an oral nicotine product 10 in the form of a “lollipop”. This oral nicotine product additionally is mounted on a stick 11 and can be handled by a user similar to a “lollipop”. This may ensure, that the oral nicotine product is not accidentally swallowed by the user.

Fig. 2 shows a transparent oral nicotine product 10, detailing further parts of the ingestible battery 12. The ingestible battery 12 is surrounded by water-soluble casing, indicated by the dashed line. This water-soluble casing, for example gelatine can be dissolve, once the oral nicotine product is introduced into a user’s oral cavity. This allows water to enter the ingestible battery and activate the battery. The ingestible battery 12 includes a first electrode 13B, which is electrically connected to the first end part 14 via the first electrode lead 12 B. Furthermore, a second electrode 13 a is present, which is electrically connected to the second end part 16 of the oral nicotine product via the second electrode lead 12A. A separator 15 separates the first electrode from the second electrode. A control element 22, such as an integrated circuit board is present, which processes the data from the oral nicotine product and which allows the oral nicotine product to be remotely controlled by an external device, for example device such as a mobile phone or tablet computer. The first electrode, the second electrode and the separator, separating the first electrode and the second electrode may be stacked on top of each other for saving space.

Fig. 3 depicts a schematic view of the ingestible battery 12. The battery also includes a water-permeable biocompatible polymer 26, which includes electrolyte reservoirs 24. The electrolyte reservoir 24, for example can be the salt of a biocompatible electrolyte such as sodium sulfate or potassium sulfate. When coming in contact with a user’s saliva, water can permeate the biocompatible polymer 26 so that the electrolyte reservoirs 24 are dissolved and form the electrolyte activating the ingestible battery. The biocompatible cations denoted with 24 in Fig. 3 can travel through the separator 15 to the cathode 13A.

Fig. 4 depicts a graph showing the different taste perceptions which can be provided by the oral nicotine product depending on the magnitude of current and the frequency: A magnitude of the current of between 20 to 55 microampere and a frequency of between 50 and 590 hertz provides a salty taste perception. A magnitude of the current between 40 to around 200 microampere and a frequency of between 50 and 1200 hertz provides a sour taste perception. A magnitude of the current of between 40 microamperes to 120 microamperes and a frequency of between 400 hertz to 1000 hertz provides a bitter taste perception. A magnitude of the current of between 80 microamperes to 120 microamperes and a frequency of between 500 hertz to 700 hertz can lead to a sweet taste perception if the current is inverted