Stephanie Mansfield is a registered patent agent with over 20 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 and consumer products. For example, Stephanie has drafted patents directed to joint prostheses, engineered tissues, and drug-delivery devices which have been licensed for multi-million dollar sums. In her multi-disciplinary doctoral research, which combined the areas of muscle physiology, biomechanics, plastic surgery and cell biology, Stephanie explored the recovery of single muscle transfers in the rat hindlimb and the interaction between transfer mass and the structural and functional requirements of the recipient site. Stephanie has found that her prior research experience creates 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, and portfolio management. Stephanie 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 works with clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations, to hospitals, universities and research institutions, to smaller start-ups and individual physicians. Her practice extends beyond traditional patent prosecution and includes technical support for freedom to operate opinions as well as consulting with project managers and administrators on effective strategies to complete patent-related projects. She also meets regularly with in-house personnel to review outstanding matters and foster a team approach to managing a client’s intellectual property portfolio. 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. Stephanie enjoys playing soccer, running and yoga, as well as watching her boys participate in sports and music activities. She is also very active in the firm’s charitable efforts in supporting the Judson Center organization. For the last ten years, Stephanie has organized the Brooks Kushman Team Autism group that participates in running events at the Detroit Free Press Marathon, and raises money for Judson Center and its Autism Connections program.