Patent ID: 7188731

Claim:
A variable flexure-based fluid filter apparatus for filtering particles from a fluid, comprising: a variable flexure-based fluid filter body, a fluid passage in said body, a fluid inlet connected to said fluid passage, a fluid outlet connected to said fluid passage, a flexure unit connected to said passage, an expandable piezo-electric stack connected to said passage and positioned proximate said flexure unit, a variable size passage between said flexure unit and said expandable piezo-electric stack, wherein said piezo-electric stack can be expanded for adjusting the size of said variable size passage for filtering said particles from said fluid and wherein expansion of said piezo-electric stack provides deflection of said flexure unit, a particle sequestering area connected to said fluid passage and located adjacent said flexure unit, said variable size passage, and said expandable piezo-electric stack, and a window in said body operatively connected to said particle sequestering area wherein said window allows visual inspection of said particle sequestering area.