Pulse oximetry system with electrical decoupling circuitry

A medical apparatus for reducing a risk of electric shock to a medical patient from a plurality of physiological sensors attached to the medical patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of physiological sensors, at least two of the plurality of physiological sensors configured to measure different parameters;
• a splitter cable operative to connect the plurality of physiological sensors to a physiological monitor, the splitter cable comprising a plurality of cable sections each comprising one or more electrical conductors configured to interface with one of the physiological sensors;
• and
• one or more decoupling circuits disposed in the splitter cable, the one or more decoupling circuits being in communication with selected ones of the one or more electrical conductors, the one or more decoupling circuits configured to communicate physiological signals between one or more of the physiological sensors and the physiological monitor, the one or more decoupling circuits operative to electrically decouple the physiological sensors.

A method of reducing a risk of electric shock to a medical patient from a plurality of physiological sensors attached to the medical patient, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of physiological sensors configured to be attached to the medical patient, at least two of the plurality of physiological sensors configured to measure different parameters;
• providing a medical cable assembly comprising one or more electrical conductors configured to allow communication between the plurality of physiological sensors and a physiological monitor, such that the medical cable assembly is operative to provide signals representing physiological information of a medical patient from the plurality of physiological sensors to the physiological monitor;
• and
• electrically decoupling the plurality of physiological sensors using one or more decoupling circuits disposed in the medical cable assembly, the one or more decoupling circuits being in communication with the plurality of physiological sensors and with the physiological monitor.