Bridge connectors employing flexible planar bodies having signal pathways coupling control devices with biometric sensors

Abstract

Bridge connectors for coupling a control device to a biometric sensor are disclosed. A bridge connector includes a first data port configured to be removably coupled to the control device and a second data port configured to be removably coupled to the biometric sensor. The bridge connector also includes a flexible planar body, including at least one signal pathway interconnecting the first data port to the second data port. The first and second data ports are configured to transmit biometric data from the biometric sensor to the control device, using the at least one signal pathway. Further, the bridge connector is configured to provide a voltage to the biometric sensor from a power source in the control device, or the biometric sensor is configured to transmit at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bridge connector for coupling a control device to a biometric sensor, comprising:
 a first data port configured to be removably coupled to the control device;   a second data port configured to be removably coupled to the biometric sensor; and   a flexible planar body comprising at least one signal pathway interconnecting the first data port to the second data port, wherein:
 the first and second data ports are configured to transmit biometric data from the biometric sensor to the control device, using the at least one signal pathway, and wherein at least one of:
 (i) the bridge connector is configured to provide a voltage to the biometric sensor from a power source in the control device, and 
 (ii) the biometric sensor is configured to transmit at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge connector is configured to provide the voltage to the biometric sensor from the power source. 
     
     
         3 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the biometric sensor is configured to transmit the at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source. 
     
     
         4 . The bridge connector of  claim 3 , wherein the biometric sensor is configured to transmit the at least some of the biometric data to the control device based on detecting electrical changes in skin of a patient. 
     
     
         5 . The bridge connector of  claim 4 , wherein the at least some of the biometric data comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) trace, and wherein the power source is configured to amplify the ECG trace. 
     
     
         6 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body has a modulus of elasticity in a range from a half megapascal to eight (8) megapascals. 
     
     
         7 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge connector further comprises first and second mechanical fasteners configured to removably couple the first data port to the control device, and wherein the first mechanical fastener extends through the flexible planar body at an opening and couples with the second mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The bridge connector of  claim 7 , wherein the first data port comprises the first mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a plug of the control device. 
     
     
         9 . The bridge connector of  claim 7 , wherein the second data port comprises a third mechanical fastener configured to removably interface with a mechanical connector of the biometric sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body comprises a thickness in a range from one-hundred microns to five millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The bridge connector of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible planar body comprises a first plurality of data ports at a first surface, including the first data port, and a second plurality of data ports at a second surface, including the second data port, and wherein the first plurality of data ports are coupled to the second plurality of data ports in a one-to-one relationship connecting each of the first plurality of data ports at the first surface with a respective one of the second plurality of data ports at the second surface. 
     
     
         12 . The bridge connector of  claim 11 , wherein a location pattern of the first plurality of data ports on the first surface is different from a location pattern of the second plurality data ports on the second surface. 
     
     
         13 . The bridge connector of  claim 12 , wherein two of the data ports on the second surface are separated by a distance from sixty (60) millimeters to one-hundred millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . A medical device for receiving biometric data from a patient, comprising:
 a biometric sensor for measuring the biometric data of the patient and configured to generate an output signal including the biometric data;   a control device for receiving the output signal;   a bridge connector for coupling the control device to the biometric sensor, comprising:
 a first data port configured to be removably coupled to the control device; 
 a second data port configured to be removably coupled to the biometric sensor; and 
 a flexible planar body comprising at least one signal pathway interconnecting the first data port to the second data port, wherein:
 the first and second data ports are configured to transmit biometric data from the biometric sensor to the control device, using the at least one signal pathway, and wherein at least one of:
 (i) the bridge connector is configured to provide a voltage to the biometric sensor from a power source in the control device, and 
 (ii) the biometric sensor is configured to transmit at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source. 
 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the biometric sensor is configured to transmit the at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source.   
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible planar body has a modulus of elasticity in a range from a half megapascal to eight (8) megapascals. 
     
     
         17 . A method of receiving biometric data from a patient, comprising:
 measuring the biometric data of the patient using a biometric sensor;   generating an output signal including the biometric data, using the biometric sensor;   receiving the output signal at a control device, using a bridge connector coupling the control device to the biometric sensor, the bridge connector comprising:
 a first data port configured to be removably coupled to the control device; 
 a second data port configured to be removably coupled to the biometric sensor; and 
 a flexible planar body comprising at least one signal pathway interconnecting the first data port to the second data port, wherein:
 the first and second data ports are configured to transmit biometric data from the biometric sensor to the control device, using the at least one signal pathway, and 
 wherein at least one of:
 (i) the bridge connector is configured to provide a voltage to the biometric sensor from a power source in the control device, and 
 (ii) the biometric sensor is configured to transmit at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source. 
 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the biometric sensor is configured to transmit the at least some of the biometric data to the control device in a passive manner without consuming power from the power source, based on detecting electrical changes in skin of the patient, wherein the at least some of the biometric data comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) trace, and wherein the power source is configured to amplify the ECG trace. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the flexible planar body has a modulus of elasticity in a range from a half megapascal to eight (8) megapascals. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bridge connector further comprises first and second mechanical fasteners configured to removably couple the first data port to the control device, and wherein the first mechanical fastener extends through the flexible planar body at an opening and couples with the second mechanical fastener.