US Patent 7767877 Liquid-absorbing core

A liquid-absorbing core which is for use in suction type drug volatilizers which comprises hydrophilic fibers and/or water-absorbing fibers. The hydrophilic fibers have an affinity for water, and are rayon, cotton, etc. Especially preferred is rayon because it has a high affinity for water. Examples of the water-absorbing fibers include water-absorbing synthetic fibers made of a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or polysodium acrylate and other synthetic fibers treated by, e.g., adding and adhering polyvinyl alcohol or polysodium acrylate thereto or coating them with the polymer. In the liquid-absorbing core, the hydrophilic fibers and/or water-absorbing fibers may be disposed so as to have a porosity of 10 to 80%.