Modular, reduced-pressure, wound-closure systems and methods

1. A modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system for providing a closing force on a surface wound, the system comprising:

a flexible strap operable to be formed into a closed loop; and

a plurality of modular closing members selectively coupled to the flexible strap, each of the plurality of modular closing members comprising:

an attachment member for releasably attaching to a portion of a patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound, the attachment member having a base and a wall,

a sealed contracting member, which has a pneumatically sealed interior, having a first end and a second end, the second end coupled to the attachment member, wherein the sealed contracting member is operable to contract under reduced pressure,

a connection member coupled to the first end of the sealed contracting member, the connection member operable to selectively couple to the flexible strap, and

a reduced-pressure interface fluidly coupled to the pneumatically sealed interior of the sealed contracting member for delivering a reduced pressure to the sealed contracting member.

2. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to each reduced-pressure interface of each of the plurality of modular closing members, the reduced-pressure source operable to deliver reduced pressure to each reduced-pressure interface of the plurality of modular closing members.

3. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to each reduced-pressure interface of each of the plurality of modular closing members, the reduced-pressure source operable to deliver reduced pressure to each reduced-pressure interface of the plurality of modular closing members and wherein for each modular closing member, the reduced-pressure interface is coupled to the connection member.

4. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 further comprising a reduced-pressure source fluidly coupled to each reduced-pressure interface of each of the plurality of modular closing members, the reduced-pressure source operable to deliver reduced pressure to each reduced-pressure interface of the plurality of modular closing members and wherein for each modular closing member, the reduced-pressure interface is coupled to the attachment member.

5. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein the flexible strap is formed with a plurality of strap openings and wherein each reduced-pressure interface of each of the plurality of modular closing members is sized and configured to extend through a strap opening.

6. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein each sealed contracting member comprises a contracting manifold material.

7. The modular, reduced-pressure wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein:

for each modular closing member, the reduced-pressure interface is coupled to the connection member;

the flexible strap is formed with a plurality of strap openings and wherein each reduced-pressure interface of each of the plurality of modular closing members is sized and configured to extend through a strap opening; and

each sealed contracting member comprises a contracting manifold material.

8. A method of manufacturing a modular, reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for generating a closing force on a surface wound, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a flexible strap operable to be shaped into a closed loop; and

forming a plurality of modular closing members, wherein the step of forming a plurality of modular closing members comprises, for each of the plurality of modular closing members, the steps of:

forming an attachment member, the attachment member for releasably attaching to a portion of a patient's epidermis proximate an edge of the surface wound,

forming a pneumatically sealed contracting member having a first end and a second end, wherein the sealed contracting member is operable to contract under reduced pressure,

coupling the second end of the sealed contracting member to the attachment member,

forming a connection member, the connection member operable to selectively couple to the flexible strap, and

coupling the connection member to the first end of the sealed contracting member.

9. The method of manufacturing of claim 8 further comprising:

fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member of each modular closing member for delivering a reduced pressure to the sealed contracting member.

10. The method of manufacturing of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

providing a closing, reduced-pressure source; and

fluidly coupling the closing, reduced pressure source to each reduced-pressure interface of the plurality of modular closing members, the closing reduced-pressure source operable to deliver reduced pressure to each reduced-pressure interface of the plurality of modular closing members.

11. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 wherein the step of fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member comprises coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the connection member.

12. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 wherein the step of fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member comprises coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the attachment member.

13. The method of manufacturing of claim 8 wherein the step of forming a flexible strap comprises the step of forming a flexible strap with a plurality of strap openings.

14. The method of manufacturing of claim 8 wherein the step of forming a sealed contracting member comprises the step of forming a sealed contracting member that includes a contracting manifold material.

15. The method of manufacturing of claim 9 wherein:

the step of fluidly coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the sealed contracting member comprising coupling a reduced-pressure interface to the connection member;

the step of forming a flexible strap comprises the step of forming a flexible strap with a plurality of strap openings; and

the step of forming a sealed contracting member comprises the step of forming a sealed contracting member that includes a contracting manifold material.

16. A modular wound closure system for closing a wound on a patient's epidermis using reduced pressure, the system comprising:

a plurality of closing devices that contract when under the influence of reduced pressure, each closing device having a distal end and a proximal end, the plurality of closing devices comprising a plurality of sealed contracting members having a pneumatically sealed interior;

a flexible member for maintaining the plurality of closing devices in a spaced relationship with the proximal ends inboard of an edge of the wound;

a plurality of attachment apparatuses for releasable coupling the distal ends of the plurality of closing devices to the patient's epidermis outboard of the edge of the wound; and

a plurality of reduced-pressure connectors for providing reduced pressure to the pneumatically sealed interiors of the plurality of closing devices.

17. The wound closure system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of closing devices are detachably mated to the flexible member.

18. The wound closure system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of closing devices have a first volume (V 1 ) at an ambient pressure and have a second volume (V 2 ) at a reduced pressure and wherein V 1 >V 2 .

19. The wound closure system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of closing devices are slideably mated to the flexible member.