Dermatome with orientation guides

1. A dermatome comprising:

a blade generally defining a plane;

a body generally defining a longitudinal axis, the body including a head and a bottom plate having a first flat outer surface and a substantially coplanar second flat outer surface laterally spaced from the first flat outer surface for engaging tissue and extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, the first flat outer surface and the second flat outer surface extending substantially horizontal as the body and longitudinal axis are held in an orientation for operating the dermatome, and the head having an end portion configured to hold the blade so that the plane generally extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and non-parallel to the first flat outer surface and the second flat outer surface at a predetermined angle relative to the first flat outer surface and the second flat outer surface, wherein the blade has a sharp cutting edge for engaging tissue and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis; and

a third flat outer surface of the bottom plate extending continuously and substantially from the first flat outer surface to the second flat outer surface at a tissue facing side of the blade and along the cutting edge, the third flat outer surface being at least substantially parallel to and non-coplanar to the first flat outer surface and set back from the first flat outer surface and the second flat outer surface; and

wherein the bottom plate is detachably attachable to the head and is detachable from the head while the plane of the blade held in the head extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.

2. The dermatome of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate further comprises a main portion, and at least one distinct guide extending outwardly from the main portion, and wherein the first flat outer surface and the second flat outer surface are formed by the at least one distinct guide for maintaining the blade at the predetermined angle.

3. The dermatome of claim 2 , wherein the at least one distinct guide has a free distal end and wherein the first flat outer surface is formed on the free distal end.

4. The dermatome of claim 2 , wherein the blade is further comprised of opposite first and second lateral sides; and

the at least one distinct guide includes first and second guides extending outwardly from the main portion;

wherein the first guide is positioned near the first lateral side of the blade and the second guide is positioned near the second lateral side of the blade.

5. The dermatome of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately between 25 and 45 degrees.

6. The dermatome of claim 2 wherein the at least one distinct guide extends across substantially an entire width of the body.

7. The dermatome of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises a front end surface, and the first flat outer surface extends at least partially transverse to the front end surface.

8. The dermatome of claim 2 wherein the main portion comprises a generally flat base member extending underneath the blade, and wherein the at least one distinct guide extends at least partially transversely and outwardly away from the base member.

9. The dermatome of claim 2 wherein the at least one distinct guide is wedge shaped.

10. The dermatome of claim 2 wherein the cutting edge faces a forward direction, and the at least one distinct guide is generally wedge shaped and tapers toward the blade as it extends in the forward direction and has a rounded rearward end extending away from the forward direction.

11. The dermatome of claim 10 wherein the rounded rearward end of the at least one distinct guide is positioned within a perimeter of the bottom plate.

12. A dermatome for cutting a tissue surface comprising:

a blade generally defining a plane;

a body holding the blade, generally defining a longitudinal axis, and having a head with a bottom outer surface generally extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a bottom plate detachable from the bottom outer surface of the head having first and second guide members for engaging the tissue surface extending downwardly from, and transversely to, the bottom outer surface, the first and second guide members each having a flat outer surface[s] that are coplanar and are configured to maintain the blade at an orientation so that the plane generally extends non-parallel to the tissue surface and the blade is maintained at a predetermined angle relative to the tissue surface during cutting of the tissue surface, whereby the dermatome at the predetermined angle substantially provides a continuous cut without significant skipping; and

the bottom plate having a flat outer surface extending continuously between the first and second guide members at a tissue facing side of the blade and being at least substantially parallel to and non-coplanar to the flat outer surfaces of the first and second guide members, and being set back from the flat outer surfaces of the first and second guide members; and

wherein the bottom outer surface of the head is capable of being maintained in a parallel position relative to the longitudinal axis while the bottom plate is detached from the head.

13. The dermatome of claim 12 , wherein the blade has a sharp edge, wherein the body has a handle extending on the opposite side of the first and second guide members and wherein the first and second guide members are configured to act as a fulcrum such that rotating the handle toward the tissue surface while the first and second guide members are in contact with the tissue surface removes the sharp edge from the tissue surface.

14. The dermatome of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately between 25 and 45 degrees.

15. The dermatome of claim 12 wherein the first and second guide members are configured so that the blade is maintained at the predetermined angle while the dermatome is moved along the tissue surface.

16. The dermatome of claim 12 wherein the first and second guide members are wedge shaped.