Claims for Patent: 10,688,518

Summary for Patent: 10,688,518

Title:	Method of manufacturing a vibratable head for an aerosol generator and vibratable head for an aerosol generator
Abstract:	The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vibratable head (1) for an aerosol generator (2), the vibratable head (1) comprising a support member (4), a vibratable membrane (6) supported by the support member (4) and a vibrator (8) configured to vibrate the vibratable membrane (6). The method comprises the steps of providing the support member (4), roughening a surface portion (10) of the support member (4) by laser structuring, applying an adhesive (9) to at least a part of the roughened surface portion (10) of the support member (4) and attaching at least one element to the support member (4) by at least a portion of the adhesive (9). Further, the invention relates to a vibratable head (1) manufactured by this method, an aerosol generator (2) comprising such a vibratable head (1) and a method of manufacturing such an aerosol generator (2).
Inventor(s):	Anzenberger; Hans-Lukas (Munich, DE), Brune; Nicole (Germering, DE), Benko; Durdica (Munich, DE)
Assignee:	PARI Pharma GmbH (Starnberg, DE)
Application Number:	15/749,847
Patent Claims:	1. A method of manufacturing a vibratable head for an aerosol generator, the vibratable head comprising a support member, a vibratable membrane supported by the support member, and a vibrator configured to vibrate the vibratable membrane, the method comprising the steps of providing the support member, roughening a surface portion of the support member by laser structuring, applying an adhesive to at least a part of the roughened surface portion of the support member, and attaching the vibrator and/or the vibratable membrane to the support member by at least a portion of the adhesive. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied to the entire roughened surface portion of the support member. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface portion of the support member is roughened by laser structuring using a pulsed laser beam. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the laser structuring of the surface portion of the support member, the support member and a laser beam are moved relative to each other with a speed in the range from 500 mm/s to 10000 mm/s. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support member is made of metal, preferably stainless steel. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a surface portion of the vibratable membrane is roughened by laser structuring. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vibratable membrane is formed integrally with the support member. 8. A method of manufacturing an aerosol generator, the method comprising the steps of manufacturing a vibratable head using the method according to claim 1, and at least partially accommodating the vibratable head in a housing. 9. A vibratable head for an aerosol generator, the vibratable head comprising a support member, a vibratable membrane supported by the support member, and a vibrator configured to vibrate the vibratable membrane, wherein a surface portion of the support member is roughened by laser structuring, an adhesive is applied to at least a part of the roughened surface portion of the support member, and the vibrator and/or the vibratable membrane is attached to the support member by at least a portion of the adhesive. 10. The vibratable head according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is applied to the entire roughened surface portion of the support member. 11. The vibratable head according to claim 9, wherein a surface portion of the vibratable membrane is roughened by laser structuring. 12. The vibratable head according to claim 9, wherein the vibratable membrane is formed integrally with the support member. 13. An aerosol generator comprising the vibratable head according to claim 10, and a housing, wherein the vibratable head is at least partially accommodated in the housing.