Patent ID: 8062331

Claim:
A method of closing a separation of first and second tissue portions, which method comprises the steps of: providing a flexible screen with first and second faces and multiple prongs projecting outwardly from each of said faces; configuring said prongs for retaining said tissue thereon; configuring said screen for placement in said tissue separation; placing said screen in said tissue separation and penetrating said tissue portions with said prongs; closing said tissue separation; applying an outwardly-directed force to said screen to thereby penetrate said tissue portions with said prongs; providing first and second external dressing sections each comprising a compressible, open-cell foam material; placing said external dressing sections on a skin surface adjacent to and on first and second sides of the tissue separation; pulling said screen up between said external dressing sections and over one of said external dressing sections transverse to the axis of the tissue separation attaching said screen in overlying relation to said one external dressing section; compressing said external dressing sections; providing a negative fluid pressure source; and fluidically connecting said negative pressure source with said external dressing sections and thereby applying an outward force on said separated tissue portions from said negative pressure source and from an outward expanding force exerted by said compressed dressing sections on said screen with said compressed external dressing.