Four graduates of Trine University’s biomedical engineering program have been awarded a patent for their protective prosthetic sleeve, RipStop.
Graduates Colleen Bell, Lauren Cline, Olivia Coyne, and Devon Kelly developed the RipStop for their senior design project and were granted patent number 12035769 in July.
The journey to the patent began as a senior design partnership with Quality of Life Plus, a program that works to empower the lives of veterans with disabilities. The team focused on addressing a common challenge faced by people with lower-limb amputations—the tendency of prosthetic devices to catch on clothing, leading to discomfort and wear and tear on garments. Their solution is a prosthetic accessory designed to protect clothing and enhance the user’s overall comfort.
After their 2021 graduation, the team members pursued their respective careers but remained committed to advancing RipStop. They worked with a patent attorney to assess the feasibility of the patent and submitted their final design documentation, which had been meticulously prepared during their time at Trine.
The patent process, which involved revisions and consultations with an intellectual property law firm, took nearly three years to complete.
“We are currently enjoying the accomplishment of being first-time patent holders,” said Coyne. “We consider the current design to be medium-size, but we can easily modify the design to be both smaller and larger, making it available to a more-broad customer base.”
The team hopes to license their patent to a company that can bring the product to a larger population.
“I think we all have very different professional careers and have met a variety of professionals along the way who can help us with the next steps. I believe we have something that can make a difference,” Kelly said.
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided from Trine University.
