A system for treating a tissue site on a patient with reduced pressure, the system comprising: a distribution manifold for placing proximate to the tissue site; a sealing member for covering the distribution manifold and a portion of intact epidermis of the patient to form a sealed space; a reduced-pressure interface for providing reduced pressure through the sealing member to the distribution manifold; a reduced-pressure source; a reduced-pressure delivery conduit for fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; wherein the reduced-pressure interface comprises: a housing having a flange portion and a cavity wall portion; wherein the cavity wall portion forms a cavity having a tissue-facing cavity opening; a conduit port coupled to the cavity wall and having a conduit aperture, wherein the conduit port is adapted to receive the reduced-pressure delivery conduit; an attachment device coupled to a tissue-facing side of the flange portion of the housing, the attachment device for coupling the housing to the sealing member; and a cutting element coupled to the housing proximate to the tissue-facing cavity opening, the cutting element adapted to form an aperture in the sealing member when the cutting element is driven into the sealing member with a driving force; characterised in that the housing is made of a semi-rigid material that is capable of collapsing under a driving force, the housing thereby driving the cutting element into the sealing member. a distribution manifold for placing proximate to the tissue site; a sealing member for covering the distribution manifold and a portion of intact epidermis of the patient to form a sealed space; a reduced-pressure interface for providing reduced pressure through the sealing member to the distribution manifold; a reduced-pressure source; a reduced-pressure delivery conduit for fluidly coupling the reduced-pressure source to the reduced-pressure interface; wherein the reduced-pressure interface comprises: a housing having a flange portion and a cavity wall portion; wherein the cavity wall portion forms a cavity having a tissue-facing cavity opening; a conduit port coupled to the cavity wall and having a conduit aperture, wherein the conduit port is adapted to receive the reduced-pressure delivery conduit; an attachment device coupled to a tissue-facing side of the flange portion of the housing, the attachment device for coupling the housing to the sealing member; and a cutting element coupled to the housing proximate to the tissue-facing cavity opening, the cutting element adapted to form an aperture in the sealing member when the cutting element is driven into the sealing member with a driving force; characterised in that the housing is made of a semi-rigid material that is capable of collapsing under a driving force, the housing thereby driving the cutting element into the sealing member. a housing having a flange portion and a cavity wall portion; wherein the cavity wall portion forms a cavity having a tissue-facing cavity opening; a conduit port coupled to the cavity wall and having a conduit aperture, wherein the conduit port is adapted to receive the reduced-pressure delivery conduit; an attachment device coupled to a tissue-facing side of the flange portion of the housing, the attachment device for coupling the housing to the sealing member; and a cutting element coupled to the housing proximate to the tissue-facing cavity opening, the cutting element adapted to form an aperture in the sealing member when the cutting element is driven into the sealing member with a driving force; characterised in that the housing is made of a semi-rigid material that is capable of collapsing under a driving force, the housing thereby driving the cutting element into the sealing member.