Patent ID: 7378168

Claim:
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and a microvalve assembly operatively connected to the one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, wherein the microvalve assembly comprises; (a) a stationary microvalve body comprising a polymer, elastomer or rubber and an aperture located between a first surface and a second surface; (b) a movable microactuator connected to the microvalve body and capable of moving between a first position where fluid cannot pass through the microvalve body aperture and a second position which allows fluid to pass through the microvalve body aperture; and (c) a segment of a circuit extending from a first lead located on the microvalve body to a resistive material layer of the movable microactuator to a second lead of the microvalve body.