Patent ID: 8002779

Claim:
A dermatome comprising: a main body having a first profile and a longitudinal axis; and at least one blade assembly generally lying in a plane and comprising a blade, a size, a non-inverted orientation corresponding to the main body, a second profile having characteristics corresponding to the first profile to properly orient and locate the at least one blade assembly for proper mounting to the main body, an outer back surface extending transverse to the plane and forming the second profile wherein only the outer back surface forms the second profile, and at least two contours spaced along the outer back surface and forming part of the outer back surface as a portion of the second profile, the contours extending with the plane, wherein the blade assembly will not mount to the main body unless the size or non-inverted orientation corresponds to the main body, wherein the profiles are shaped to provide clearance for the second profile to reciprocate in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis and in relation to the first profile, wherein the first profile has contours corresponding to the contours of the second profile and including a convex contour on one of the profiles that is received in a concave contour on the other profile, and wherein the blade assembly cannot be mounted on the main body for use unless the first and second profiles are generally aligned with each other; further comprising at least two sets of corresponding contours wherein the sets are spaced from each other along the profiles and in opposite configurations so that each profile has at least a concave contour spaced from a convex contour.