Patent ID: 7553132

Claim:
A micro device including a body that defines a chamber, the chamber having an input and an output for accommodating the flow of fluid therebetween, comprising: a moveable element disposed in the chamber, the moveable clement including an inner surface defining an opening in the moveable element; and a clutch mechanism engageable with the moveable element for controlling the movement thereof, the clutch mechanism including an expandable polymeric material having a volume responsive to the value of a predetermined environmental property such that the material has a first volume in response to the environmental property having a first value and a second volume in response to the environmental property having a second value; wherein: the polymeric material extends through the opening in the element; the polymeric material engages the inner surface of the element and prevents movement of the element with the polymeric material having the first volume; and the polymeric material disengages from the inner surface of the element with the polymeric material having the second volume so as to allow the element to move with respect to the polymeric material.