Patent ID: 8123781

Claim:
A device for closing a separation of first and second portions of body tissue, which device comprises: a closure member with a perimeter and first and second faces; said closure member being adapted for positioning at least partly within said separation and including a protruding upper margin adapted to protrude above a skin surface at said separation; first and second retainers associated with said first and second faces respectively and adapted to retain same in contact with said first and second body tissue portions respectively; a perimeter tube attached to said closure member perimeter and having first and second tube ends; first and second input/output devices connected to said perimeter tube first and second ends respectively and adapted for fluidically communicating with said separation; a fluid transfer subassembly including first and second sponges located on either side of said closure member upper margin and a bridge sponge placed over said first and second sponges above said closure member upper margin, wherein said first and second sponges are adapted to be placed on the skin surface; and said fluid transfer subassembly being connected to a vacuum source.