Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism for changing a blade housing diameter between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The split blade housing includes an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The split includes a radial split section and an angled split section adjacent the inner wall. The mounting section includes first and second body portions on opposite sides of the split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between closed and open positions to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: An exemplary hand-held, power operated rotary knife dermatome comprises a blade housing assembly and a depth gauge assembly. The blade housing assembly includes an annular blade housing and a blade lock ring for rotatably supporting an annular rotary knife blade. The annular blade housing includes a shield extending radially inwardly from a blade receiving body and including an inner wall defining a tissue directing surface, the tissue directing surface including a first tissue guide surface extending upwardly from a lower end of the shield, the first tissue guide surface extending substantially parallel to the blade housing axially extending center line. The blade receiving body includes an annular blade channel extending axially upwardly from a lower surface of the blade receiving body, a bearing surface axially spaced from a lower surface of the blade receiving body, and a threaded portion formed on the outer surface of the annular blade housing.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body section including an outer wall including an upper, middle and lower portions. The upper portion of the outer wall including a bearing race extending radially inwardly into the outer wall. The lower portion of the outer wall including the driven gear. In one embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular land having an outer surface defining a radially outermost portion of the outer wall of the body, the outer surface of the annular land being radially outward of the driven gear and the bearing race. In another embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular channel having an inner surface being radially inward of first and second ends of the bearing race and the driven gear.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body includes an outer wall including an arcuate surface having an upper region extending from a first upper end portion to a second intermediate portion and a lower region extending from the second intermediate portion to a third lower end portion. A plurality of gear teeth extend downwardly from the upper end of the body, each of the plurality of gear teeth including an outer peripheral face forming a portion of the upper region of the arcuate surface of the outer wall. The body outer wall includes a bearing surface having a lower bearing face in the lower region of the arcuate surface and an upper hearing face in the upper region of the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism for changing a blade housing diameter between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The split blade housing includes an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The split includes a radial split section and an angled split section adjacent the inner wall. The mounting section includes first and second body portions on opposite sides of the split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between closed and open positions to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: A flexible shaft drive transmission coupled between a drive motor and a gear train of a power operated tool. The flexible shaft drive transmission includes: an outer casing having a bushing positioned at a tool end of the casing, the bushing defining a longitudinal central opening; lubricant disposed within the outer casing; and an elongated drive transmitting shaft assembly rotatable within the outer casing including a flexible drive transmitting and a coupler fitting affixed to the tool end of the drive transmitting shaft, the coupler fitting including a cylindrical body and an enlarged head extending distally from the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body fitting within the longitudinal central opening of the bushing and the enlarged head having a diameter greater than a diameter of the longitudinal central opening of the bushing. The enlarged head defining a square drive aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the drive transmitting shaft assembly.

Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism for changing a blade housing diameter between blade supporting and blade changing positions. The split blade housing includes an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The split includes a radial split section and an angled split section adjacent the inner wall. The mounting section includes first and second body portions on opposite sides of the split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between closed and open positions to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: A combination (2290) of an annular rotary knife blade (2300) and blade housing assembly (2400) for a power operated dermatome (2000). The rotary knife blade includes an inner wall (2310) defining an interior region (2301) and including a lower tissue-directing surface (2370) adjacent a cutting edge (2360) and a radially recessed upper portion (2380). The blade housing assembly includes a blade housing (2410) having a first end (2412) and an axially spaced apart second end (2414) and an inner wall (2416) and a radially spaced apart outer wall (2418). The blade housing includes a blade housing cover (2450) extending from the inner wall into the blade interior region. The blade housing cover includes a shield (2470) extending along the recessed upper portion of the rotary knife blade inner wall and having an inner surface (2472) adjacent and continuing the lower tissue-directing surface of the rotary knife blade inner wall.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body includes an outer wall including an arcuate surface having an upper region extending from a first upper end portion to a second intermediate portion and a lower region extending from the second intermediate portion to a third lower end portion. A plurality of gear teeth extend downwardly from the upper end of the body, each of the plurality of gear teeth including an outer peripheral face forming a portion of the upper region of the arcuate surface of the outer wall. The body outer wall includes a bearing surface having a lower bearing face in the lower region of the arcuate surface and an upper hearing face in the upper region of the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism actuatable for changing a blade housing diameter between a blade supporting position and a blade changing position. The blade housing including an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a radially extending split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The mounting section includes a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the radially extending split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between a first, closed position and a second, open position to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body includes an outer wall including an arcuate surface having an upper region extending from a first upper end portion to a second intermediate portion and a lower region extending from the second intermediate portion to a third lower end portion. A plurality of gear teeth extend downwardly from the upper end of the body, each of the plurality of gear teeth including an outer peripheral face forming a portion of the upper region of the arcuate surface of the outer wall. The body outer wall includes a bearing surface having a lower bearing face in the lower region of the arcuate surface and an upper bearing face in the upper region of the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A combination (2290) of an annular rotary knife blade (2300) and blade housing assembly (2400) for a power operated dermatome (2000). The rotary knife blade includes an inner wall (2310) defining an interior region (2301) and including a lower tissue-directing surface (2370) adjacent a cutting edge (2360) and a radially recessed upper portion (2380). The blade housing assembly includes a blade housing (2410) having a first end (2412) and an axially spaced apart second end (2414) and an inner wall (2416) and a radially spaced apart outer wall (2418). The blade housing includes a blade housing cover (2450) extending from the inner wall into the blade interior region. The blade housing cover includes a shield (2470) extending along the recessed upper portion of the rotary knife blade inner wall and having an inner surface (2472) adjacent and continuing the lower tissue-directing surface of the rotary knife blade inner wall.

Abstract: An exemplary hand-held, power operated dermatome comprises a blade housing assembly, a skin deflector, an annular rotary knife blade, a cutting plane, and a depth gauge. The rotary knife blade has an inner region, an upper body portion, and a lower cutting portion. The lower cutting portion has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a bottom surface. A cutting edge of the rotary knife blade is formed by the intersection between the inner surface and the bottom surface of the lower cutting portion. The cutting plane of the dermatome is defined by the cutting edge of the rotary knife blade, and the depth gauge is disposed within the inner region of the rotary knife blade.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body includes an outer wall including an arcuate surface having an upper region extending from a first upper end portion to a second intermediate portion and a lower region extending from the second intermediate portion to a third lower end portion. A plurality of gear teeth extend downwardly from the upper end of the body, each of the plurality of gear teeth including an outer peripheral face forming a portion of the upper region of the arcuate surface of the outer wall. The body outer wall includes a bearing surface having a lower bearing face in the lower region of the arcuate surface and an upper bearing face in the upper region of the arcuate surface.

Abstract: A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife including a split blade housing and a cam mechanism actuatable for changing a blade housing diameter between a blade supporting position and a blade changing position. The blade housing including an annular blade support section, a mounting section and a radially extending split extending through the mounting section and an inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall. The mounting section includes a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the radially extending split. The cam mechanism includes a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate. The cam member is rotatable between a first, closed position and a second, open position to change the blade housing diameter.

Abstract: A power operated rotary knife including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body section including an outer wall including an upper, middle and lower portions. The upper portion of the outer wall including a bearing race extending radially inwardly into the outer wall. The lower portion of the outer wall including the driven gear. In one embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular land having an outer surface defining a radially outermost portion of the outer wall of the body, the outer surface of the annular land being radially outward of the driven gear and the bearing race. In another embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular channel having an inner surface being radially inward of first and second ends of the bearing race and the driven gear.

Abstract: An exemplary hand-held, power operated rotary knife dermatome comprises a blade housing assembly and a depth gauge assembly. The blade housing assembly includes an annular blade housing and a blade lock ring for rotatably supporting an annular rotary knife blade. The annular blade housing includes a shield extending radially inwardly from a blade receiving body and including an inner wall defining a tissue directing surface, the tissue directing surface including a first tissue guide surface extending upwardly from a lower end of the shield, the first tissue guide surface extending substantially parallel to the blade housing axially extending center line. The blade receiving body includes an annular blade channel extending axially upwardly from a lower surface of the blade receiving body, a bearing surface axially spaced from a lower surface of the blade receiving body, and a threaded portion formed on the outer surface of the annular blade housing.

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 including an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation in a blade housing. The rotary knife blade including a body and a blade section extending from the body. The body section including an outer wall including an upper, middle and lower portions. The upper portion of the outer wall including a bearing race extending radially inwardly into the outer wall. The lower portion of the outer wall including the driven gear. In one embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular land having an outer surface defining a radially outermost portion of the outer wall of the body, the outer surface of the annular land being radially outward of the driven gear and the bearing race. In another embodiment, the intermediate portion includes an annular channel having an inner surface being radially inward of first and second ends of the bearing race and the driven gear.