doing business as
employer : Naked Prosthetics founded : 2010 location : Olympia employees : 70 website : www . npdevices . com
Naked Prosthetics
This growing Olympia firm merges manufacturing and mass customization to create a full line of functional , high-quality prostheses . Their devices help people with finger and partial-hand amputations — primarily those in the trades — to regain function so they can get back to work and activities of daily living .
Brian Mittge
born of necessity : In 2010 , inventor Colin McDuff lost a finger in a hunting accident . The only prosthetic finger products he could find on the market were cosmetic , not functional , so he welded together cycling parts to build a prosthesis for himself . Seeing a wider need , he joined with his friend Bob Thompson , then the CEO of his family ’ s century-old business , Lincoln Creek Lumber . Naked Prosthetics was born , and now offers a line of four functional high-quality finger prostheses .
new technology : “ These products could not have been made until just a few years ago ,” Thompson said . Detailed CAD technology and 3-D printing make it possible to mass-produce mechanical prostheses , which include their custom body-driven devices ( PIPDriver , MCPDriver , and ThumbDriver ), designed for the unique shape of each patient ’ s hand and fingers after their amputation ; and the GripLock Finger , a passive , positionable device for those who suffered complete finger amputations or were born with congenital anomalies . The GripLock Finger weighs in at an industry best of 25 grams and can hold up to 200 pounds . Their prostheses , made from aluminum , stainless steel , and medical-grade nylon ( with a Conductive Tip that works on smart touch screens ), are strong and rugged .
supporting workers : Many patients are people who work with their hands , often in the construction field . Their injury not only changed their life , but also took away their livelihood . Giving them back finger functionality gives back their ability to support themselves and their families . “ Our target is for someone to swing a hammer in the rain ,” Thompson said .
full functionality : Patients quickly adapt to their new Naked Prosthetics device , intuitively using them for a vast range of tasks , including typing , sketching , playing piano , eating with utensils , shooting a bow and arrow , using wrenches and power tools , and picking out tomatoes at the supermarket .
life-changing : Thompson recalls one wearer , a 70-year-old nut farmer in Oregon , who said he didn ’ t feel comfortable shaking hands after he lost his fingers . That changed when he was fitted with his Naked Prosthetic devices . The new prostheses completely altered the narrative ; people began focusing on his prostheses instead of his injury . “ I don ’ t care what I look like ,” he said , “ but I won ’ t go out of the house without this on . People react differently to me , which changes the way I look at myself .” Another enduser , a concrete finisher , couldn ’ t work after his amputation ; his biggest fear was not being able to provide for his family . After being fitted , he was able to get back to work and start his own business . He told the company , “ You all aren ’ t changing lives , you ’ re saving them !”
“ These are guys in their working prime . They want to be able to be useful and get back to work . Being able to help them is really meaningful .”
— Bob Thompson , CEO , Naked Prosthetics