Patent ID: 7186476

Claim:
A PEM fuel cell comprising: a cathode plate for directing a first fluid along a surface thereof; an anode plate for directing a second fluid along a surface thereof; an MEA oriented in a first direction, said MEA having an anode face opposing said anode plate and a cathode face opposing said cathode plate; a plate margin having first and second header apertures oriented in a second direction, said second direction perpendicular to said first direction; a first seal disposed between said anode plate and said MEA, said first seal defining a first fluid communication path between said first header aperture and said anode plate; and a second seal disposed between said cathode plate and said MEA, said second seal defining a second fluid communication path between said second header aperture and said cathode plate, said first and second seals directing said first and second fluid to flow through respective passages formed through non-planar portions of said first and second seals.