Dermatome

Claim 2

A dermatome comprising in combination, a cutting head, a sliding surface defined on said head adapted to engage and slide over the skin during the cutting procedure, said surface intersecting a sharp edge extending toward and transversely to the direction of sliding, a cutting blade supported in said cutting head and arranged obliquely relative to said sliding surface engaging said sharp edge and including a cutting edge disposed adjacent said sharp edge of said sliding surface, an elongated gauge bar pivotally mounted on said cutting head forwardly of said sharp edge and said cutting edge with respect to the direction of operative movement, a flat, planar, gauge edge defined on said gauge bar extending in spaced parallel relation to said sharp and cutting edges defining a guide surface, said gauge bar being pivotally supported on said head about an axis parallel to said gauge edge and cutting edge, adjustment means mounted on said head for pivoting said gauge bar about saId axis to vary the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge, indicating means mounted on said head indicating the angular relationship of said gauge bar to its pivot axis to indicate the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge and the depth of cut being taken, said indicating means including an indicator drive pin affixed to said gauge bar offset with respect to said gauge bar pivot axis, an indicator pivotally mounted upon said cutting head, indicia defined on said cutting head adjacent said indicator, and connecting means interconnecting said indicator drive pin and said indicator wherein pivotal movement of said gauge bar about said axis is indicated by said indicator.

Claim 3

A dermatome as in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means includes an adjustment screw threaded upon said cutting head, said screw having a lower end disposed toward said gauge bar, a recess defined in said gauge bar offset with respect to said pivot axis receiving said screw lower end, and biasing means pivoting said gauge bar in a direction maintaining said screw lower end in engagement with said recess wherein adjustment of said screw adjusts the angular relationship of said gauge bar to its axis.

Claim 4

A dermatome as in claim 1 wherein said gauge bar includes a forwardly disposed rounded, chamfered edge extending parallel to said gauge edge, and said pivot axis is disposed adjacent said rounded, chamfered edge and is defined by axle journals extending through sidewalls defined upon said cutting head and received within bores defined in ends formed on said gauge bar.

Claim 5

A dermatome as in claim 1 wherein said cutting head includes a central forward region disposed forwardly of said gauge bar and cutting edge with respect to the direction of operative movement, a pair of cutting edge protective shoes slidably mounted upon said cutting head, a shoe being located at each lateral side of said head with respect to said central region and forwardly of said cutting edge preventing engagement of said cutting edge with the skin being cut at the location of said protective shoes and adjusting means for simultaneously moving said protective shoes toward and away from said central region.

Claim 6

In a dermatome as in claim 1, means mounted upon said cutter head for laterally reciprocating said cutting blade, a cover mounted upon said cutting head disposed adjacent and above said cutting edge, and rearwardly therefrom with respect to the direction of operative movement for receiving the skin being cut, said means supporting said cutting blade supporting said cover in a stationary manner with respect to said cutting head.

Claim 7

A dermatome comprising, in combination, a cutting head, a sliding surface defined on said head adapted to engage and slide over the skin during the cutting procedure, said surface intersection a sharp edge extending toward and transversly to the direction of sliding, a cutting blade supported in said cutting head and arranged obliquely relative to said sliding surface engaging said sharp edge and including a cutting edge disposed adjacent said sharp edge of said sliding surface, an elongated gauge bar pivotally mounted on said cutting head forwardly of said sharp edge and said cutting edge with respect to the direction of operative movement, the rear and bottom planar surfaces of said gauge bar converging in a sharp gauge edge extending in spaced parallel relation to said sharp and cutting edges defining a guide surface, said guage bar being pivotally supported on said head about an axis parallel to said gauge edge and cutting edge, adjustment means mounted on said head for pivoting said gauge bar about said axis to vary the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge, indicating means mounted on said head indicating the angular relationship of said gauge bar to its pivot axis to indicate the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge and the depth of cut being taken, said indicating means including an indicator drive pin affixed to said gauge bar offset with respect to said gauge bar pivot axis, an indicator pivotally mounted upon said cutting head, indicia defined on said cutting head adjacent said indicator, and connecting means interconnecting said indicator drive pin and said indicator wherein pivotal movement of said gauge bar about said axis is indicated by said indicator.

Claim 8

A dermatome comprising, in combination, a cutting head, a sliding surface defined on said head adapted to engage and slide over the skin during the cutting procedure, said surface intersection a sharp edge extending toward and transversly to the direction of sliding, a cutting blade supported in said cutting head and arranged obliquely relative to said sliding surface engaging said sharp edge and including a cutting edge disposed adjacent said sharp edge of said sliding surface, an elongated gauge bar pivotally mounted on said cutting head forwardly of said sharp edge and said cutting edge with respect to the direction of operative movement, the rear and bottom planar surfaces of said gauge bar converging in a sharp gauge edge extending in spaced parallel relation to said sharp and cutting edges defining a guide surface, said guage bar being pivotally supported on said head about an axis parallel to said gauge edge and cutting edge, adjustment means mounted on said head for pivoting said gauge bar about said axis to vary the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge, indicating means mounted on said head indicating the angular relationship of said gauge bar to its pivot axis to indicate the relationship of said gauge edge to said cutting edge and the depth of cut being taken, said indicating means including an indicator drive pin affixed to said gauge bar offset with respect to said gauge bar pivot axis, an indicator pivotally mounted upon said cutting head, indicia defined on said cutting head adjacent said indicator, and connecting means interconnecting said indicator drive pin and said indicator wherein pivotal movement of said gauge bar about said axis is indicated by said indicator.