Apparatus and method for interfacing time-variant signals

A method for simulating a time-variant output signal from a first device using a second device, comprising:

• providing a first device having at least one transfer function associated therewith;
• providing said second device, said second device being adapted to sense at least one time-variant parameter and provide a representation based at least in part thereon;
• providing an excitation voltage to said second device;
• generating a representation of said time-variant parameter using said second device;
• applying a transfer function to said representation, said transfer function being substantially similar to that for said first device;
• and
• generating at least one output signal based at least in part on said representation and said transfer function, said at least one output signal being substantially similar to that produced by said first device.

A method of determining the status of electrical connection between a monitoring device and a sensing device, wherein said monitoring device provides an excitation signal to said sensing device during operation, comprising:

• detecting the presence of the excitation signal provided by said monitoring device;
• buffering said excitation signal to produce a buffered excitation signal;
• and
• analyzing said buffered excitation signal to identify variations therein indicative of said status of electrical connection.

A method of providing treatment to a living subject, comprising;

• obtaining data from said subject using a sensing device;
• generating a first signal based at least in part on said obtained data;
• conditioning said first signal using a conditioning circuit to produce a second signal;
• providing said second signal to a monitoring device, said monitoring device producing a representation of a desired parameter;
• and
• providing treatment to said living subject based on said parametric representation.

A circuit adapted to simulate one or more waveforms, comprising:

• data conversion means adapted for receiving digital inputs from at least one sensing apparatus, said digital inputs relating to at least one time variant waveform, and converting said digital inputs into an analog output signal;
• and
• means for amplifying said analog output signal, said means for amplifying being connected in a feedback loop with said data conversion means to form a floating current source;
• wherein said means for amplifying operates so as to satisfy a predetermined relationship between its output voltage and an applied excitation voltage.

A method for simulating a time-variant output signal from a first sensing means using a second sensing means, comprising the steps of:

• providing said second sensing means, said second sensing means being adapted for sensing at least one time-variant parameter and providing a representation based at least in part thereon;
• providing an excitation voltage to said second sensing means for exciting same;
• generating a representation of said time-variant parameter using said second sensing means;
• applying a transfer function to said representation for conditioning of said representation, said transfer function being substantially similar to that for said first sensing means;
• and
• generating at least one output signal for use by a monitoring device, said at least one output signal being based at least in part on said representation and said transfer function, and being substantially similar to that produced by said first sensing means.

Apparatus for interfacing a sensing device to a monitoring device, comprising:

• a first data interface in data communication with said sensing device;
• an interface circuit in data communication with said first data interface;
• and
• a second data interface in data communication with said monitoring device;
• wherein said interface circuit is adapted to receive first data generated by said sensing device, said data relating at least in part to a time-variant waveform sensed by said sensing device, and condition said first data so as to produce second data, said second data being adapted for use by said monitoring device.