Abstract: A driver assembly detachably coupled between a flexible shaft drive transmission having an outer casing and an elongated drive transmitting shaft rotatable within the outer casing and a handle assembly of a power operated toot to provide rotational power from a coupler fitting of the drive transmitting shaft and a drive train of the power operated rotary knife. The driver assembly includes: a tube assembly comprising a main tube defining a throughbore and first and second bushings disposed within the throughbore at respective first and second ends of the main tube and a casing coupler secured to and extending beyond the second end of the main tube, the casing coupler configured to releasably attach the driver assembly to the outer casing; and an elongated shaft supported for rotation by the first and second bushings of the tube assembly.

Abstract: A two-part rotary knife blade (2300, 3300) for a power operated rotary knife. The knife blade (2300) includes a carrier portion (2302, 3302) and a blade portion (2350, 3350), the blade portion configured to be received in a nested relationship by the carrier portion and being releasably secured to the carrier portion by an attachment structure (2370, 3370). The attachment structure (2370, 3370) including a plurality of projections (2372, 3372) extending from one of an outer wall (2354, 3354) of the blade portion (2350, 3350) and the inner wall (2304, 3304) of the carrier portion and a plurality of sockets (2374, 3374) disposed in the other of the outer wall of the blade portion and the inner wall of the carrier portion, each of the plurality of projections being received in a respective different one of the plurality of sockets to releasably secure the blade portion to the carrier portion.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

Abstract: A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring.

Abstract: A method of assembling a flexible shaft drive transmission (4701) coupled between a drive motor and a power operated tool including the steps of: providing a drive transmitting shaft assembly (4800) including a flexible, elongated flex shaft (4702); providing an outer casing assembly (4702) including an outer casing (4704) defining a longitudinally extending throughbore and having a motor end (4710) and a tool end (4780); sliding a lock sleeve (4750) onto the motor end of the outer casing to a recessed position with respect to the motor end of the casing; inserting the motor end of the flex shaft through the tool end of the outer casing; affixing a driven fitting (4814) to the motor end of the flex shaft; advancing the lock sleeve to overlie the motor end of casing; and affixing a casing portion (4762) of the lock sleeve to the outer casing.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife having a reusable handle assembly and disposable blade support assembly including a head portion and a blade support portion extending from the head portion, wherein upon completion of a tissue debriding operation on a donor, the used blade support assembly is removed from the handle assembly and disposed of, the handle assembly is autoclaved/sterilized and a new, sterilized blade support assembly is affixed to the handle assembly prior to a subsequent use. The knife includes an attachment assembly to releasably attach the disposable blade support assembly to the handle assembly and a retainer structure positioned in an annular groove formed in a bottom surface of the blade housing portion, the retainer structure bearing against an annular rotary knife blade and the blade housing portion to permanently retain an annular body section of the blade in the annular groove.

Abstract: A flexible shaft drive transmission for transmitting rotational power between a drive motor and a gear train of a power operated tool. The flexible shaft drive transmission includes an elongated drive shaft assembly including a rotatable drive transmitting shaft assembly extending through an outer casing. The shaft drive transmission includes a motor end coupling affixed to one end the outer casing and adapted to be releasably connected to a mating coupling of the drive motor. The motor end coupling includes a coupling body having an outer surface tapered region tapering from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter at a distal end of the tapered region to facilitate insertion and proper alignment with the drive motor coupling. The drive transmitting shaft assembly includes a driven fitting having a plurality of drive faces surrounding an axially extending locating member for engagement with a mating drive fitting of the drive motor.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

Abstract: A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) and method of operation includes an annular rotary blade (380). The knife further comprises a head assembly (300) extending from a handle assembly (200), the head assembly for rotatably supporting the annular rotary blade. The knife also includes a drive mechanism (600) disposed within the head assembly comprising a pinion gear (604) and a pinion shaft (970) rotatably disposed within a bushing (610), the drive mechanism being operatively coupled to the annular rotary blade, rotating the annular blade during use. A movable lubrication assembly (900) supported along a frame body between the handle assembly and the annular rotary blade, the rotatable lubrication assembly being rotatably disposed about a longitudinal axis of the handle assembly and providing a lubrication path (1000) extending from a lubrication adapter (924) to the pinion gear (604).

Abstract: A thumbpiece or thumb support (400) positioned between a head assembly (300) and a handle assembly (200) of a power operated rotary knife (100). The thumb support (400) includes a thumb supporting surface (454) to support a thumb of an operator's hand during operation of the power operated rotary knife (100). The thumb support (400) comprises a base portion (410) and thumb supporting portion (450) including the thumb supporting surface (454). The thumb support (400) further includes an interface assembly (480) between the thumb supporting portion (450) and the base portion (410) for relative pivotal movement between the thumb supporting portion (450) and the base portion (410).

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife having a reusable handle assembly and disposable blade support assembly including a head portion and a blade support portion extending from the head portion, wherein upon completion of a tissue debriding operation on a donor, the used blade support assembly is removed from the handle assembly and disposed of, the handle assembly is autoclaved/sterilized and a new, sterilized blade support assembly is affixed to the handle assembly prior to a subsequent use. The knife includes an attachment assembly to releasably attach the disposable blade support assembly to the handle assembly and a retainer structure positioned in an annular groove formed in a bottom surface of the blade housing portion, the retainer structure bearing against an annular rotary knife blade and the blade housing portion to permanently retain an annular body section of the blade in the annular groove.

Abstract: A blade guide assembly for receiving the head assembly of a power operated rotary knife. The blade guide assembly includes: a blade guide and a cover secured to the blade guide to secure the head assembly within the blade guide. The blade guide includes a top wall, a bottom wall and an outer wall, an arcuate blade-receiving groove spaced radially inwardly from the outer wall, extending axially from the top wall and defining peripherally spaced apart ends, a head member-receiving channel extending radially inwardly from the outer wall and intersecting the arcuate groove, and a notched region intersecting the peripherally spaced apart ends of the arcuate blade-receiving groove. The cover includes a base secured to the top wall of the blade guide and overlying at least a portion of the arcuate blade-receiving groove and an outer extension defining an opening axially aligned with the notched region of the blade guide.

Abstract: A two-part rotary knife blade (2300, 3300) for a power operated rotary knife. The knife blade (2300) includes a carrier portion (2302, 3302) and a blade portion (2350, 3350), the blade portion configured to be received in a nested relationship by the carrier portion and being releasably secured to the carrier portion by an attachment structure (2370, 3370). The attachment structure (2370, 3370) including a plurality of projections (2372, 3372) extending from one of an outer wall (2354, 3354) of the blade portion (2350, 3350) and the inner wall (2304, 3304) of the carrier portion and a plurality of sockets (2374, 3374) disposed in the other of the outer wall of the blade portion and the inner wall of the carrier portion, each of the plurality of projections being received in a respective different one of the plurality of sockets to releasably secure the blade portion to the carrier portion.

Abstract: A rolling bearing strip for a power operated rotary knife providing bearing support for rotation of a rotary knife blade with respect to a blade housing. The rolling bearing strip includes: a plurality of rolling bearings disposed in spaced apart relation; and a flexible separator cage for positioning the plurality of spaced apart rolling bearings, the flexible separator cage including interlocking first and second ends, the first end of the separator cage including a wall defining a projecting member and the second end of the separator cage including a wall defining a receiving member, the first end projecting member and the second end receiving member being in opposed facing relationship and the first end projecting member extending into the second end receiving member to secure the first end to the second end and form an annular, continuous rolling bearing ring.

Abstract: A power operated knife comprises a blade supporting structure supporting an annular blade for rotation about a central axis. The blade and blade supporting structure are engagable along bearing contact locations that are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the axis so that the blade is stabilised both radially and axially as the knife operates. The blade supporting structure comprises a split blade housing member that is radially expandible and contractible to receive the blade. The split blade housing member and blade engage along relatively short lines of bearing contact that serve to minimize friction and blade heating when the knife operates. The bearing locations are spaced apart both circumferentially around the blade perimeter and in the direction of the axis so that the blade position is stabilized during operation of the knifes.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).