Patent ID: 8007491

Claim:
A method of applying reduced pressure therapy to an area of tissue, comprising: creating a sealed enclosure around an area of tissue with a sealant layer by affixing the sealant layer around said area of tissue; self-creating a reduced pressure of at least −50 mm Hg underneath the sealant layer using a suction apparatus comprising a chamber with rigid sides and a slidable sealing member configured to sealably slide along said rigid sides, wherein said suction apparatus is in fluid communication through the sealant layer; wherein said sealant layer and said suction apparatus are adapted and configured to create a closed reduced pressure system; maintaining the reduced pressure using a retaining mechanism attached to the slidable sealing member and engaged to the chamber, the mechanism configured to maintain the position of the slidable sealing member at a plurality of positions; and securing said suction apparatus to a patient independently from the fluid communication with the sealant layer.