Sophie Oldroyd

Sophie joined Carpmaels & Ransford in 2024 as a Trainee Patent Attorney within the Engineering and Tech teams. Since joining the firm, Sophie has been involved in a range of prosecution work for clients in the healthcare sector, focusing on medical devices such as mapping and ablation catheters, surgical instruments, and ophthalmological devices.

Prior to joining the firm, Sophie obtained a first-class degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford. Sophie then moved to Cambridge, where she completed an MRes in Sensor Technologies before beginning her PhD in Bioelectronic Engineering at the University of Cambridge.

Sophie’s doctoral research focused on developing two types of conducting polymer-based organic electrode arrays to monitor and manipulate gastrointestinal cell activity.

The first was an all-planar electrochemical device for real-time intestinal permeability monitoring. Sophie’s work focused on the design and microfabrication of a flexible polymer-based substrate with patterned gold tracks and conducting polymer-coated electrodes arranged in a circular array. Sophie designed the electronic hardware to interface the device with a potentiostat, iterating several versions to achieve miniaturisation so that the device could be used with tissue biopsies. The device was used in a clinical study investigating the effects of irritable bowel syndrome on gastrointestinal function.

The second was a stretchable electrode/strain gauge for simultaneous monitoring of the electrical and mechanical responses of gut tissue. The device architecture was based on a silicone polymer substrate with conducting polymer tracks. Sophie’s work focused on developing the conducting polymer formulation, which was doped with fluorosurfactants and polymers to optimise conductivity, electrical sensitivity to strain, and stability under cyclic loading. Sophie optimised electrostimulation parameters so that the device could both monitor and induce contractions in gastrointestinal tissue. Sophie explored stretchable adhesives to ensure the device maintained stable contact during the dynamic movement of gastrointestinal tissue.

Outside of the office, Sophie enjoys hiking and travelling. She also enjoys cooking, hosting dinner parties and exploring the London restaurant scene.