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

1. A reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for providing a closing force to a surface wound on a patient, the reduced-pressure, wound-closure system 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 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

wherein a closing force is developed between the first attachment member and the second attachment member when reduced pressure is supplied to the sealed contracting member.

2. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 1 further comprising a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the second attachment member.

3. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein

the first attachment member comprises a first base member and a first adhesive; and

the second attachment member comprises a second base member and a second adhesive.

4. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 3 further comprising a wall member coupled to a first base member and a reduced-pressure interface coupled to the wall member.

5. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral sealing member comprises a third sealing layer.

6. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein the peripheral sealing member comprises a wall.

7. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure system of claim 1 wherein the first attachment member comprises:

a first base member having a first side and a second, inward-facing side;

a first wall coupled to the first base member; and

a first adhesive coupled to the second, inward-facing side of the first base member.

8. 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.

9. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of claim 8 wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises a first reduced-pressure source and a second reduced-pressure source, and wherein

the first reduced-pressure source is configured to deliver the closing reduced-pressure, and

the second reduced-pressure source is configured to deliver the treatment reduced-pressure.

10. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of claim 8 wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises:

a reduced-pressure unit;

a reduced-pressure interface;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit configured to fluidly couple the reduced-pressure unit and the reduced-pressure interface;

wherein the reduced-pressure interface is configured to fluidly couple to the manifold; and

a reduced-pressure connector configured to fluidly couple the sealed contracting member and the manifold.

11. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of claim 8 wherein the reduced-pressure source comprises:

a reduced-pressure unit;

a reduced-pressure interface;

a reduced-pressure delivery conduit operable to fluidly couple the reduced-pressure unit and the reduced-pressure interface;

wherein the reduced-pressure interface is configured to fluidly couple to the sealed contracting member; and

a reduced-pressure connector configured to fluidly couple the sealed contracting member and the manifold.

12. The reduced-pressure, wound-closure and treatment system of claim 8 wherein the treatment reduced pressure is between −100 mm Hg and −350 mm Hg.

13. 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.