PUBLIC VERSION
`
`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`
`Washington, D.C.
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN TOBACCO HEATING ARTICLES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`INV. NO. 337-TA-1199
`
`INITIAL DETERMINATION ON VIOLATION OF SECTION 337 AND
`RECOMMENDED DETERMINATION ON REMEDY AND BOND
`
`Administrative Law Judge Clark S. Cheney
`
`(May 14, 2021)
`
`Appearances:
`
`For Complainants RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, and R.J. Reynolds
`Tobacco Company:
`
`David M. Maiorana, Esq., Ryan B. McCrum, Esq., and Kenneth S. Luchesi, Esq. of Jones Day of
`Cleveland, OH
`
`Stephanie E. Parker, Esq. of Jones Day of Atlanta, GA
`
`Anthony M. Insogna, Esq. of Jones Day of San Diego, CA
`
`John J. Normile, Esq. of Jones Day of New York, NY
`
`For Respondents Altria Client Services LLC, Philip Morris USA, Inc., and Philip Morris
`Products S.A.:
`
`Maximilian A. Grant, Esq., Bert C. Reiser, Esq., and Jamie D. Underwood, Esq. of Latham &
`Watkins LLP of Washington, DC
`
`Brenda L. Danek, Esq. of Latham & Watkins LLP of Chicago, IL
`
`For the Office of Unfair Import Investigations:
`
`Margaret D. Macdonald, Esq., Anne Goalwin, Esq., and Sarah J. Sladic, Esq.
`
`

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`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`Table of Contents
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`III.
`
`Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2
`A. Procedural History .............................................................................................................. 2
`B. The Private Parties .............................................................................................................. 5
`1. Complainants ................................................................................................................ 5
`2. Respondents .................................................................................................................. 5
`C. The Asserted Patents ........................................................................................................... 6
`1. U.S. Patent No. 9,901,123............................................................................................. 6
`2. U.S. Patent No. 9,930,915........................................................................................... 10
`3. U.S. Patent No. 9,839,238........................................................................................... 11
`D. The Accused Products....................................................................................................... 14
`E. The Domestic Industry Products ....................................................................................... 14
`Jurisdiction & Importation ................................................................................................ 14
`A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction ............................................................................................... 14
`B. Personal Jurisdiction ......................................................................................................... 15
`C. Importation ........................................................................................................................ 15
`D. In Rem Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................... 16
`E. Standing ............................................................................................................................ 16
`Legal Principles ................................................................................................................ 16
`A. Claim Construction ........................................................................................................... 16
`B. Infringement ...................................................................................................................... 18
`1. Direct Infringement ..................................................................................................... 18
`2.
`Induced Infringement .................................................................................................. 19
`3. Contributory Infringement .......................................................................................... 19
`C. Validity ............................................................................................................................. 20
`1. Anticipation................................................................................................................. 20
`2. Obviousness ................................................................................................................ 20
`3. Written Description ..................................................................................................... 22
`4.
`Indefiniteness .............................................................................................................. 22
`D. Domestic Industry ............................................................................................................. 23
`1. Economic Prong .......................................................................................................... 23
`2. Technical Prong .......................................................................................................... 24
`
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`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`VI.
`
`IV.
`V.
`
`Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art ..................................................................................... 24
`The ’123 Patent ................................................................................................................. 25
`A. Claim Construction ........................................................................................................... 25
`B. Infringement ...................................................................................................................... 25
`1. Claim 27 ...................................................................................................................... 26
`2. Claims 28–30 .............................................................................................................. 34
`3.
`Indirect Infringement .................................................................................................. 34
`C. Technical Prong of the Domestic Industry Requirement .................................................. 36
`D. Validity ............................................................................................................................. 37
`The ’915 Patent ................................................................................................................. 41
`A. Claim Construction ........................................................................................................... 41
`B. Infringement ...................................................................................................................... 41
`1. Claim 1 ........................................................................................................................ 41
`2. Claims 2, 3, and 5 ....................................................................................................... 54
`3.
`Indirect Infringement .................................................................................................. 54
`C. Technical Prong of the Domestic Industry Requirement .................................................. 55
`D. Validity ............................................................................................................................. 57
`1. The Accord Devices .................................................................................................... 58
`2.
`Indefiniteness .............................................................................................................. 64
`The ’238 Patent ................................................................................................................. 64
`VII.
`A. Claim Construction ........................................................................................................... 64
`B. Infringement ...................................................................................................................... 65
`1. “an elongated shell with an interior, a proximal end, and an opposing distal end” .... 66
`2. “a coupler . . . having a first end that forms a wall and that engages the proximal
`end of the shell” .......................................................................................................... 68
`3. “configured to releasably engage a cartridge” ............................................................ 70
`4. “the coupler includes a pressure channel extending between a first end that is in
`fluid communication with the cavity and a second end that opens through the
`wall at the first end of the coupler” ............................................................................. 72
`5. “the first end of the pressure channel is spatially separated from the air inlet
`channel relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupler” ............................................ 76
`C. Indirect Infringement ........................................................................................................ 79
`D. Technical Prong of the Domestic Industry Requirement .................................................. 79
`
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`1. “extending between a first end that is in fluid communication with the cavity and
`a second end that opens through the wall at the body end of the coupler to be in
`fluid communication with the pressure reduction space” ........................................... 80
`2. “the first end of the pressure channel is spatially separated from the air inlet
`channel relative to the longitudinal axis of the coupler” ............................................ 83
`3. “wherein the first end of the pressure channel is spatially separated from the air
`inlet channel so as to be relatively nearer the connector end of the coupler” ............. 83
`E. Validity ............................................................................................................................. 84
`1. Cohen .......................................................................................................................... 85
`2. Newton ........................................................................................................................ 88
`3. Lack of Written Description ....................................................................................... 90
`VIII. Economic Prong of the Domestic Industry Requirement ................................................. 92
`A. The ’238 and ’915 Patents ................................................................................................ 92
`B. The ’123 Patent ................................................................................................................. 93
`1. Reynolds’s Investments in Plant and Equipment........................................................ 93
`2. Reynolds’s Employment of Labor and Capital ........................................................... 95
`3. Reynolds’s Investment in Exploitation of the ’123 Patent ......................................... 96
`C. FDA Approval of the Domestic Industry Products ........................................................... 97
`Conclusions of Law .......................................................................................................... 99
`Findings of Fact With Respect to the Public Interest ..................................................... 100
`A. The Public Health and Welfare ....................................................................................... 102
`1. Tobacco use harms the public health and welfare .................................................... 103
`2. The FDA found IQOS exposes users to carcinogens and is expected to cause
`them harm ................................................................................................................. 104
`3. The FDA did not find IQOS would provide a potential benefit to the population
`as a whole .................................................................................................................. 106
`4. Philip Morris has marketed IQOS to youth in contravention of its own policies
`and FDA restrictions ................................................................................................. 107
`5. Comments from members of the public do not support denial of a remedy ............. 110
`6. Combustion cigarette smokers have safer options than IQOS, and those options
`have been proven effective in reducing harm ........................................................... 118
`7. Public Health Conclusion ......................................................................................... 118
`B. The Production of Like Articles in the United States ..................................................... 119
`C. Competitive Conditions in the United States Economy ................................................. 122
`D. United States Customers ................................................................................................. 123
`
`IX.
`X.
`
`iv
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`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`XI.
`
`E. Public Interest Conclusion .............................................................................................. 123
`Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bond ..................................................... 123
`A. Limited Exclusion Order................................................................................................. 124
`B. Cease and Desist Order ................................................................................................... 126
`C. Bond During Presidential Review .................................................................................. 128
`XII.
`Initial Determination on Violation .................................................................................. 131
`XIII. Order ............................................................................................................................... 132
`
`v
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`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`Table of Abbreviations
`
`CC Order Order No. 28 issued on January 6, 2021
`
`CC Tr.
`
`Transcript of claim construction hearing held September 17, 2020
`
`CDX
`
`CIB
`
`CPB
`
`CPX
`
`CRB
`
`CX
`
`Dep.
`
`FDA
`
`JX
`
`Complainants’ demonstrative exhibit
`
`Complainants’ initial post-hearing brief
`
`Complainants’ pre-hearing brief
`
`Complainants’ physical exhibit
`
`Complainants’ responsive post-hearing brief
`
`Complainants’ exhibit
`
`Deposition
`
`U.S. Food and Drug Administration
`
`Joint Exhibit
`
`MRTP
`
`Modified risk tobacco product
`
`MRTPA Modified risk tobacco product application
`
`PMTA
`
`PRRP
`
`Pre-market tobacco application
`
`Potentially reduced risk product
`
`RDX
`
`RIB
`
`RPB
`
`RPX
`
`RRB
`
`RRP
`
`RX
`
`Respondents’ demonstrative exhibit
`
`Respondents’ initial post-hearing brief
`
`Respondents’ pre-hearing brief
`
`Respondents’ physical exhibit
`
`Respondents’ responsive post-hearing brief
`
`Reduced risk product
`
`Respondents’ exhibit
`
`vi
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`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`SDX
`
`SIB
`
`SPB
`
`Staff’s demonstrative exhibit
`
`Staff’s initial post-hearing brief
`
`Staff’s pre-hearing brief
`
`SPMTA
`
`Supplemental pre-market tobacco authorization
`
`SPX
`
`SRB
`
`Stip.
`
`SX
`
`Tr.
`
`Staff’s physical exhibit
`
`Staff’s responsive post-hearing brief
`
`Stipulation of the parties
`
`Staff’s exhibit
`
`Transcript
`
`vii
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`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
`
`Washington, D.C.
`
`In the Matter of
`
`CERTAIN TOBACCO HEATING ARTICLES
`AND COMPONENTS THEREOF
`
`INV. NO. 337-TA-1199
`
`INITIAL DETERMINATION ON VIOLATION OF SECTION 337 AND
`RECOMMENDED DETERMINATION ON REMEDY AND BOND
`
`Administrative Law Judge Clark S. Cheney
`
`(May 14, 2021)
`
`Pursuant to the Notice of Investigation, 85 Fed. Reg. 29482 (May 15, 2020), and 19 C.F.R.
`
`§§ 210.10(b), 210.42(a)(1)(i), this is the final initial determination in the matter of Certain
`
`Tobacco Heating Articles and Components Thereof, Investigation No. 337-TA-1199.
`
`For the reasons stated herein, I have determined that a violation of section 337 of the Tariff
`
`Act of 1930, as amended, has occurred in the importation into the United States, the sale for
`
`importation, or the sale within the United States after importation, of certain tobacco heating
`
`articles and components thereof based on infringement of U.S. Patent No. 9,901,123 and
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,930,915.
`
`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`A.
`
`Procedural History
`
`On April 9, 2020, complainants RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Vapor
`
`Company, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (collectively, “Reynolds” or “Complainants”)
`
`filed a complaint alleging violations of section 337 based on the importation into the United States,
`
`the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain tobacco
`
`heating articles and components thereof. 85 Fed. Reg. 21020 (Apr. 15, 2020); see EDIS Doc. ID
`
`707369. Reynolds submitted a letter supplementing the complaint on April 16, 2020. 85 Fed.
`
`Reg. 29482 (May 15, 2020); see EDIS Doc. ID 708090.
`
`On May 15, 2020, the Commission instituted Investigation No. 337-TA-1199 to determine:
`
`[W]hether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337
`in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or
`the sale within the United States after importation of certain
`products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one
`
`or more of claim 19 of the ’238 patent [U.S. Patent No. 9,839,238];
`
`claims 27–30 of the ’123 patent [U.S. Patent No. 9,901,123]; and
`claims 1, 2, and 5 of the ’915 patent [U.S. Patent No. 9,930,915];
`and whether an industry in the United States exists as required by
`subsection (a)(2) of section 337.
`
`85 Fed. Reg. 29482 (May 15, 2020) (“Notice of Investigation”).
`
`The plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products,
`
`which defines the scope of the investigation, is “electric tobacco heating device systems and the
`
`associated tobacco sticks sold for use with the device systems.” Notice of Investigation; see also
`
`19 C.F.R. § 210.10(b)(1).
`
`The Commission also ordered that:
`
`[T]he presiding administrative law judge shall take evidence or other
`information and hear arguments from the parties or other interested persons
`with respect to the public interest in this investigation, as appropriate, and
`
`2
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`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`provide the Commission with findings of fact and a recommended
`determination on this issue, which shall be limited to the statutory
`public interest factors set forth in 19 U.S.C. l337(d)(l), (f)(1), (g)(1).
`
`Notice of Investigation.
`
`The Notice of Investigation named the following entities as respondents: Altria Client
`
`Services LLC, Altria Group, Inc., Philip Morris USA, Inc., Philip Morris International Inc., and
`
`Philip Morris Products S.A. (collectively, “Philip Morris” or “Respondents”). Id.
`
`The Office of Unfair Import Investigations (“Staff”) is also a party to this investigation.
`
`Id.
`
`On June 2, 2020, I set the target date for this investigation at sixteen months, which makes
`
`this final initial determination due no later than May 14, 2021. Order No. 4 (June 2, 2020).
`
`On July 29, 2020, I granted a motion from Reynolds seeking leave to amend the complaint
`
`and notice of investigation to add allegations of infringement of claim 3 of the ’915 patent. Order
`
`No. 9 (July 29, 2020), unreviewed, Comm’n Notice (Aug. 18, 2020); see also 85 Fed. Reg. 52152
`
`(Aug. 4, 2020). Reynolds subsequently filed an amended complaint (“Compl.”). EDIS Doc. ID
`
`716122.
`
`In accordance with the procedural schedule issued as Order Nos. 5 and 10 on June 11,
`
`2020, and July 30, 2020, respectively, the parties submitted a joint chart of proposed claim
`
`constructions on August 13, 2020. The parties submitted opening claim construction briefs on
`
`August 21, 2020, and responsive claim construction briefs on September 4, 2020. On September
`
`17, 2020, I convened a claim construction hearing.1 I subsequently issued Order No. 28 (“CC
`
`Order”) on January 6, 2021, construing certain disputed claim terms.
`
`1 The transcript of the claim construction hearing is available as EDIS Doc. ID 721164 and is
`hereinafter referred to as “CC Tr.”
`
`3
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`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`On December 14, 2020, I granted a joint motion filed by Reynolds and Philip
`
`Morris seeking to terminate this investigation as to named respondents Altria Group, Inc.,
`
`and Philip Morris International Inc. Order No. 24 (Dec. 14, 2020), unreviewed, Comm’n
`
`Notice (Jan. 5, 2021).
`
`On January 19, 2021, I granted in part Reynolds’s motion for summary determination
`
`that it has satisfied the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement. Order No. 35
`
`(Jan. 19, 2021). Specifically, I determined the economic prong of the domestic industry
`
`requirement has been satisfied under 19 U.S.C. §§ 1337(a)(3)(A) and (B) with respect to the ’238
`
`and ’915 patents. See Order No. 35, at 5–6. On review, the Commission affirmed that the
`
`economic prong is satisfied under 19 U.S.C. § 1337(a)(3)(A) with respect to the ’238 and
`
`’915 patents and provided supplemental analysis. Notice of Commission Determination to
`
`Review and Affirm an Initial Determination Granting Summary Determination that the
`
`Economic Prong of the Domestic Industry Requirement Is Satisfied (EDIS Doc. ID 734509)
`
`(Feb. 18, 2021). The Commission reviewed but took no position as to my findings under 19
`
`U.S.C. § 1337(a)(3)(B). Id.
`
`To narrow the issues for the evidentiary hearing, Reynolds and Philip Morris entered into
`
`two stipulations regarding undisputed facts. See JX-0011C (Stipulation Among the Private Parties
`
`to Narrow the Issues for the Evidentiary Hearing) (“Stip.”); JX-0121C (Joint Stipulation Regarding
`
`Economic Domestic Industry) (“DI Stip.”).
`
`I held a prehearing conference on January 22, 2021, and convened the evidentiary hearing
`
`January 25, 2021. The evidentiary hearing ended on February 1, 2021. See Hrg. Tr. 1–1603.
`
`4
`
`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`B.
`
`The Private Parties
`
`1.
`
`Complainants
`
`RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. is a North Carolina corporation with its principal place of
`
`business located at 401 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. Compl. ¶ 7.
`
`RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. is the assignee and sole owner of the patents asserted in this
`
`investigation. See Compl. Exs. 4, 5, 6.
`
`R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company is a North Carolina corporation with its principal place of
`
`business located at 401 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. Compl. ¶ 8.
`
`R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company is an exclusive licensee of the patents asserted in this investigation
`
`and is responsible for developing, distributing, and selling the products on which Reynolds relies
`
`to show satisfaction of the domestic industry requirement. See id.
`
`R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is a North Carolina corporation with its principal place
`
`of business located at 401 North Main Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. Compl. ¶ 9.
`
`R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company provides research and technical support for the products on
`
`which Reynolds relies to show satisfaction of the domestic industry requirement. See id.
`
`2.
`
`Respondents
`
`Altria Client Services LLC is a Virginia corporation with offices at 6601 West Broad
`
`Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230. Response of Respondents Altria Client Services LLC, Altria
`
`Group, Inc., and Philip Morris USA, Inc., to the Amended Complaint and Notice of Investigation
`
`(“Philip Morris Resp. to Compl.”) ¶ 10 (EDIS Doc. ID 717980) (Aug. 24, 2020).
`
`Philip Morris USA, Inc. (“Philip Morris USA”) is a Virginia corporation with offices at
`
`6601 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23230. Id. ¶ 12. Philip Morris USA imports and
`
`5
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`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`sells after importation certain accused IQOS® systems and disposable tobacco sticks into
`
`the United States. Id.
`
`Philip Morris Products S.A. (“Philip Morris Products”) is organized under the laws
`
`of Switzerland with an address of Quai Jeanrenaud 3, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Id. ¶ 14.
`
`Philip Morris Products has imported into the United States and sold for importation into the
`
`United States certain accused IQOS® system products and disposable tobacco sticks. Id. Philip
`
`Morris Products is a premarket tobacco applicant with United States Food and Drug
`
`Administration (“FDA”) for the accused IQOS® systems and disposable tobacco sticks, and
`
`Philip Morris Products consulted with Altria Client Services LLC and Philip Morris USA to
`
`obtain FDA authorization in the United States. Id.
`
`C.
`
`The Asserted Patents
`
`Reynold asserts claims under three patents in this investigation: the ’123 patent, the ’915 patent,
`
`and the ’238 patent (collectively, the “Asserted Patents”).
`
`1.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 9,901,123
`
`The ’123 patent, titled “Tobacco-Containing Article,” issued on February 27, 2018, and names
`
`John Howard Robinson, David William Griffith, Jr., Billy Tyrone Conner, Evon Llewellyn
`
`Crooks, and Dempsey Bailey Brewer, Jr. as inventors. JX-0002 (“’123 patent”) at cover page.
`
`The ’123 patent issued from application no. 15/286,087, filed on October 5, 2016, and
`
`claims priority to application no. 11/550,634, which was filed on October 18, 2006, and issued
`
`as U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320. Id. The ’123 patent expires on October 18, 2026. Id.
`
`The ’123 patent is assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. ’123 patent at cover page;
`
`Compl. Ex. 5.
`
`6
`
`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`Reynolds asserts claims 27–30 of the ’123 patent against Philip Morris. See Notice of
`
`Investigation; CIB at 18. To prove satisfaction of the technical prong of the domestic
`
`industry requirement, Reynolds relies on claims 1, 4, 6, 11, 13–15, 17, 19, and 23–26 of the
`
`’123 patent. See CIB at 43. The claims at issue in this investigation read as follows:
`
`1. An electrically-powered, aerosol-generating smoking article comprising:
`
`an electrical power source within a tubular outer housing having a
`mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-end;
`
`at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical
`power source;
`
`a puff-actuated controller within the tubular outer housing and
`adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance
`heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for
`sensing draw on the smoking article by a user; and
`
`a rod-shaped carrier device engaged with the mouth-end of the
`tubular outer housing and comprising a cartridge providing a liquid
`storage compartment containing a mixture comprising a tobacco
`extract and an aerosol-forming material absorbed within an
`absorbent fibrous material, the cartridge having a generally tubular
`shape and adapted for airflow therethrough;
`
`wherein the rod-shaped carrier device is operatively positioned such
`that, during draw, the mixture comprising the tobacco extract and
`the aerosol-forming material can be wicked into contact with the
`electrical resistance heater and volatilized to produce a visible
`mainstream aerosol incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-
`derived components that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of
`the smoking article.
`
`4. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the flavoring agent comprises
`menthol.
`
`6. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises essentially
`pure nicotine, extracts composed predominantly of nicotine, or formulations
`composed predominantly of nicotine.
`
`11. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is electrically
`conductive.
`
`7
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`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`13. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises glycerin,
`tobacco extract, and a flavoring agent.
`
`14. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the absorbent fibrous material
`is in contact with the electrical resistance heater.
`
`electrically-powered,
`15. An
`comprising:
`
`aerosol-generating
`
`smoking
`
`article
`
`an electrical power source in the form of a battery within a tubular
`outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-
`end;
`
`at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical
`power source;
`
`a puff-actuated controller within the tubular outer housing and
`adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance
`heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for
`sensing draw on the smoking article by a user; and
`
`a rod-shaped carrier device removably engaged with the mouth-end
`of the tubular outer housing and comprising a cartridge providing a
`liquid storage compartment containing a mixture comprising a
`tobacco extract comprising nicotine and an aerosol-forming material
`selected from glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof, the
`mixture absorbed within an absorbent wicking material, the
`cartridge having a generally tubular shape and adapted for airflow
`therethrough;
`
`wherein the rod-shaped carrier device is operatively positioned such
`that, during draw, the mixture comprising the tobacco extract and
`the aerosol-forming material can be wicked into contact with the
`electrical resistance heater and volatilized to produce a visible
`mainstream aerosol incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-
`derived components that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of
`the smoking article.
`
`17. The smoking article of claim 16, wherein the flavoring agent comprises
`menthol.
`
`19. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the mixture comprises
`essentially pure nicotine, extracts composed predominantly of nicotine, or
`formulations composed predominantly of nicotine.
`
`8
`
`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`23. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the cartridge is electrically
`conductive.
`
`24. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the absorbent wicking material
`is in contact with the electrical resistance heater.
`
`25. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein the absorbent wicking material
`is positioned in proximity to the at least one electrical resistance heater.
`
`26. The smoking article of claim 15, wherein an air passageway extends
`along the length of the cartridge.
`
`electrically-powered,
`27. An
`comprising:
`
`aerosol-generating
`
`smoking
`
`article
`
`an electrical power source in the form of a battery within a tubular
`outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-
`end;
`
`at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical
`power source, wherein at least a portion of the resistance heating
`element is elongated and extending downstream toward the mouth-
`end of the outer housing, the elongated portion of the resistance
`heating element positioned proximal to the center of the outer
`housing;
`
`a controller within the tubular outer housing and adapted for
`regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater; and
`
`a cigarette-type device removably engaged with the mouth-end of
`the tubular outer housing and comprising a tobacco segment
`circumscribed by a wrapping material and comprising a tobacco
`material and an aerosol-forming material, wherein the elongated
`portion of the resistance heating element extends into the tobacco
`segment when the cigarette-type device is engaged with the mouth-
`end of the outer housing, such that during draw, aerosol-forming
`material can be volatilized to produce a visible mainstream aerosol
`incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-derived components
`that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of the smoking article.
`
`28. The smoking article of claim 27, wherein the cigarette-type device
`further comprises a filter element downstream from the tobacco segment.
`
`29. The smoking article of claim 27, further comprising an actuation
`mechanism in the form of a switching mechanism that can be manually
`operated by the user in order to heat the cigarette-type device.
`
`9
`
`

`

`PUBLIC VERSION
`
`30. The smoking article of claim 27, wherein the electrical resistance
`heating element provides surface region temperatures of at least 200° C. and
`less than 600° C. such that the tobacco material does not burn during use.
`
`’123 patent at claims 1, 4, 6, 11, 13–15, 17, 19, and 23–30.
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`2.
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`U.S. Patent No. 9,930,915
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`The ’915 patent, titled “Smoking Articles and Use Thereof for Yielding Inhalation
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`Materials,” issued on April 3, 2018, and names Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson,
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`Stephen Benson Sears, Denis Lee Potter, Frederic Phillipe Ampolini, and Balager Ademe as
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`inventors. JX-0003 (“’915 patent”) at cover page. The ’915