System configuration for monitoring systems

Abstract

A physical configuration of cables and a wireless communication system for connecting a monitoring apparatus to a human patient, where said patient and his immediate surroundings define a potentially infectious contaminated zone. The configuration provides for the monitoring apparatus and a wireless receiver to lie outside of the contamination zone, and one or more serial cables to interface with said patient within said infectious zone. A wireless transmitter is connected to said serial cable proximal end and configured to wirelessly transmit patient information to said wireless receiver which is connected to the monitoring apparatus. This physical configuration prevents contamination of the monitoring apparatus and wireless receiver, so they may be reused on successive patients, and prevents the transfer of infective agents to a subsequent patient in a series of patients. The serial cable(s) used to contact the patient within his contamination zone may be disposable. Examples of monitoring various physiological parameters are provided to exemplify the universal concept of such physical configuration. In certain embodiments the wireless transmitter may be integrated with the sensor device attached to the patient, and/or the wireless receiver may be integrated with the monitoring apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring system for transmission of information from a patient residing within an infectious zone to a monitor apparatus using an assembly, said monitoring system comprising:
 A monitor apparatus to process and/or display said information from said patient;   A wireless receiver connected to said monitor apparatus; and   An assembly comprising a serial cable and a wireless transmitter;   Said serial cable being of a second length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end comprising said wireless transmitter, said distal end comprising at least one sensor device adapted to interface with said patient and capture said information from said patient, said second length defined as the distance from said proximal end to said distal end;   wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to transmit said information to said wireless receiver, and said wireless receiver is configured to receive said information from said wireless transmitter;   wherein said assembly and said wireless receiver together are configured to transmit said information from said patient to said monitor apparatus when said sensor device is interfaced with said patient;   wherein said patient resides within and is surrounded by an infectious zone having an outer boundary demarcated by a perimeter located beyond the reach of any portions of said patient's body;   wherein said monitor apparatus resides entirely outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, said monitor apparatus being located a distance from said perimeter, said distance being of a first length; and   wherein said wireless receiver resides entirely outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, such that said wireless receiver cannot contact said perimeter of said infectious zone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said sensor device is of a type to capture said information related to at least one of the functions of electrocardiogram, heart rate, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, bio-impedance, blood oxygen, ultrasound, electro-encephalography, pulse-oximetry and generates a signal to be transmitted along said assembly to said monitor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wireless receiver is contained within said monitor apparatus's enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a trunk cable, said trunk cable being of a third length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said third length defined as the distance from said proximal end to said distal end, said proximal end adapted to interface with said monitor apparatus, said distal end comprising said wireless receiver, wherein said third length is less than said first length. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said serial cable is an electrical cable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said serial cable is a pneumatic cable. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said serial cable is a fiber-optic cable. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said serial cable is a hydraulic cable 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said serial cable is disposable. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one sensor device is adapted to couple to said serial cable distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is an electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said wireless transmitter is adapted to couple to said serial cable proximal end. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said wireless receiver is adapted to couple to said trunk cable distal end. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a sheath adapted to be disposed over said wireless transmitter such that said wireless transmitter is encased in said sheath. 
     
     
         15 . A method of preventing the transfer of infective agents along a series of patients utilizing a monitoring system, said monitoring system to be subsequently used consecutively amongst said series of patients, comprising:
 Defining an infectious zone surrounding said patient that is contaminated with infective agents, said infectious zone having an outer boundary demarcated by a perimeter located beyond the reach of any portions of said patient's body and where the location of said perimeter is defined by said patient's caregiver;   Deploying a monitor apparatus configured to process and/or display information conveyed from said patient, and placing said monitor apparatus outside of said perimeter of said infectious zone such that it resides a distance from said perimeter, said distance defined by a first length;   Deploying a first assembly comprising a trunk cable and a wireless receiver, Said trunk cable being of a third length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end adapted to interface with said monitor apparatus, said distal end comprising said wireless receiver, said third length defined as the distance from said proximal end to said distal end;   Deploying a second assembly comprising a serial cable and a wireless transmitter, Said serial cable being of a second length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end comprising said wireless transmitter, said distal end comprising at least one sensor device adapted to interface with said patient and capture said information from said patient, said second length defined as the distance from said proximal end to said distal end;   wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to transmit said information to said wireless receiver, and said wireless receiver is configured to receive said information from said wireless transmitter;   wherein said third length is less than said first length such that when said trunk cable proximal end is interfacing with said monitor apparatus, said wireless receiver cannot contact said perimeter of said infectious zone, and   Connecting said patient to said monitor apparatus through said first assembly and said second assembly;   wherein said connecting said patient comprises the steps of:   (1) Interfacing said trunk cable proximal end to said monitor apparatus and placing the entirety of said trunk cable in a position outside said perimeter of said infectious zone;   (2) Interfacing said sensor device to said patient so that information can be acquired from said patient and transmitted to said monitor apparatus; and   Monitoring said patient for a period of time;   Terminating said monitoring of said patient while maintaining the trunk cable outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, thereby keeping said trunk cable, said wireless receiver, and said monitor apparatus free from contamination and preventing said transfer of said infective agents to a subsequent patient in said series of patients.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said wireless transmitter is adapted to couple to said serial cable proximal end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a sheath adapted to be disposed over a said wireless transmitter such that said wireless transmitter is encased in said sheath, wherein said step of connecting said patient further comprises the step of disposing said sheath over said wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . A method of preventing the transfer of infective agents along a series of patients utilizing a monitoring system, said monitoring system to be subsequently used consecutively amongst said series of patients, comprising:
 Defining an infectious zone surrounding said patient that is contaminated with infective agents, said infectious zone having an outer boundary demarcated by a perimeter located beyond the reach of any portions of said patient's body and where the location of said perimeter is defined by said patient's caregiver;   Deploying a monitor apparatus configured to process and/or display information conveyed from said patient, and placing said monitor apparatus outside of said perimeter of said infectious zone such that it resides a distance from said perimeter, said distance defined by a first length;   Said monitor apparatus comprising a wireless receiver contained within said monitor apparatus's enclosure;   Deploying an assembly comprising a serial cable and a wireless transmitter,   Said serial cable being of a second length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end comprising said wireless transmitter, said distal end comprising at least one sensor device adapted to interface with said patient and capture said information from said patient, said second length defined as the distance from said proximal end to said distal end;   wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to transmit said information to said wireless receiver, and said wireless receiver is configured to receive said information from said wireless transmitter;   Connecting said patient to said monitor apparatus through said assembly by interfacing said sensor device to said patient so that information can be acquired from said patient and transmitted to said monitor apparatus;   Monitoring said patient for a period of time;   Terminating said monitoring of said patient while maintaining the trunk cable outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, thereby keeping said wireless receiver and said monitor apparatus free from contamination and preventing said transfer of said infective agents to a subsequent patient in said series of patients.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said wireless transmitter is adapted to couple to said serial cable proximal end. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising a sheath adapted to be disposed over a said wireless transmitter such that said wireless transmitter is encased in said sheath, wherein said step of connecting said patient further comprises the step of disposing said sheath over said wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         21 . A monitoring system for transmission of information from a patient residing within an infectious zone to a monitor apparatus using an assembly, said monitoring system comprising:
 A monitor apparatus to process and/or display said information from said patient;   A wireless receiver connected to said monitor apparatus; and   An assembly comprising a wireless transmitter and at least one sensor device adapted to interface with said patient and capture said information from said patient;   Said at least one sensor device and said wireless transmitter being connected to one another;   wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to transmit said information to said wireless receiver, and said wireless receiver is configured to receive said information from said wireless transmitter;   wherein said assembly and said wireless receiver together are configured to transmit said information from said patient to said monitor apparatus when said at least one sensor device is interfaced with said patient;   wherein said patient resides within and is surrounded by an infectious zone having an outer boundary demarcated by a perimeter located beyond the reach of any portions of said patient's body;   wherein said monitor apparatus resides entirely outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, said monitor apparatus being located a distance from said perimeter, said distance being of a first length; and   wherein said wireless receiver resides entirely outside said perimeter of said infectious zone, such that said wireless receiver cannot contact said perimeter of said infectious zone.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said wireless transmitter and said at least one sensor device are integrated together. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said wireless receiver and said monitor apparatus are integrated together. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said wireless receiver and said monitor apparatus are integrated together.