Reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment systems and methods

A reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient and for delivering reduced pressure to a tissue site, the reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system comprising:

• a wound-closing subsystem comprising:
• a first attachment member for releasably attaching to a first portion of the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound,
• a second attachment member for releasably attaching to a second portion of the patient's epidermis proximate the edge of the surface wound, wherein the first attachment member is spaced from the second attachment member,
• a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member and configured to contract under to reduced pressure, the sealed contracting member comprising:
• a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, patient-facing side, and a peripheral edge, a first sealing member disposed proximate the first side of the contracting manifold material, a second sealing member disposed proximate the second, patient-facing side of the contracting manifold material, and a peripheral sealing member disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material, wherein the first sealing member, second sealing member, and peripheral sealing member are pneumatically sealed to one another, wherein the contracting manifold material is pneumatically sealed from the surface wound;
• a reduced-pressure source operable to deliver a closing reduced pressure to the sealed contracting member,
• wherein a closing force is developed between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when the first reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member, and
• a reduced-pressure treatment subsystem comprising:
• a manifold for disposing proximate the tissue site, the manifold configured to distribute reduced pressure and to receive fluids,
• a sealing member for placement on the patient's epidermis and configured to form a pneumatic seal over the manifold, and
• wherein the reduced-pressure source is configured to deliver a treatment reduced pressure to the manifold.

A method for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• releasably attaching a first attachment member to a first portion of the patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound;
• releasably attaching a second attachment member to a second portion of the patient's epidermis proximate the edge of the surface wound, wherein the first attachment member is spaced from the second attachment member;
• providing a sealed contracting member coupled to the first attachment member and the second attachment member and configured to contract when placed under reduced pressure, the sealed contracting member comprising:
• a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, patient-facing side, and a peripheral edge,
• a first sealing member disposed proximate the first side of the contracting manifold material,
• a second sealing member disposed proximate the second, patient-facing side of the contracting manifold material, and
• a peripheral sealing member disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material,
• wherein the first sealing member, second sealing member, and peripheral sealing member are pneumatically sealed to one another, wherein the contracting manifold material is pneumatically sealed from the surface wound;
• and
• supplying reduced pressure to the sealed contracting member, whereby a closing force is developed between the first attachment member and the second attachment member.