An improved apparatus and method for interfacing a time variant waveform
between two hardware environments. In one aspect, the invention comprises
a circuit for accurately simulating the output of one or more types of
sensing device (e.g., passive bridge pressure transducer) for use with a
plurality of different monitoring and/or analysis devices, thereby
obviating the need for specialized interface circuitry adapted to each
different monitor/analyzer. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensing
device comprises a non-invasive blood pressure monitor (NIBPM), which
universally interfaces with prior art patient monitors via the interface
circuit of the invention. In a second aspect of the invention, an
improved NIBPM device incorporating the interface circuit is disclosed.
An improved disconnect circuit adapted to sense the status of the
electrical connection between the sensing device and monitor is also
described.