ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 16 -- United States Patent no. 12,303,408, issued on May 20, was assigned to RCM Enterprise LLC (Olympia, Wash.).
"Powered finger with locking rack mechanism" was invented by Erich Theodore Griebling (Olympia, Wash.) and Catherine Rocille Treadwell (Olympia, Wash.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "This disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, and devices for a powered prosthetic digit. The disclosed devices restore prehension in a person with missing fingers or thumb by providing motor-driven extension and flexion, and opposition to forces in the extension direction via a pawl and locking rack ratchet mechanism, thereby allowing an individual to manipulate or stabilize obj...