Stephanie M. Mansfield, Ph.D. is a registered patent agent with a focus on the biomedical and mechanical arts.
Stephanie Mansfield is a registered patent agent with over 25 years of experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the biomedical and mechanical arts, with particular emphasis in the areas of medical, orthopedic, and biomechanical devices, surgical instruments, tissue engineering, audio equipment, and consumer products. For example, Stephanie has drafted patents many directed to joint prostheses, engineered tissues, drug-delivery devices, and consumer products which have been enforced or licensed, some for multi-million dollar sums.
Stephanie’s multi-disciplinary doctoral research combined the areas of muscle physiology, biomechanics, plastic surgery, and cell biology. She has found that her scientific background and prior research experience create an instant rapport with many inventors, especially medical doctors and scientists. In addition to patent preparation and prosecution for her clients, Stephanie’s practice includes patentability searches and evaluations, competitor patent and technology monitoring, technical design and product development consulting, technical support for freedom to operate opinions, and all aspects of domestic and foreign portfolio management.
Stephanie works with clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations, to hospitals, universities and research institutions, to smaller start-ups and individual physicians. She has developed client relationships where she is involved in the early stages of a client’s product development cycle, where this access allows her to assist clients with decisions regarding new product directions based on her investigation and understanding of current patents and competitors in a particular field. Stephanie finds that responsiveness to a client’s intellectual property needs, whatever those may be, is a key factor in maintaining a solid client relationship, as well as being able to anticipate a client’s future requirements and proactively provide solutions.
Education
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
Organizations & Affiliations
Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association
Biomedical Engineering Society, Industry & Clinical Committee – Conference Chair
Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council
External advisor, BEST program, Wayne State University
Judson Center, Autism Connections – Steering Committee for Team Autism
Recognitions
“Distinguished Volunteer,” Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Detroit Chapter, 28th Annual National Philanthropy Day, 2019
Presentations
Panelist – “Alternative Careers in Biomedical Engineering,” Biomedical Engineering Society`s (BMES) Midwest Biomedical Engineering Career Conference, November 2014
Co-Presenter – “Patents 101,” Law Module, Wayne State University`s (WSU) Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) Program, November 2014
Presenter – “Patents: The Basics for Protecting Inventions,” Henry Ford Innovation Institute`s William Davidson Center for Entrepreneurs in Digital Health, October 2014
Presenter – “Patents: The Basics for Protecting Inventions,” Henry Ford Health Systems Innovators’ Series, July 2014
Co-Presenter – “12 Intellectual Property Mistakes & How To Avoid Them,” Brooks Kushman Lunch & Learn, Southfield, Michigan, November 2013
Presenter – “Intellectual Property Breakout Session,” Ladies Who Launch, September 2007
Presenter – “The Fundamentals of Intellectual Property,” American Business Women’s Association, June 2005
Presenter – “Intellectual Property Breakout Session,” Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, May 2004
Publications
“Recovery of Muscle Transfers Replacing the Total Plantarflexor Muscle Group in Rats”, Journal of Applied Physiology 84: 1865-1871, 1998
“A Parametric Model of Muscle Moment Arm as a Function of Joint Angle: Application to the Dorsiflexor Muscle Group in Mice”, Journal of Biomechanics 29: 1621-1624, 1996
“Functional Evaluation at the Medial Gastrocnemius Donor Site”, Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery 12: 143-147, 1996
“Recovery of Medial Gastrocnemius Muscle Grafts in Rats: Implications for the Plantar Flexor Group”, Journal of Applied Physiology 77: 2773-2777, 1994