Patent ID: 7048768

Claim:
A method for positioning a prosthetic terminal device at desired orientations with respect to the distal end of an arm prosthesis to perform useful functions, comprising the steps of: providing a prosthetic wrist unit having a back section adapted to receive the distal end of an arm prosthesis, a front section rotatably connected with said back section to rotate relative thereto about a longitudinal axis extending through said arm prosthesis, rotary positioning means on said front section and releasable rotation locking means on said back section engageable with said rotary positioning means to lock said front section at a selected rotated position with respect to the longitudinal axis, quick disconnect connection means pivotally mounted on said front section to pivot about a transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis and having a receptacle at a distal end for releasable attachment of a terminal device thereto, angular positioning means on said quick disconnect connection means and flexion locking means on said wrist unit engageable with said angular positioning means to lock said quick disconnect connection means at a selected angular flexion or extension orientation about the transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis; releasably attaching a terminal device to said quick disconnect connection means; positioning and releasably locking said front section of said wrist unit and attached terminal device at a desired rotated pronation or supination orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis; and positioning and releasably locking said quick disconnect connection means and attached terminal device at a desired angular flexion or extension orientation about the transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis; whereby the terminal device is selectively positioned at a desired pronation or supination orientation and a desired angular flexion or extension orientation with respect to the distal end of the arm prosthesis and manipulated to perform useful functions.