Dermatome particularly useful for skin-grafting purposes

Claim 2

A dermatome, comprising: a handle; a blade-mounting head for mounting a cutting blade; a guard for controlling the cutting depth; and adjusting means for effecting an angular displacement between aid guard and the blade of the mounting head for varying the cutting depth; said guard being carried by said blade-mounting head so as to be movable therewith during the reciprocation of the blade-mounting head and extending the complete length of the cutting edge of the blade; said guard being rounded at its opposite ends enabling the full blade length to be used during the reciprocation of the head, blade and guard across the skin to be cut by the blade; said blade-mounting head being formed with projections at the ends protecting the corners of the cutting edge of the blade against catching the skin during use of the cutting blade.

Claim 3

The dermatome according to claim 1, wherein said handle is offset from the plane of the cutting blade.

Claim 4

The dermatome according to claim 1, wherein said blade-mounting head includes maans permitting the blade to be mounted from the underside of the head.

Claim 5

The dermatome according to claim 1, wherein said blade-mounting head comprises a top plate and a base plate hinged to the top plate along the rear side of the blade-mounting head, permitting the base plate to be pivoted to its open position for the insertion of a blade from the underside of the head.

Claim 6

The dermatome according to claim 4, wherein said base plate is formed with pins receivable in holes in the cutting blade.

Claim 7

The dermatome according to claim 5, further including a locking plate slidable laterally over the top plate and formed with bayonet slots for locking the base plate in its closed position with respect to the top plate.

Claim 8

The dermatome according to claim 4, wherein said base plate is formed with a resilient latch releasably engageable with the top plate for latching same in its closed position.

Claim 9

The dermatome according to claim 1, wherein said handle is offset from the plane of the blade-mounting head and is pivoted from a first position overlying said blade-mounting head, to a second position extending laterally of, but offset from, the blade-mounting head.

Claim 10

The dermatome according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a pin member and a slotted member receiving said pin member, one of said members being fixed to said blade-mounting head, and the other being fixed to said guard, said adjusting means including means for moving one of said members with respect to the other member to thereby effect said angular displacement between the blade-mounting head and the guard.

Claim 11

The dermatome according to claim 9, wherein said guard is fixed to said handle, and said slotted member is fixed to said blade-mounting head at an angle to said pin member, said pin member being adjustable on said handle to move along said slotted member and thereby to adjust the angle of said blade-mounting head with respect to said guard.

Claim 12

The dermatome according to claim 10, wherein said guard is in the form of a cylindrical rod circumscribing said blade-mounting head.

Claim 13

The dermatome according to claim 11, wherein said blade-mounting head is pivotably mounted at its opposite ends to said guard.

Claim 14

The dermatome according to claim 9, wherein said blade-mounting head is fixed to said handle, and said pin member is fixed to said guard, said slotted member being adjustable on said handle to move said pin member received therein, and thereby to adjust the angle of said blade-mounting head with respect to said guard.

Claim 15

An accessory for attachment to a dermatome including a handle and a blade holder, said accessory comprising a blade-mounting head attachable to said blade holder, and a guard for controlling the cutting depth, said guard being carried by said blade-mounting head so as to be movable therewith and extending the complete length of the cutting edge of the blade, said guard being rounded at its opposite ends enabling the full blade length to be used during the reciprocation of the blade-mounting head, blade and guard across the skin to be cut by the blade; said blade-mounting head being formed with projections at the ends protecting the corners of the cutting edge of the blade against catching the skin during use of the cutting blade; and adjusting means for effecting an angular displacement between said guard and the blade of the dermatome when the accessory is mounted thereon, for varying the cutting depth.

Claim 16

An accessory for attachment to a dermatome including a handle and a blade holder, said accessory comprising a blade-mounting head attachable to said blade holder, and a guard for controlling the cutting depth, said guard being carried by said blade-mounting head so as to be movable therewith and extending the complete length of the cutting edge of the blade, said guard being rounded at its opposite ends enabling the full blade length to be used during the reciprocation of the blade-mounting head, blade and guard across the skin to be cut by the blade; said blade-mounting head being formed with projections at the ends protecting the corners of the cutting edge of the blade against catching the skin during use of the cutting blade; and adjusting means for effecting an angular displacement between said guard and the blade of the dermatome when the accessory is mounted thereon, for varying the cutting depth.

Claim 17

The accessory according to claim 14, wherein said accessory further includes a mounting head for mounting on the cutting blade of the dermatome.

Claim 18

The accessory according to claim 5, wherein said guard is integrally formed with said mounting head.

Claim 19

The accessory according to claim 15, wherein said guard is in the form of a cylindrical rod extending the complete length of the cutting edge of the blade, when the accessory is mounted to said dermatome, said adjusting means angularly displacing said cylindrical rod with respect to said mounting head.