Patent Publication Number: US-2022225878-A1

Title: System for transmission of sensor data using dual communication protocol

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/599,017, filed Oct. 10, 2019, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/744,988, filed Oct. 12, 2018, entitled SYSTEM FOR TRANSMISSION OF SENSOR DATA USING DUAL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL; all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to physiological sensors and wireless pairing devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to collection of physiological data using physiological sensors and transmitting the data to nearby computing systems using a wireless pairing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional physiological measurement systems are limited by the patient cable connection between sensor and monitor. A patient must be located in the immediate vicinity of the monitor. Also, patient relocation requires either disconnection of monitoring equipment and a corresponding loss of measurements or an awkward simultaneous movement of patient equipment and cables. Various devices have been proposed or implemented to provide wireless communication links between sensors and monitors, freeing patients from the patient cable tether. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure describes, among other things, embodiments of systems, devices, and methods for collecting patient physiological data and transmitting the data to nearby computing systems via wireless transmission. 
     A sensor system is discloses that can include a disposable sensor usable to monitor a tissue of a patient and a reusable transmitter usable to wirelessly communicate with a patent monitor. The disposable sensor can include a sensor element and a battery to provide power for both the disposable sensor and the reusable transmitter. The sensor element can include one or more emitters and detectors. The reusable transmitter can include an antenna and one or more hardware processors. 
     A method of pairing a sensor with a computing device is disclosed. The method can include communicating pairing data between a transmitter and a computing device using a first communication protocol. The method can include receiving power from a battery included in a sensor package responsive to mating of the transmitter with the sensor package. The method can include connecting with the computing device based on the received airing data using a second communication protocol. The second communication protocol can be different than the first communication protocol. The method can further include transmitting sensor data to the computing device based on the second protocol connection. 
     A circuit for a disposable sensor for a system for pairing a noninvasive patient sensor with a computing device is disclosed. The circuit can include a body that can include one or more first electrical contacts. The circuit can include elongate members that include one or more second electrical contacts. The elongate members can extend from the body along a length of the body. The elongate members can be arcuate. The first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts can be connected such that electrical signals can be transmitted between the first and the second electrical contacts. The first electrical contacts can be operatively connected to a sensor element and a battery of the disposable sensor. 
     A physiological sensor for a system for pairing a noninvasive patient sensor with a computing device is disclosed. The physiological sensor can include a sensor element. The physiological sensor can include a docking member. The docking member can include a docking surface and a retainer. The retainer can be hingedly coupled to the docking member. The physiological sensor can include a cable operatively coupled to the sensor element and the docking member. The cable can allow signals to be transmitted between the sensor element and the docking member. The retainer can engage a reusable transmitter to hold the reusable transmitter against the docking surface. 
     In some embodiments, a system for pairing a disposable noninvasive sensor assembly with a monitoring device using a reusable transmitter assembly is disclosed. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can collect physiological data of a patient. The system can include a disposable noninvasive sensor assembly and a reusable transmitter assembly. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can collect physiological data from a patient. The physiological data can be indicative of physiological condition of the patient. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can include a sensor element and a battery. The sensor element can be attached to the patient. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive the physiological data of the patient from the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly can include a processor and a wireless communication module can establish a wireless communication with a patient monitor. 
     The system of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The reusable transmitter assembly does not include a power source for providing power for the processor and the wireless communication module. The wireless communication module can include a first antenna. The wireless communication module can also include a second antenna. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive power from the battery of the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive raw physiological data from the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly, and wherein the raw physiological data can be collected by the sensor element. The processor can process the raw physiological data transmitted to the reusable transmitter assembly and generate physiological parameters. The reusable transmitter assembly can transmit the physiological parameters to the patient monitor. The sensor element can include a detector and an emitter. The detector and the emitter can be optical based. The emitters can be light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can be coupled to a patient. The reusable transmitter assembly can be removably coupled to the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly or the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly may be waterproof or shockproof. The wireless communication module can receive electronic data from or transmit electronic data to the patient monitor. The wireless communication module can use at least a first wireless communication protocol to associate the reusable transmitter assembly with the patient monitor, and wherein the wireless communication module can use at least a second wireless communication protocol to transmit data between the wireless communication module and the patient monitor. The first wireless communication protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The second wireless communication protocol can be different from the first wireless communication protocol. The second wireless communication protocol can be Bluetooth®. The wireless communication between the reusable transmitter assembly and the patient monitor can be based at least on a pairing signal transmitted from the patient monitor to the reusable transmitter assembly and an identification information transmitted from the reusable transmitter assembly to the patient monitor. The patient monitor can transmit the pairing signal to the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is brought within a predetermined distance from the patient monitor. The pairing signal and the identification information can be transmitted via the first wireless communication protocol. The identification information can be unique to the reusable transmitter assembly. The identification information can be an RFID tag associated with the reusable transmitter assembly. The identification information can be transmitted from the reusable transmitter assembly to the patient monitor in response of the transmission of the pairing signal from the patient monitor to the reusable transmitter assembly. The transmission of the identification information may occur automatically. The transmission of the identification information may not occur automatically. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can include a dock configured to mate with the reusable transmitter assembly. The dock can include arcuate supports and a flexible circuit comprising elongate members. The elongate members can be supported by the arcuate supports that push the elongate members of the flexible circuit against the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock of the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The flexible circuit can facilitate transmission electronic signals between the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly and the reusable transmitter assembly. The elongate members can include electrical contacts that come in contact with electrical contacts of the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled with the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The flexible circuit can be in contact with the battery such that the flexible circuit transmits power from the battery to the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled with the disposable noninvasive sensor assembly. The battery can generate power by reacting with oxygen in the air. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can include a housing storing the battery. The housing can include channels and openings, and wherein the channels can facilitate the air to enter into the housing via the openings. The openings may be formed on inner surfaces of the channels such that the openings are exposed to the air when the channels are covered. The channels can be defined on a top surface of the housing. The channels may extend to side edges of the housing. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can be removably attached to a patient. The disposable noninvasive sensor assembly can include elongate members that can wrap around a patient. The patient monitor can be a mobile device. The reusable transmitter assembly can be brought proximate to a specific location on the patient monitor to establish the wireless communication between the reusable transmitter assembly and the patient monitor. The patient monitor is a mobile device. The patient monitor can be a bedside patient monitor. 
     In some embodiments, a method of pairing a noninvasive sensor assembly with a patient monitor using a transmitter is disclosed. The noninvasive sensor assembly can collect physiological data from a patient and transmit the physiological data to the transmitter. The patient monitor can display parameters associated with the physiological data and indicative of physiological condition of the patient. The method can include: receiving, using a transmitter, a pairing signal from a patient monitor via a first wireless communication protocol; transmitting, using the transmitter, an identification information to the patient monitor via the first wireless communication protocol; establishing a wireless communication between the transmitter and the patient monitor based at least on the pairing signal and the identification information, the wireless communication based at least on a second wireless communication protocol; collecting raw physiological data of a patient using a sensor element of the noninvasive sensor assembly; processing, using a processor of the transmitter, the raw physiological data to generate physiological parameters; and transmitting the physiological parameters to the patient monitor via the wireless communication. 
     The method of preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The method can include generating power from the signal using the transmitter. The power can be used for transmission of the identification information. The first wireless communication protocol can be different from the second wireless communication protocol. The transmitter may not require a power source to receive the pairing signal. The transmitter may not include a power source. The method can include receiving power from a battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly. Collecting of the raw physiological data can include: generating an emitter signal using a processor of the noninvasive sensor assembly; transmitting the emitter signal to an emitter of the noninvasive sensor assembly; generating, using the emitter, an optical output based at least on the emitter signal; detecting the optical output using a detector; and converting the optical output to generate the raw physiological data. The transmitter can be reusable. The noninvasive sensor assembly can be disposable. The first wireless communication protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The second communication protocol can be Bluetooth®. The identification information can be an RFID tag uniquely identifying the transmitter. The transmission of the identification information can occur automatically in response to receiving the pairing signal. Establishing the wireless communication between the transmitter and the patient monitor can include associating the transmitter with the patient monitor using at least in part the pairing signal and the identification information. 
     In some embodiments, a method of collecting patient physiological data using a noninvasive sensor system having a disposable sensor assembly and a reusable transmitter assembly is disclosed. The reusable transmitter assembly can wirelessly transmit the physiological data to a patient monitor. The method can include: establishing a first wireless communication between a reusable transmitter assembly and a patient monitor; transmitting, using the reusable transmitter, pairing parameters to the patient monitor via the first wireless communication; establishing a second wireless communication between the reusable transmitter and the patient monitor; coupling the reusable transmitter with a disposable sensor assembly; collecting raw physiological data using a sensor element of the disposable sensor assembly; and transmitting, using the reusable transmitter, physiological parameters to the patient monitor. 
     The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The first wireless communication can be different from the second wireless communication. The first wireless communication can be based on near-field communication (NFC) and the second wireless communication can be based on Bluetooth®. The reusable transmitter may not include a power source. Transmitting the pairing parameters can include: receiving a pairing signal from the patient monitor; and generating power from the pairing signal, the power used for transmitting the pairing parameters to the patient monitor. Transmitting the physiological parameters to the patient monitor can include receiving power from a battery of the disposable sensor assembly. The method can include processing the raw physiological data using a processor of the transmitter to generate physiological parameters. Collecting of the raw physiological data can include: generating an emitter signal; transmitting the emitter signal to an emitter of the disposable sensor assembly; generating, using the emitter, an optical output based at least on the emitter signal; detecting the optical output using a detector; and converting the optical output to generate the raw physiological data. The reusable transmitter can include an RFID tag uniquely identifying the reusable transmitter. The transmission of the pairing parameters can occur automatically after the reusable transmitter is brought within a predetermined distance of the patient monitor. Establishing the second wireless communication between the reusable transmitter and the patient monitor can include associating the reusable transmitter with the patient monitor using at least the pairing parameters. Establishing the first wireless communication between the reusable transmitter and the patient monitor can include bringing the reusable transmitter proximate to a specific location on the patient monitor. The patient monitor can be a mobile device. The patient monitor can be a bedside patient monitor. 
     In some embodiments, a method of collecting and displaying patient physiological data using a sensor system having a disposable sensor assembly and a reusable transmitter assembly is disclosed. The method can include: establishing a wireless communication between the reusable transmitter and the patient monitor; collecting raw physiological data using a sensor element of the disposable sensor assembly; transmitting, using the reusable transmitter, the raw physiological data to the patient monitor; processing the raw physiological data to determine physiological parameters using a processor of the patient monitor; and displaying, using a display of the patient monitor, the physiological parameters. 
     The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: Establishing the wireless communication between the reusable transmitter assembly and the patient monitor can include: receiving, using the reusable transmitter assembly, pairing signal from the patient monitor; transmitting, using the reusable transmitter assembly, pairing parameters to the patient monitor; and associating the reusable transmitter assembly with the patient monitor using at least in part the pairing parameters. The pairing parameters can be transmitted using a first wireless protocol, and wherein the first wireless protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The reusable transmitter assembly may not require a power source to receive the pairing signal. The reusable transmitter assembly can include a RFID tag that can include the pairing parameters. The transmission of the pairing parameters can occur automatically in response to the receipt of the pairing signal. The reusable transmitter assembly may not include a power source. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive power from a battery of the disposable sensor assembly. Collecting the raw physiological data can include: generating an emitter signal; transmitting the emitter signal to an emitter of the disposable sensor assembly; generating, using the emitter, an optical output based at least on the emitter signal; detecting the optical output using a detector; and converting the optical output to generate the raw physiological data. The wireless communication between the reusable transmitter assembly and the patient monitor can be based at least on Bluetooth®. Establishing the wireless communication between the transmitter and the patient monitor can include associating the reusable transmitter assembly with the patient monitor. Establishing the wireless communication between the reusable transmitter and the patient monitor can include bringing the reusable transmitter proximate to a specific location on the patient monitor. 
     In some embodiments, a flexible circuit for a disposable sensor assembly is disclosed. The disposable sensor assembly can collect physiological data of a patient and transmit the physiological data to a patient monitor via a transmitter assembly. The flexible circuit can include a body and elongate members. The body can include a first plurality of electrical contacts. The elongate members can include a second plurality of electrical contacts. The elongate members can extend from the body along a longitudinal axis of the body. The elongate members can be arcuate. The first plurality of electrical contacts can be operatively connected to a sensor element and a battery of the disposable sensor. The first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts can be connected such that electrical signals can be transmitted between the first and the second electrical contacts. 
     The flexible circuit of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The elongate members can be flat. An interaction between tips of the elongate members and the disposable sensor can cause the elongate members to be arcuate. The second plurality of electrical contacts can be located at an apex of each of the elongate members when the elongate members are arcuate. The elongate members can be arcuate with a first degree of curvature when installed on the disposable sensor, and wherein the elongate members can be arcuate with a second degree of curvature when a reusable transmitter is mated with the disposable sensor. The second degree of curvature can be less than the first degree of curvature. The elongate members can have a first height when installed on the disposable sensor, and the elongate members can have a second height when a reusable transmitter is mated with the disposable sensor. The first height can be greater than the second height. The elongate members can be supported by a plurality of arcuate supports of the disposable sensor when installed on the disposable sensor. 
     In some embodiments, a pairing system for establishing a wireless communication between a transmitter assembly of a physiological sensor system and a patient monitor is disclosed. The patient monitor can display physiological parameters of a patient. The pairing system can include an adaptor, a housing, and a cable assembly. The adaptor can be coupled to a patient monitor. The housing can include a processor and a wireless communication interface. The processor can generate a pairing signal. The wireless communication interface can establish a wireless communication with a transmitter assembly and receive physiological parameters from the transmitter assembly. The physiological parameters can be based at least in part on physiological data collected by a disposable noninvasive physiological sensor removably coupled to the patient. The cable assembly can be coupled to the adaptor and the housing. The cable assembly can allow transmission of the physiological parameters the adaptor and the housing. 
     The pairing system of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The housing can be removably coupled to a body of the patient monitor. The processor can transmit the pairing signal to the transmitter assembly. The pairing signal can be used to establish the wireless communication between the wireless communication interface and the transmitter assembly. The pairing signal can be transmitted to the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is proximate a specific location on the patient monitor. The housing can include an inset surface. The inset surface can indicate a location of the wireless communication interface. The wireless communication interface can establish a wireless communication with the transmitter assembly via a first wireless communication protocol. The first wireless communication protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The wireless communication interface can wirelessly receive an identification information from the transmitter assembly. The identification information can be an RFID tag unique to the transmitter assembly. The wireless communication interface can wirelessly receive the identification information from the transmitter assembly in response to the transmission of the pairing signal. The processor of the housing can receive the identification information from the wireless communication interface and transmit the identification information to the patient monitor. The identification information can include pairing parameters unique to the transmitter assembly. The patient monitor can establish a wireless communication with the transmitter assembly based at least on the identification information of the transmitter assembly. The wireless communication between the patient monitor and the transmitter assembly can be based on Bluetooth®. The pairing system can receive power from the patient monitor via the adaptor and the cable assembly. The pairing signal can generate power for the transmitter assembly. The pairing signal can be transmitted to the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is within a predetermined distance from the wireless communication interface or when the transmitter assembly contacts the housing. The wireless communication interface can receive physiological parameters from the transmitter assembly and transmit the physiological parameters to the patient monitor for display. The wireless communication interface can receive physiological parameters from the transmitter assembly using a wireless communication protocol different from one used for transmitting the pairing signal to the transmitter assembly. The adaptor can be plugged into a sensor input of the patient monitor. The pairing system can provide wireless communication capability for the patient monitor. 
     In some embodiments, an apparatus for storing a reusable wireless transmitter assembly is disclosed. The reusable wireless transmitter can receive patient physiological data from a disposable noninvasive sensor assembly and transmit the patient physiological data to a patient monitor via a wireless communication. The apparatus can include a base and a body. The base can be coupled to a housing of a patient monitor. The patient monitor can receive patient physiological parameters from a reusable wireless transmitter assembly. The body can include a support surface that can receive a corresponding mating surface of the reusable wireless transmitter assembly. The body can protrude out from the base in a direction orthogonal to the base. The body can include a magnet to retain the reusable wireless transmitter assembly. The support surface can be arcuate and perpendicular to the base. 
     The apparatus of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The base can include a magnet configured to retain the wireless transmitter. The magnet can be positioned about the support surface of the body. An outer surface of the body can be flush with an outer surface of the reusable wireless transmitter assembly when the reusable wireless transmitter assembly is coupled to the apparatus. A shape of the base can correspond to a shape of the reusable wireless transmitter assembly such that an outline of the base matches that of the reusable wireless transmitter assembly when the reusable wireless transmitter assembly is coupled to the apparatus. 
     In some embodiments, a method of coupling a wireless transmitter assembly with a noninvasive sensor assembly configured to collect physiological data from a patient is disclosed. The method can include: positioning a wireless transmitter assembly such that legs of the wireless transmitter assembly can be substantially aligned with and facing slots formed on a dock of a noninvasive sensor assembly, the slots can be dimensioned and shaped to receive the legs of the wireless transmitter assembly; pushing the wireless transmitter assembly towards the slots such that the legs can be positioned within the slots; and pressing down the wireless transmitter assembly to removably couple the wireless transmitter assembly with the dock of the noninvasive sensor assembly, thereby causing the wireless transmitter assembly to receive patient physiological data from the noninvasive sensor assembly and to transmit the patient physiological data to a proximate bedside patient monitor. 
     The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The sensor assembly can include a housing. The slots can be defined between the dock and the housing. The housing can include lips. Each of the lips can correspond to each of the slots of the dock. The legs of the wireless transmitter can be positioned under the lips of the housing. The dock can include a retainer that can hold the transmitter assembly within the dock. The retainer can be positioned opposite from the slots. Pressing down the transmitter assembly can cause the retainer to change from a first configuration to a second configuration, thereby allowing the transmitter assembly to be seated within the dock. The retainer can be substantially vertical with respect to the dock when in the first configuration, and the retainer can be bent in a direction away from the dock in the second configuration. The retainer can be in the first configuration when the transmitter assembly is coupled with the dock, and the retainer in the first configuration can hold the transmitter assembly within the dock. 
     In some embodiments, a system for collecting patient physiological parameters and transmitting the parameters to a mobile device is disclosed. The patient physiological parameters can be collected with a noninvasive sensor assembly. The parameters can be transmitted to the mobile device using a transmitter assembly. The system can include a noninvasive sensor assembly, a transmitter assembly, and a patient monitor. The noninvasive sensor assembly can include a sensor element and a battery in a first housing. The sensor element can collect physiological data from a patient. The transmitter assembly can include a processor and a wireless communication module in a second housing. The transmitter assembly can establish wireless communication with a patient monitor. The patient monitor can display physiological parameters and transmit the patient physiological parameters to a mobile device. 
     The system of the preceding paragraph can include one of more of following features: The sensor element can include an emitter and a detector. The emitter and the detector can be optical. The transmitter assembly may not include a power source for providing power for the processor and the wireless communication module. The transmitter assembly can be reusable. The noninvasive sensor assembly can be disposable. The transmitter assembly can receive power from the battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive raw physiological data from the disposable sensor assembly. The raw physiological data may be collected by the sensor element. The noninvasive sensor assembly can be removably coupled to the patient. The noninvasive sensor assembly can be coupled to a wrist of the patient. The sensor element can be coupled to a fingertip of the patient. The first housing or the second housing can be waterproof or shockproof. The wireless communication module can use a first wireless communication protocol to associate the transmitter assembly with the patient monitor, and the wireless communication module can use a second wireless communication protocol to transmit data to the patient monitor. The processor of the transmitter assembly can receive the physiological data from the noninvasive sensor assembly and process the physiological data to generate the physiological parameters. The transmitter assembly can wirelessly transmit the physiological parameters to a mobile device. The patient monitor can wirelessly transmit the physiological parameters to a mobile device. The patient monitor can be Root® platform. 
     In some embodiments, a method transmitting physiological data from a noninvasive sensor assembly to a patient monitor using a wireless transmitter assembly is disclosed. The method can include: approximating a wireless transmitter assembly to a pairing device of a patient monitor to receive a pairing signal from the pairing device and transmit pairing parameters to the pairing device; and coupling the wireless transmitter assembly to a noninvasive sensor assembly to receive power from a battery of a noninvasive sensor assembly and receive physiological data from a sensor element of the noninvasive sensor assembly, wherein the wireless transmitter assembly can determine physiological parameters based at least in part on the physiological data and transmit the physiological parameters to the patient monitor. 
     The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The reception of the pairing signal and the transmission of the pairing parameters can be conducted via a first wireless communication protocol. The wireless transmitter assembly can transmit the physiological parameters to the patient monitor via a second wireless communication protocol. The first wireless communication protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The second wireless communication protocol can Bluetooth®. The wireless transmitter assembly may not include a power source. The wireless transmitter can be reusable. The wireless transmitter assembly can be coupled to a dock of the noninvasive sensor assembly. The sensor element can include a detector and an emitter. The detector and the emitter can be optical. Coupling the wireless transmitter assembly automatically can cause the wireless transmitter assembly to determine physiological parameters and transmit the physiological parameters to the patient monitor. 
     In some embodiments, a flexible circuit for transmitting physiological data from a noninvasive sensor assembly to a transmitter assembly is disclosed. The transmission of the physiological data can occur when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly. The flexible circuit can include a first plurality of electrical contacts, a second plurality of electrical contacts, a flexible body, and flexible elongate members. The first plurality of electrical contacts can receive physiological data from a sensor element of the noninvasive sensor assembly. The second plurality of electrical contacts can be in electronic communication with the first plurality of electrical contacts and can receive the physiological data from the first plurality of electrical contacts. The flexible elongate members can be coupled to the flexible body. Each of the elongate members can include a corresponding electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the second plurality of electrical contacts are in contact with the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly. 
     The flexible circuit of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The flexible circuit can be coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly. The flexible elongate members can be arcuate. Each of the flexible elongate members can have a first portion extending away and upwards with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body and a second portion extending away and downwards with respect to the longitudinal axis. The flexible elongate members can be supported on arcuate supports of the noninvasive sensor assembly. The arcuate supports can ensure contact between the flexible elongate members and the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly. The sensor element of the noninvasive sensor assembly can include an emitter and a detector. The flexible elongate members of the flexible circuit can have a first configuration when the transmitter assembly is not coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly and a second configuration when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the noninvasive sensor. The elongate members in the first configuration can be associated with a first degree of curvature and the elongate member in the second configuration can be associated with a second degree of curvature. The second degree of curvature can be less than the first degree of curvature. The flexible circuit can be coupled to a battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly such that the flexible circuit can receive power from a battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly and transmit the power to the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock. 
     In some embodiments, a wearable noninvasive sensor assembly for collecting physiological data from a patient is disclosed. The wearable noninvasive sensor assembly can include a dock, a transmitter assembly, and a sensor element. The dock can be coupled to a housing. The dock can include a retainer and an attachment mechanism. The transmitter assembly can be coupled to the dock. The sensor element can be coupled to the housing via a cable. The sensor element can collect physiological data from the patient. At least a portion of the cable can be positioned within the retainer. 
     The wearable noninvasive sensor assembly of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The attachment mechanism can include a plurality of straps that can wrap around the patient. The sensor element can include an emitter and a detector. The retainer can be coupled along a side of the dock and include a channel that can receive the cable. The retainer can limit the movement of the cable in at least a first direction while allowing movement in a second direction. The housing can house a battery that powers the sensor element. The battery can further power the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock. The wearable noninvasive sensor assembly can be coupled to the patient&#39;s wrist and the sensor element can be coupled to the patient&#39;s fingertip. The transmitter assembly can include a processor and a wireless communication module that can establish a wireless communication with a patient monitor. The wearable noninvasive sensor assembly can be waterproof or shockproof. The transmitter assembly can establish a wireless communication with a patient monitor, and the patient monitor can receive the physiological data from the transmitter assembly and display the physiological data on a display. The dock can include arcuate supports and a flexible circuit that can include elongate members supported by the arcuate supports. The arcuate supports can ensure contact between the elongate members of the flexible circuit and the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock. The dock can further comprises a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit can include elongate members. The elongate members can be flexible. The elongate members can be supported on arcuate supports of the dock, wherein the arcuate supports can ensure contact between the elongate members and the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the noninvasive sensor assembly. The elongate members can have a first configuration when the transmitter assembly is not coupled to the dock and a second configuration when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock. The elongate members in the first configuration can be associated with a first degree of curvature and the elongate member in the second configuration can be associated with a second degree of curvature. The second degree of curvature can be less than the first degree of curvature. The flexible circuit can be coupled to a battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly such that the flexible circuit receives power from a battery of the noninvasive sensor assembly and transmits the power to the transmitter assembly when the transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock. 
     In some embodiments, a system for collecting physiological data related to physiological conditions of a patient is disclosed. The physiological data can be collected using a disposable sensor assembly and a reusable transmitter assembly. A patient monitor can be used to display physiological parameters. The system can include a patient monitor, a disposable sensor assembly, and a reusable transmitter assembly. The patient monitor can include a display device. The disposable sensor assembly can include a battery, a sensor element, a housing, and a securement strap. The sensor element can collect physiological data from a patient. The disposable sensor assembly can include a flexible circuit having a plurality of electrical contacts. The securement strap can removably couple the disposable sensor assembly to the patient. The reusable transmitter assembly can include a processor and a wireless transmission module. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive the physiological data from the disposable sensor assembly. The processor can determine physiological parameters based at least in part on the physiological data. The wireless transmission module can establish a wireless communication with the patient monitor and transmit the physiological parameters of the patient to the patient monitor. 
     The system of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of following features: The patient monitor can include a communication module that can establish wireless communication with the reusable transmitter assembly. The sensor element can include an emitter and a detector. The battery can generate power by reacting with oxygen in the air. The sensor system can include channels and openings. The channels can be formed on a top surface of the housing and the openings can be formed on an inner surface of the channels. The channels and the openings can allow the air to enter into the housing and react with the battery. The reusable transmitter assembly may not include a power source for providing power for the processor and the wireless communication module. The reusable transmitter assembly can receive power from the battery of the disposable sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly can be removably coupled to the dock of the disposable sensor assembly. The reusable transmitter assembly or the disposable sensor assembly can be waterproof or shockproof. The wireless communication module can use at least a first wireless communication protocol to associate the reusable transmitter assembly with the patient monitor. The wireless communication module can use at least a second wireless communication protocol to transmit data between the wireless communication module and the patient monitor. The first wireless communication protocol can be near-field communication (NFC). The second wireless communication protocol can be different from the first wireless communication protocol. The second wireless communication protocol can be Bluetooth®. The association between the reusable transmitter assembly and the patient monitors can be based at least on a pairing signal transmitted from the patient monitor to the reusable transmitter assembly and an identification information transmitted from the reusable transmitter assembly to the patient monitor. The patient monitor can transmit the pairing signal to the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is brought within a predetermined distance from the patient monitor. The identification information can be transmitted from the reusable transmitter assembly to the patient monitor in response of the transmission of the pairing signal from the patient monitor to the reusable transmitter assembly. The transmission of the identification information can occur automatically. The transmission of the identification information may not occur automatically. The identification information can be an RFID unique to the reusable transmitter assembly. The patient monitor can retain the identification information of the reusable transmitter assembly and prevent other patient monitors from establishing wireless communication with the reusable transmitter assembly. The patient monitor can retain the identification information of the reusable transmitter assembly for a predetermined period of time when the wireless communication between the patient monitor and the reusable transmitter assembly is interrupted. The patient monitor can remove the identification information of the reusable transmitter assembly after the predetermined period of time. The patient monitor can reestablish the wireless communication with the reusable transmitter assembly using the identification information in response of the reusable transmitter being within a predetermined distance from the patient monitor. The flexible circuit can be configured to transmit the physiological data from the disposable sensor assembly to the reusable transmitter assembly. The dock can include arcuate supports and the flexible circuit comprises elongate members supported by the arcuate supports. The arcuate supports can push the elongate members of the flexible circuit against the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled to the dock of the disposable sensor assembly. The plurality of electrical contacts of the flexible circuit can come in contact with electrical contacts of the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled with the disposable sensor assembly. The flexible circuit can be in contact with the battery such that the flexible circuit can transmit power from the battery to the reusable transmitter assembly when the reusable transmitter assembly is coupled with the disposable sensor assembly. The patient monitor can be a bedside patient monitor. The patient monitor can be a mobile device. The patient monitor can monitor the strength of wireless signals via the wireless communication between the patient monitor and the reusable transmitter assembly. The patient monitor can generate a notification that the wireless signals is weak when the strength of the wireless signals is below a predetermined signal strength threshold. The patient monitor can monitor a charge level of the battery. The patient monitor can generate a notification that the charge level is low when the charge level of the battery is below a predetermined charge threshold. 
     For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects, advantages, or features will be embodied in any particular embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a sensor system including sensors attached to a patient and transmitting patient physiological data to a computing device via cable. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates another embodiment of a sensor system including sensor assemblies collecting and wirelessly transmitting patient physiological data to a computing device. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a sensor assembly and a computing device, showing additional details of the sensor assembly. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a wiring diagram of an embodiment of a sensor assembly. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a sensor assembly for collecting and wirelessly transmitting patient physiological data to a computing device. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an exploded, top perspective view of the sensor assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates an exploded, bottom perspective view of the sensor assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a sensor assembly. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a sensor assembly for collecting and wirelessly transmitting patient physiological data to a computing device. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a sensor assembly for collecting and wirelessly transmitting patient physiological data to a computing device. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate various views of a flex circuit of a disposable module of a sensor assembly. 
         FIGS. 6C and 6D  illustrate sides views of the flex circuit of  FIG. 6A , showing a change of a configuration of the flex circuit. 
         FIGS. 7A-7I  illustrate various perspective view of different embodiments of sensor assembly coupled with various embodiments of attachment mechanisms. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate various views of a dongle operatively connected to the computing device. 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate a reusable module and a computing device coupled to a dongle, providing additional details for a method of pairing the reusable module with the computing device. 
         FIGS. 10A-10D  illustrate various perspective views of the reusable module and the disposable module of  FIG. 3A  attached to a wrist of a patient, showing additional details for a method of mating the reusable module with the disposable module. 
         FIG. 11A  illustrates a method of establishing a wireless communication using a reusable module, a disposable module, and a computing device for acquiring and displaying patient physiological parameters. 
         FIG. 11B  illustrates another method of establishing wireless communication using a reusable module, a disposable module, and a computing device for acquiring and displaying patient physiological parameters. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates another embodiment of a method of acquiring and displaying patient physiological parameters using a reusable module, a disposable module, and a computing device. 
         FIG. 13A  illustrates a mobile application for establishing a wireless communication with a reusable module. 
         FIGS. 13B-13E  illustrate various views of the mobile application of  FIG. 13A  displaying patient parameters in various display formats. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Introduction 
     Wired solution for sensors may be cumbersome and difficult to manage when there are multiple sensors attached to a patient as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the cable for the sensors can be tangled and damaged after repeated use. Moreover, since the sensors are tethered to a patient health monitor, patients have to be located proximate to the health monitor and movement of the patients can be limited. If a longer cable is required, the sensor and the cable have to be replaced together. Similarly, the sensors being tethered to the monitor can make transportation of the patient very difficult as it would require the patient to remain close to the monitor during transportation or disconnecting the sensors which would result in loss of measurements. 
     Overview 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a sensor system  100  including a computing device  106  coupled sensors  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D via a cable  130 , where the sensors are attached to a patient  110 . The computing system  106  can include a display  108  that can display various physiological parameters. The sensors  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D can collect various types of physiological data from the patient  110  and transmit the data to the computing system  106  via the cable  130 . Some example of the sensors  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D include, but not limited to, a rainbow acoustic monitoring sensor (RAM), O3 Regional Oximetry sensor, SpO2 sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ECG sensor, and the like. 
     However, the cables  130  can be cumbersome to the patient and prone to tangling. The cables  130  can develop kinks and be damaged over time. In addition, because the sensors  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D are connected to the computing system  106  via the cables  130 , location of the computing system  106  can be restricted to the lengths of the cables  130  attached to the sensors  140 A,  140 B,  140 C,  140 D. The cables  130  can also restrict patient movements. Therefore, a wireless solution including wireless communication capacity between the sensors and the computing device may resolve some of the concerns of the wired configuration. The wireless configuration can eliminate the need of the cables  130  between the sensors and the computing device and thus provide greater patient mobility. 
     However, the wireless solutions may have their own limitations. For example, wireless patient monitoring sensors require internal power source (for example, battery), which can have limited capacity due to size of the sensors. In addition, since continuous data collection and wireless transmission can require significant power usage, operation of the sensors can be very limited. Moreover, it may be expensive to replace the entire device when the internal battery is depleted. Furthermore, having a rechargeable battery may not be suitable in a hospital environment where nurses might not have enough time to wait for the battery to recharge. Also, it may not be ideal for a patient to wait for the battery to recharge in time of need. Accordingly, it can be advantageous to provide a sensor system that is compatible with existing sensors and monitors and is capable of wireless communication as discussed herein. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the sensor system  100  including a computing device  206  wirelessly receiving patient physiological data of the patient  110  from sensor assemblies  202 A,  202 B,  202 C,  202 D. The sensor assemblies  202 A,  202 B,  202 C,  202 D can establish communication with the computing device  206  such that data can be wirelessly transmitted between the sensor assemblies  202 A,  202 B,  202 C,  202 D and the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  can include a display  208  that can display patient parameters determined from the patient physiological data received from the sensor assemblies  202 A,  202 B,  202 C, and  202 D. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a schematic diagram the sensor assembly  202  wirelessly connected to a computing device  206 . The sensor assembly  202  can include a disposable module  220  and a reusable module  250 . The reusable module  250  can be a pairing device capable of establishing wireless connection with the computing device  206 . 
     The disposable module  220  can include a dock  222  coupled to a sensor  240  via a cable  230 . The dock  222  can be removably connected to the reusable module  250 . The reusable module  250  and the computing device  206  can together establish a wireless communication  204  and perform wireless transmission of data between. The reusable module  250  can transmit patient physiological parameters to the computing device  206 , where the parameters are calculated from raw physiological data collected by the sensor  240 . The transmitted patient data can be raw data collected by the sensor  240 . 
     The reusable module  250  alone or in combination with the dock  222  can perform signal processing on the raw physiological data and transmit the processed physiological data to the computing device  206 . The reusable module  250  can establish wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206  to allow data be transmitted between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . The reusable module  250  can establish wireless communication  204  with one or more computing devices  206 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the computing device  206  can establish wireless communication  204  with the sensor assemblies  202 A,  202 B,  202 C, and  202 D. The computing device  206  can establish wireless communication  204  with less than four or more than four sensor assemblies  202 . 
     The reusable module  250  can establish wireless communication  204  with portable mobile devices such as mobile phone, smartphone, tablets, and the like. The computing device  206  can be a hospital patient monitoring system, which includes various types of monitors capable of displaying patient health data. The computing device  206  can be a mobile monitoring system or a personal mobile device. The computing device  206  can be Root® Platform, a patient monitoring and connectivity platform available at Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. A mobile physiological parameter monitoring system usable with the cable is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,436,645, issued on Sep. 6, 2016, titled “MEDICAL MONITORING HUB,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     The cable  230  can be flexible or non-flexible. The cable  230  can be a thin film including electrical circuitries. The cable  230  can be surrounded by different types of electrical insulating material. The cable  230  can be substantially flat or round. 
     The sensor  240  can be an acoustic sensor, ECG sensor, EEG sensor, SpO2 sensor, or any other types of patient monitoring sensors. The sensor  240  can include one or more emitters and detectors. The emitters can be low-power, high-brightness LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to increase the life of the batteries  224 . The sensor  240  can measure raw physiological data responsive to various types of patient physiological parameters including, but not limited to, temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, hemoglobin level, electrocardiogram, and the like. The sensor measurements can be used by physicians to determine patient conditions and treatment for the patient. The sensor  240  can transmit the raw physiological data to the dock  222  via the cable  230 . The sensor  240  and the dock  222  may form a unitary body such that the dock  222  receives the physiological data directly from the sensor  240  without the cable  230 . The dock  222  can be integrated with one or more of the sensors  340 . 
     The sensor  240  can output a raw sensor signal or a conditioned sensor signal. The sensor  240  can include a signal processor that can process the raw or conditioned sensor signal to derive and calculate physiological parameters associated with the raw or conditioned sensor signal. 
     The sensor  240  can perform mixed analog and digital pre-processing of an analog sensor signal to generate a digital output signal. As discussed above, the sensor  240  can include a signal processor that can perform digital post-processing of the front-end processor output. The input sensor signal and the output conditioned signal may be either analog or digital. The front-end processing may be purely analog or purely digital. The back-end processing may be purely analog or mixed analog or digital. 
     The sensor  240  can include an encoder, which translates a digital word or serial bit stream, for example, into a baseband signal. The baseband signal can include the symbol stream that drives the transmit signal modulation, and may be a single signal or multiple related signal components. The encoder can include data compression and redundancy. 
     The sensor  240  can include a signal processor, an encoder, and a controller. The sensor  240  can utilize emitters  242  and the detectors  244  to generate sensor signals, such as a plethysmograph signal. The signal processor then can use the sensor signal to derive a parameter signal that can include a real time measurement of oxygen saturation and pulse rate. The parameter signal may include other parameters, such as measurements of perfusion index and signal quality. The signal processor can be an MS-5 or MS-7 board available from Masimo Corporation, Irvine, Calif. The signal processing step can be performed by the processor  254  of the reusable module  250 , as described above. 
     The dock  222  can be placed on various locations of a patient&#39;s body. For example, the dock  222  is placed on the patient&#39;s chest. The dock  222  can be placed on other locations on the patient including, but not limited to, torso, back, shoulder, arms, legs, neck, or head. Various means can be used to affix the dock  222  to the patient. For example, the dock  222  is affixed to the patient with an adhesive. In another example, the dock  222  is affixed to the patient with a fastener, such as tape, laid over at least a portion of the dock  222 . The dock  222  can be mechanically attachable to at least one strap, which can wrap around the patient. 
     The reusable module  250  can receive physiological data from the sensor  240  via the dock  222 . The reusable module  250  can wirelessly transmit the physiological data to the computing device  206 . The reusable module  240  can couple with the dock  222  to establish an electronic communication between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222 . The electrical communication between the dock  222  and the reusable module  250  can allow physiological data to be transmitted from the dock  222  to the pairing device  250 . The coupling between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  can be waterproof or shockproof. The disposable module  220  and the reusable module  250  may be shockproof or waterproof. The disposable module  220  and the reusable module  250  can be durable under various types of environments. For example, the reusable module  250  can be fully enclosed, allowing it to be washed, sanitized, and reused. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the dock  222  can include a memory  226  and battery  224 . The reusable module  250  can include an antenna  252 , a processor  254 , and a memory  256 . The antenna  252 , the processor  254 , and the memory  256  can be operatively connected with one another to allow electronic communication or transmission between them. 
     The antenna  252  can be an RFID (radio-frequency identification) antenna. The antenna  252  can be a Bluetooth® antenna. The reusable module  250  can include one or more antennae  252 . In some aspects, the reusable module  250  includes a first antenna and a second antenna, where first antenna is a receiving antenna and the second antenna is a transmitting antenna. The first antenna can be a transmitting antenna and the second antenna can be a receiving antenna. Both the first antenna and the second antenna can both receive data from or transmit data to the computing device  206 . The first antenna can be a passive antenna while the second antenna can be an active antenna. The first antenna can be an active antenna while the second antenna can be a passive antenna. An active antenna can include a built-in amplifier that can amplify certain spectrum or frequency of signals. The first antenna can establish an RFID or NFC (near field communication) connection with the computing device  206  while the second antenna can establish a Bluetooth® connection with the computing device  206 . In another aspect, both the first and the second antenna are capable of establishing RFID and/or Bluetooth® wireless connection. The process of establishing wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206  and wirelessly transmitting the patient physiological data to the computing device  206  will be further described below in detail. 
     The memory  256  can be computer hardware integrated circuits that store information for immediate use for a computer (for example, the processor  254 ). The memory  256  can store the patient physiological data received from the sensor  240 . The memory  256  can be volatile memory. For example, the memory  256  is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a static random access memory (SRAM). The memory  256  can be a non-volatile memory. For example, the memory  256  is a flash memory, ROM (read-only memory), PROM (programmable read-only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory). 
     The memory  256  of the reusable module  250  can store patient physiological data received from the sensor  240 . The memory  256  can store electronic instructions that, when accessed, prompts the processor  254  to receive patient physiological data from the memory  226  of the dock  222 , store the data in the memory  256 , retrieve the data from the memory  256 , transmit the data to the antenna  252 , and use the antenna  252  to wirelessly transmit the data to the computing device  206 . One or more of the actions discussed above can be performed simultaneously. For example, the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can receive patient physiological data from the memory  226  of the dock  222  and simultaneously store the data in the memory  256 . 
     The memory  256  can store patient data and health-related events related to a patient when the sensor assembly  202  is no longer in range with or is otherwise unable to communicate with the computing system  206 . The memory  256 , as noted above, can have sufficient capacity to store patient health data and/or health-related events. The memory  256  can store patient physiological information regardless of whether the reusable module  250  is paired with the computing device  206 . Some examples of the health-related events include arrhythmia, low blood pressure, blood oxygen level (SpO2), and the like. Such data and/or health-related events may be accessed via a mobile application on a mobile device (for example, a smartphone, tablet, and the like). Patient data and/or health-related events can be relayed to a device without a display. In such circumstances, the device can have a light source (for example, an LED) that can blink in different colors or patterns to tell the patients or medical personnel something has happened or the data needs to be reviewed. Different rules can be used to determine when or in what situations can patient physiological information be transmitted from the sensor assembly  202  to other external devices (for example, monitoring devices, mobile devices, and the like). In order to maximize the life of the memory  256 , the memory  256  may only store health-related event data. For example, this data can be as simple as a time stamp when an event occurred or it can be a snapshot of data taken just before and just after an event. The memory can also store large sections of data. The memory  256  can store up to 96 hours or more of data. 
     In some aspects, the data stored in the memory  256  can be transmitted to an outside server. The memory  256  can transfer the entire patient physiological information to the outside server or transmit only certain portions of the information. For example, the memory  256  can transmit timestamp information and associated event information to the external server. In another example, the memory  256  can transmit a snapshot of patient physiological information. 
     The processor  254  can be a chip, an expansion card/board, or a stand-alone device that interfaces with peripheral devices. For example, the processor  254  is a single integrated circuit on a circuit board for the reusable module  250 . The processor  254  can be a hardware device or a software program that manages or directs the flow of data. 
     The processor  254  can communicate with the antenna  252  and the memory  256  of the reusable module  250 . For example, the processor  254  communicates with the antenna  252  and the memory  256  of the reusable module  250  to retrieve or receive patient physiological data and to transmit the data to external devices via the antenna  252 . The processor  254  can be a Bluetooth® chipset. For example, the processor  254  is a SimpleLink™ Bluetooth® low energy wireless MCU (microcontroller unit) by Texas Instruments Incorporated. 
     The processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can be connected to the sensor  240  such that it receives patient physiological data from the sensor  240  when the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 . The processor  254  can retrieve the patient physiological data from the memory  226  of the dock  222  and transmit the data to the antenna  252 . The processor  254  can be operatively connected to the antenna  252  such that the processor  254  can use the antenna  252  to wirelessly transmit the patient physiological parameters to the computing device  206 . The patient physiological data transmitted from the reusable module  250  to the computing device  206  can be raw patient physiological data in analog format (for example, 1131001310113100) or patient physiological parameters in a digital format (for example, 60% SpO2). 
     The sensor  240  can transmit raw or analog patient physiological data to the processor  254  of the reusable module  250 . The processor  254  can then perform signal processing on the raw data to calculate patient physiological parameters. It can be advantageous to have the processor  254  to perform signal processing on the raw patient physiological data instead of having the computing device  206  perform signal processing on the raw data. Raw data can comprise strings of binary bits, whereas processed data can comprise digital (not binary) data (for example, 36 degrees Celsius, 72 beats per minute, or 96% blood oxygen level). Therefore transmitting digital data can require less power consumption than transmitting raw data. Thus, by performing signal processing on the raw data using the processor  254  and transmitting the processed data (as opposed to raw data) to the computing device  206 , life of the battery  224  can be extended. 
     The battery  224  of the dock  222  can provide power for the sensor  240 . Additionally, the battery  224  can provide power for the reusable module  250 . In some aspects, the reusable module  250  may not have an internal power source to transmit patient data to the computing device  206 . When the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can draw power from the battery  224 . The processor  254  can use the power from the battery  224  to process patient physiological data from the sensor  240  and to wirelessly transmit the data to the computing device  206 . The battery  224  may or may not be rechargeable. The battery  224  can have wireless charging capacity. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a wiring diagram for the sensor system  202 . The sensor  240  can include one or more detectors  244  and one or more emitters  242 . The detectors  244  and the emitters  242  can be optical. The emitters  242  can be LEDs. The detectors  244  can detect light generated by the emitters  242 . The emitters  242  and the detectors  244  are used to collect different types of patient physiological data, such as blood oxygen level, heart rate, and respiratory rate. As discussed below, the sensor  240  can include one of the following sensor elements including, but not limited to, piezoelectric elements for acoustic sensors, electrodes for EEG sensors, electrodes for ECG sensors, and the like. 
     The dock  222  and the reusable module  250  can include one or more electrical contacts  228  and electrical contacts  258 , respectively. The electrical contacts  228  and  258  can establish electronic communication between the dock  222  and the reusable module  250  when the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 . The electrical communication between the electrical contacts  228  and  258  can allow the reusable module  250  to receive power from the battery  224  of the disposable module  220 . Additionally and/or alternatively, the electrical connection between the electrical contacts  228  and  258  can allow the reusable module  250  to receive patient physiological data from the memory  226  of the dock  222 . The coupling of the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  will be further described below. 
     Sensor Assembly 
       FIG. 3A  shows a front perspective view of an example of the sensor assembly  202  including the reusable module  250  and the disposable module  220 . As discussed above, the reusable module  250  can be a pairing device that can establish wireless connection with the computing device  206 . The disposable device  220  can include the dock  222  and the cable  230  coupling the dock  222  to the sensor  240  (not shown). 
     The dock  222  can include a strap  308  that is coupled to a bottom portion of the dock  222 . The strap  308  can loop around a patient (e.g., a wrist or an arm) to removably attach the dock  222  to the patient (see  FIG. 7H ). The dock  222  can also include a strap loop  302  having a slot for the strap  308  to extend through. The strap  308  can extend through the strap loop  302  and loop around to removably attach the dock  222  to the patient. The strap  308  can include a fastener  310  disposed near a distal end of the strap  308  that can interact with the strap  308  to fix the distal end of the strap  308 . The fastener  310  can be located at a distal end of the strap  308 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . The fastener  310  can be located at other locations of the strap  308 . The dock can also include a retainer  304  that holds the reusable module  250  within the dock  222  to maintain electrical connection between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222 . Moreover, the dock  222  can include a housing  300  that can house the battery  224  and the memory  226 . 
     The dock  222  can include a cable retainer  306  disposed on a side of the dock  222 . The cable retainer  306  can be dimensioned and sized to retain the cable  230 . The cable retainer  306  can be removably connected to the dock  222 . At least a portion of the cable retainer  306  may be flexible to facilitate insertion of the cable  230  into the cable retainer  306 . The cable retainer  306  can advantageously limit movement of the cable  230  to prevent possible tangling of cables of different sensor assemblies. The cable retainer  306  can include a channel to through which the cable  230  can extend. The channel of the cable retainer  306  can be dimensioned such that the cable  230  is snug within the channel, thereby limiting movement of the cable  230 . 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an exploded, top perspective view of the sensor assembly  202  of  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3C  illustrates an exploded, bottom perspective view of the sensor assembly  202  of  FIG. 3A . The dock  222  of the disposable module  220  can include a support plate  316  disposed under the dock  222 . The support plate  316  can be integrated with the strap  308 . The strap  308  can be modular with respect to the support plate  316  and/or the dock  222 . The dock  222  may not include the support plate  316  such that the strap  308  is coupled directly to the dock  222 . 
     The retainer  304  of the dock  222  can include a protrusion  324  that can interact with a groove  322  of the reusable module  250 . The interaction between the groove  322  and the protrusion  324  can maintaining coupling between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222 . For example, when the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222 , the retainer  304  is pushed in a direction away from the housing  300  of the dock  222  in order to allow the reusable module  250  to mate with the dock  222 . When the reusable module  250  is fully inserted into the dock  222 , the retainer  304  can snap back to its original position to engage the groove  322  of the reusable module  250 . The retainer  304  and the groove  322  can together prevent vertical displacement of the reusable module  250 . 
     The retainer  304  can have a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the retainer  304  is substantially vertical with respect to the dock  222 . When in the second position, the retainer  304  is pushed in a direction away from the housing  300  so that the retainer  304  forms an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the dock  222 . Before the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222 , the retainer  304  can be in the first position. While the reusable module  250  is being pushed into the dock  220 , the reusable module  250  interacts with the retainer  304  and causes the retainer  304  to be in the second position. When the reusable module  250  is fully engaged with the dock  222 , the retainer  304  reverts to the first position so that the protrusion  324  engages the groove  322 . 
     The dock  222  can also include a flex circuit  320  and a cover  318  to retain the flex circuit  320 . The flex circuit  320  can include the electrical contacts  228  of the dock  222 , where the flex circuit  320  serves as a connection between the cable  230  and the electrical contact  228 . Therefore any information or data transmitted from the sensor  240  via the cable  230  to the dock  222  can be transmitted to the electrical contacts  228  via the flex circuit  320 . Additional details of the flex circuit  320  will be provided below. 
     The housing  300  of the dock  222  can include one or more slots  328  that can interact with one or more legs  326  of the reusable module  250 . The slots  328  can be dimensioned and shaped to allow the legs  326  of the reusable module  250  to slide into the slots  328 . The legs  326  can slide into the slots  328  to assist in maintaining connection between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222 . Once the legs  326  are inserted into the slots  328 , the legs  326  can prevent vertical displacement of the reusable module  250 . 
     It can be advantageous to have the battery  224  in a disposable portion such as the dock  222  or the sensor  240 . Establishing wireless communication  204  and performing wireless transmission requires a significant amount of power. If the reusable module  250  has an internal power source, its functionalities (for example, establishing wireless communication  204  and performing wireless transmission) can be limited by the capacity of the internal power source. In such configuration, the reusable module  250  needs to be replaced once its internal power source is depleted. In a wireless patient monitoring context, it is desirable to keep the same pairing device for each patient because having to use multiple pairing devices for the same patient often can lead to confusion and can create a need to reestablish connections between pairing devices and display devices. When the reusable module  250  has an external power source such as battery  224  of the dock  222 , it does not need to be replaced when the battery  224  is depleted. 
     The batteries  224  can be zinc-air batteries powered by oxidizing zinc with oxygen in the air. It can be advantageous to use zinc-air batteries because they have higher energy density and thus have greater capacity than other types of batteries for a given weight or volume. In addition, zinc-air batteries have a long shelf life if properly sealed to keep the air out. The housing  300  can include one or more openings  332  that allow air to enter and react with the batteries  224 . The one or more openings  332  can be sealed prior to use to prevent the air from entering and reacting with the batteries  224 , thereby reducing capacity of the batteries  224 . Once ready to use, the seal placed on the one or more openings  332  may be removed to allow the batteries  224  to provide power for the reusable module  250 . The housing  300  may include a gasket  330  to seal the batteries  224  from the air. The gasket  330  can further increase the capacity of the batteries  224 . 
     Having a disposable element (for example, the disposable module  220 ) as a power source for the reusable module  250  can address the above issues by eliminating the need to replace the reusable module  250 . In this configuration, only the dock  222  or the sensor  240  needs to be replaced when the battery  224  is depleted. Since the cost of replacing the dock  222  or the sensor  240  can be much less than the cost of replacing the reusable module  250 , this configuration can be advantageous in reducing operation costs. The sensor  240  may include the battery  224  that provides power to the reusable module  250 . Both the sensor  240  and the dock  222  can include the battery  224 . The reusable module  250  can include a battery consumption priority setting such that the reusable module  250  receives power first from the sensor  240  then from the dock  222 . 
     The dock  222  can include a battery circuit  314  in contact with the batteries  224 . The battery circuit  314  can be in contact with the flexible circuit  320 . When the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 , the electronic contacts  258  can be in contact with the electronic contacts  228  of the flexible circuit  320  to allow the reusable module  250  to receive power from the batteries  224  via the flexible circuit  320 . 
     The dock  222  can include an opening  362  and one or more supports  360 . The one or more supports  360  can be formed on a side of the opening  362  and extend over a substantial portion of the opening  362 . The supports  360  can be arcuate. The supports  360  can extend over the length of the opening  362 . The cover  318  for the flexible circuit  320  can be placed over the opening  362  to hold the flexible circuit  320  over the opening  362 . 
     The dock  222  can include a slot dimensioned to retain the reusable module  250  during the use of the sensor assembly  202 . The reusable module  250  can be disposed between the housing  300  and the retainer  304 . The slot of the dock  222  can include one or more arcuate surfaces or one or more angular corners. The slot of the dock  222  may be substantially rectangular or circular in shape. The slot can have substantially the same size, shape, and/or dimensions as that of the reusable module  250 . 
     The reusable module  250  can include one or more electrical contacts  258 . The electrical contacts  258  can be located on a bottom surface of the reusable module  250 . The electrical contacts  258  can be substantially rectangular or circular in shape. The electrical contacts  258  can establish contact with electrical contacts  228  of the dock  222  when the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 . The contact between the electrical contacts  228  and electrical contacts  258  can allow information or data be transmitted between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  of the disposable module  220 . 
     As disclosed herein, the batteries  224  can be zinc-air batteries powered by oxidizing zinc with oxygen in the air. The openings  332  formed on the housing  300  can allow the air to enter through and react with the battery  224 . The battery  224  then provides power for the disposable module  220  and the reusable module  250 . However, the openings  332  may sometimes be covered by blankets, clothes, and the like, which can prevent the air from entering through the openings  332  and react with the battery  224 . Consequently, power supply for the disposable module  220  and the reusable module  250  can be interrupted if the openings  332  are covered. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3D , the housing  300  can include one or more recesses  331 , such as, for example, channels, that can facilitate the air to enter through the openings  332 . The recesses  331  can be formed on a top surface of the housing  300  such that the recesses  331  form openings that allow air flow. The openings  332  may be formed on an inner surface of the recesses  331 . The inner surfaces of the recesses  331  are at least a predetermined distance away from the top surface of the housing  300  so that even when the housing  300  is covered, the openings  332  may remain uncovered and exposed to the air. The housing can have a single channel or multiple recesses, such as dimples or cutouts of any shape or size. 
     The number, dimensions, orientation, or positions of the channels  331  may be varied depending on the size of the housing  300  of the reusable module  250 . The channels  331  can be oriented such that they together form a shape on the housing  300 . The channels  331  may be oriented in a triangular shape (as shown in  FIG. 3D ), rectangular shape, pentagonal shape, hexagonal shape, and the like. The cross-sectional shape of the channels  331  can be circular, triangular, rectangular, or the like. In some examples, the channels  331  can extend to one or more edges of the housing  300  so that even when the top surface of the housing  300  is covered, the channels  331  extending to the edges of the housing  300  can ensure that the openings  332  remain exposed to the air. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example the sensor assembly  202 , identified generally by the reference numeral  202 A. Parts, components, and features of the sensor assembly  202 A are identified using the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts, components, and features of the sensor assembly  202 , except that a letter “A” has been added thereto. The illustrated example includes a disposable module  220 A and a reusable module  250 A coupled to each other. 
     The sensor assembly  202 A can include a sensor  240 A. The sensor  240 A can be an O3 sensor that can be adhered to a forehead of a patient. The sensor assembly  202 A can include a cable  230 A that couples the sensor  240 A and a dock  222 A of the disposable module  220 A. The cable  230 A can be flat or round. As discussed above, the sensor  240 A can include one or more batteries that can provide power for a reusable module  250 A. The mating of the dock  222 A and the reusable module  250 A can facilitate electronic communication therebetween. The dock  222 A can include a housing  300 A that includes a retainer member  304 A. Pressing down the retainer member  304 A can allow the reusable module  250 A to be coupled with or removed from the dock  222 A. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of the sensor assembly  202 , identified generally by the reference numeral  202 B. Parts, components, and features of the sensor assembly  202 B are identified using the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts, components, and features of the sensor assembly  202 , except that a letter “B” has been added thereto. The illustrated example includes a disposable module  220 B and a reusable module  250 B coupled to each other. 
     The sensor assembly  202 B can include a sensor  240 B. The sensor  240 B can be a RAM sensor adhered to a neck of a patient. The sensor  240 B can be an ECG sensor that can be adhered to a chest or abdominal area of a patient. The dock  222 B can include a housing  300 B and a retainer member  304 B. The housing  300 B can include one or more extensions  500  that can extend from the body of the housing  300 B towards the retainer member  304 B. The reusable module  250 B can include cutouts that correspond to the one or more extensions  500 . When the reusable module  250 B is coupled with the dock  222 B, the extensions  500  can extend over the cutouts of the reusable module  250 B, preventing the reusable module  250 B from being dislodged from the dock  222 B. 
     Flexible Circuit 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a perspective view of the flex circuit  320 . The flex circuit  320  can include one or more elongate members  600  that can each include a tip  602 , and a body  608 . The electrical contracts  228  can be disposed on the one or more elongate members  600 . The elongate members  600  can extend distally from the body  608 . The tips  602  can be located at distal ends of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . The elongate members  600  can be flat or arcuate as shown in  FIG. 6A . The elongate members  600  can become arcuate due to their interaction with the supports  360  and the cover  318 . The elongate members  600  can include one or more substantially flat portions and/or one or more arcuate portions. Each of the one or more tips  602  can correspond to each of the one or more elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . Some of the elongate members  600  may not have electrical contacts  228 . The flex circuit  320  can include the same or different number of the elongate members  600  and the tips  602 . The flex circuit  320  can include one or more openings  604  that couple the flex circuit  320  to the dock  222 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6C and 6D , the tips  602  of the elongate members  600  can be positioned under the cover  318  while the elongate members  600  are supported by supports  360 . Because the tips  602  can be wedged under the cover  318 , the elongate members  600  can retain its arcuate shape over the supports  360 . 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a bottom view of the flex circuit  320 . The flex circuit  320  can include one or more electrical contacts  606  that can be connected to the cable  230  and the battery circuit  314  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3C ). Therefore, power from the battery  224  can be transmitted to the electrical contacts  228  of the dock  222  via the electrical contacts  606  of the flex circuit  320 . Moreover, the electrical contacts  606  can establish connection between the electrical contacts  228  and the sensor  240  via the cable  230 . 
     The number of the elongate members  600  can correspond to the number of electrical contacts  258  of the reusable module  250  (see  FIG. 3C ). For example, the reusable module  250  has six electrical contacts  258  and the flex circuit  320  has six fingers, where each of the six fingers includes an electrical contact  228 . The number of electrical contacts  258  of the reusable module  250  can be different from the number of elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . For example, the flex circuit  320  can include six elongate members  600  each having a corresponding electrical contact  310   a , while the reusable module  250  has only four electrical contacts  258 . The number of electrical contacts  258  of the reusable module  250  may be different from or the same with the number of electrical contacts  228  disposed on the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . 
     Each the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can include an arcuate portion with a first curvature. The arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  can be laid over the opening  362  of the dock  222 . The one or more electrical contacts  228  of the flex circuit  320  can be disposed over a portion of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . For example, the one or more electrical contacts  228  are located at an apex of each of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . In another example, the entire upper surface of each of the elongate members  600  defines the electrical contacts  228 . The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can be configured such that the apex of the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  are located at a predetermined distance away from the opening  362  of the dock  222 . The apex of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can point away from the opening  362  of the dock  222  such that the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  define a concave surface facing the opening of the dock  222 . The apex of the elongate members  600  can be arcuate in shape or substantially flat. 
     It can be advantageous to have the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  include a curved portion upward and away (for example, concave downward) from the opening  362  of the dock  222 . Such configuration can allow the elongate members  600  to act as springs providing reactive upward forces when pressed downward by the reusable module  250 . Such upward forces provided by the elongate members  600  can allow the electrical contacts  228 ,  258  of the dock  222  and the reusable module  250 , respectively, to maintain adequate contact between them. 
     The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can have different curvatures. For example, a first elongate member of the flex circuit  320  has a first curvature while a second elongate member of the flex circuit  320  has a second curvature. The first curvature of the first elongate member and the second curvature of the second elongate member can be the same or different. The first curvature of the first elongate member is greater than, less than, or equal to the second curvature of the second elongate member. 
     The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 , in their resting positions, may not have any arcuate portions. The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can be substantially linear prior to being installed on the dock  222 . The elongate members  600 , can be linear or curved. The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can include more than one linear portions. 
     The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can be flexible or not flexible. The flex circuit  320  can be laid on the dock  222  such that the elongate members  600  are laid over one or more supports  360  of the dock  222 . The elongate members  600  can extend distally away from the body  608  of the flex circuit  320 . The flex circuit  320  can include more than one elongate members  600 . The flex circuit  320  can include one or more elongate members  600  that are flexible. Some the elongate members  600  may be flexible while other elongate members  600  are not. 
     As discussed above, the dock  222  can include the opening  362  over which the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can extend over. The dock  222  can include one or more supports  360  dimensioned and shaped to support the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . When the flex circuit  320  is installed on the dock  222 , the supports  360  can provide a surface on which the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can be placed on. 
     The supports  360  of the dock  222  can be curved and define the curvature of the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600 . The supports  360  can be arcuate. It can be advantageous to have the supports that correspond to each of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . For example, the dock  222  has six independent supports  360  associated with each of the six elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . Such configuration allows each of the corresponding elongate members  600  and the supports  360  of the dock  222  to move independently from other elongate members  600  and supports  360  as opposed to all of the elongate members  600  and the supports  360  moving that the same time. Such configuration can make inserting the reusable module  250  into the slot  940  of the dock  222  easier. Moreover, this can allow interoperability between the dock  222  and the reusable module  250  that have different height configurations for the electrical contacts  258 . 
     It can be advantageous to have the supports  360  for the flex circuit  320  include a curved portion upward and away (e.g., concave downward) from a bottom portion of the dock  222 . Such configuration can allow the supports to act as springs providing reactive upward force when pressed downward by the reusable module  250 . Such upward forces can allow the electrical contacts  228 ,  258  of the dock  222  and the reusable module  250 , respectively, to maintain adequate contact between them. The supports  360  can include a first upward portion that is concave upward, a second upward portion that is concave downward, and a third downward portion that is concave downward. The supports  360  may include a first upward portion that is concave upward and a second upward portion that is concave downward. The supports  360  can include one or more inflection point, defined as a point where the supports  360  changes from being concave to convex, or vice versa. The supports  360  can also include one or more linear portions. 
     The supports  360  may also provide sufficient force to push the reusable module  250  away the dock  222  when the retainer member  304  is pulled away from the reusable module  250 . The support  360  may push the reusable module  250  away from the dock  222  when the retainer member  304  is in its second position, as discussed above. When the retainer  304  no longer engages the groove  322  of the reusable module  250 , it may no longer provide force to counteract the force generated by the supports  360 , allowing the supports  360  to push the reusable module  250  away from the dock  222 . 
     The supports  360  can have a length that is greater than, less than, or equal to the length of the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . The supports  360  have a width that is greater than, less than, or equal to the width of the elongate members  600 . The supports  360  can have a thickness that is greater than, less than, or equal to the thickness of the elongate members  600  to allow the supports  360  to provide sufficient mechanical support and to withstand the downward force exerted on the elongate members  600  and the supports  360  by the reusable module  250 . The interaction between the elongate members  600 , supports  360 , and the reusable module  250  will be further described below. 
     The supports  360  can be made out of the same or different material as the dock  222 . 
     The body  608  of the flex circuit  320  can be laid under the housing  300  of the dock  222 . The body  608  can be connected to the cable  230  connected to the dock  222  such that the flex circuit  320  allows the health monitoring data from sensor  240  to be transmitted to the electrical contacts  606  of the flex circuit  320 . 
       FIGS. 6C and 6D  illustrate a change in a configuration of the flex circuit  320 . When the reusable module  250  is inserted into the slot  940  of the dock  222 , the engagement between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  can change the position of the tips  602  of the flex circuit  320 .  FIGS. 6C and 6D  show relative positions of the tips  602  before and after the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 . The relative positions of the tips  602  before the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222  are denoted by L 1 . When the reusable module  250  is inserted into the slot  940  of the dock  222 , the reusable module  250  can apply a downward force (denoted as F) to the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  and the supports  360 . This downward force F can cause the arcuate portions and the supports  360  to move downward. This downward movement of the elongate members  600  and the supports  360  can cause the tips  602  to move distally along an axis defined by the elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320 . Specifically, such downward motion can cause the relative positions of the tips  602  to change from L 1  to L 2 , where L 2  is greater than L 1 . 
       FIGS. 6C and 6D  illustrate another change in configuration of the flex circuit  320 . When the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222 , the engagement between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  can change the position of the tips  602  of the flex circuit  320 . The relative difference between the heights of the apex of the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  and the body  608  before for reusable module  250  is inserted is denoted by H 1 . When the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222 , the reusable module  250  can apply a downward force (denoted as F) to the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  and the supports  360 . This downward force F can cause the arcuate portions and the supports  360  to move downward. Such downward motion can cause the relative difference between the heights of the apex of the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  and the body  608  to change from H 1  to H 2 , where H 2  is less than H 1 . It is possible that the relative different between the heights of the apex of the arcuate portions of the elongate members  600  and the body  608  can change while the relative positions of the tips  602  do not change from L 1  to L 2 , or vice versa. 
     The downward force F in a first direction can cause the supports  360  of the dock  222  to provide a reactive force in a second direction. The second direction of the reactive force can be an opposite direction then the first direction of the downward force F. Specifically, the reactive force by the supports  360  can be upward away from the dock  222 . The supports  360  can act as a spring such that as the supports  360  moves further downward from its natural position (for example, as H 1  changes to H 2 ), the magnitude of the reactive force increases. The directions of F and the reactive force may be opposite from each other. The magnitude of the reactive force is less than the downward force F in order to allow the supports  360  to move downward and allow the reusable module  250  to be inserted into the slot  940  of the dock  222 . The magnitude of the downward force F caused by the reusable module  250  may correlate to the following: the change in the relative height difference between the apex of the elongate members  600  and the body  608  (for example, from H 1  to H 2 ) and the change in the positions of the tips  602  (for example, from L 1  to L 2 ). 
     The elongate members  600  of the flex circuit  320  can have a first degree of curvature before the reusable module  250  is inserted into the dock  222 . The elongate members  600  can have a second degree of curvature after the reusable module is inserted into the dock  222 . The first degree of curvature of the elongate members  600  can be greater than, less than, or equal to the second degree of curvature. The first degree of curvature can correspond to a first position of the tips  602  (for example, L 1 ). The second degree of curvature can correspond to a second position of the tips  602  (for example, L 2 ). Moreover, the first degree of curvature can correspond to a first position of the apex (for example, H 1 ) of the elongate members  600 . The second degree of curvature can correspond to a second position of the apex (for example, H 2 ) of the elongate members  600 . 
     The reactive force provided by the supports  360  can maintain sufficient contact between the electrical contacts  310   a  of the dock  222  and the electrical contacts  310   b  of the reusable module  250  to allow electrical signals be transmitted between the contacts. 
     Attachment Mechanisms 
       FIGS. 7A-7I  illustrate various examples of an attachment mechanism for the disposable module  220  of the sensor assembly  202 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 7A-7C , the dock  222  can be coupled to a first strap  700  and a second strap  702 . The first strap  700  and the second strap  702  can be mechanically coupled to the dock  222 . The straps  700 ,  702  may be removably coupled to the dock  222 . Alternatively, the straps  700 ,  702  can be integrated to the dock  222 . The second strap  702  can include one or more openings  704 . The first strap  700  can include a fastener  706  configured to affix the second strap  702  to the first strap  700 . The openings  704  can be dimensioned receive the fastener  706 . The first strap  700  can be inserted through one of the openings  704  to removably attach the dock  222  to a patient. The straps  700 ,  702  can have varying thicknesses, lengths, and flexibility. The straps  700 ,  702  may be stretchable. The first strap  700  can include one or more openings  704  while the second strap  702  includes the fastener  706 . 
     A distal end of the first strap  700  can be inserted into one of the openings  704  of the second strap  702 . The fastener  706  of the first strap  700  may be inserted into one of the openings  704  of the second strap  702 . The interaction between the fastener  706  and openings  704  can removably affix the dock  222  as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7C . 
       FIG. 7D  shows the dock  222  of the disposable module  220  coupled to yet another example of an attachment mechanism. The dock  222  can be coupled to an extension  708  extending away from the disposable module  220 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7D , the disposable module  220  can be placed on top of a hand and the extension  708  can extend towards a wrist of a patient. The extender  708  can include a strap  700 A that can loop around the wrist to secure the disposable module  220  and the extension  708  to the wrist. The strap  700 A can include a fastener  706 A that can adhere the strap  700 A to a top surface of the extension  708 . The fastener  706 A can be disposed at a distal end or a proximal end of the strap  700 A. The fastener  706 A may adhere to a top surface or a bottom surface of the  700 A. The fastener  706 A can incorporate one of the following mechanisms including a hook and loop system, Velcro, buttons, snaps, magnets, and the like. 
       FIG. 7E  illustrates another example of an attachment mechanism for the disposable module  220 . As shown here, the dock  222  can be coupled to a strap  700 B. A first, proximal end of the strap  700 B can be attached to the dock  222 , while a second, distal end of the strap  700 B can extend away from the dock  222 . The distal end of the strap  700 B can include a fastener  706 B. The strap  700 B can affix the dock  222  to a wrist of a patient by having the second, distal end looped around the wrist. The distal end of the strap  700 B can be affixed by looping over or under the proximal end of the strap  700 B. Once the distal end of the strap  700 B looped around the first, proximal end of the strap  2310 , the fastener  706 B can be used to secure the distal end of the strap  700 B. The fastener  706 B can incorporate one of the following mechanisms including, but not limited to, a hook and loop system, Velcro, buttons, snaps, and/or magnets. 
       FIG. 7F  shows yet another example of an attachment mechanism for the sensor assembly  202 . The sensor assembly  202  can be coupled to an extender  708 A which includes a hook  710 . The extender  708 A can extend away from the dock  222  of the sensor assembly  202 , where the hook  710  is coupled to a distal end of the extender  708 A. The hook  710  can wrap around the strap  700 C such that the extender  708 A and the dock  222  are substantially held in place with respect to a wrist of a patient. The strap  700 C can be modular. The strap  700 C may be removably connected or affixed to the hook  710  of the extender  708 A. The strap  700 C can be a flexible band that can tightly wrap around a patient&#39;s wrist, as shown in  FIG. 7F . 
       FIG. 7G  shows yet another example of an attachment mechanism for the sensor assembly  202 . The dock  222  can include the strap  308  extending from a first side of the dock  222 , the strap  308  dimensioned to wrap around a patient&#39;s wrist in a first direction, and the strap loop  302  extending from a second side of the dock  222 . The strap  308  can include the fastener  310  disposed near its distal end. The strap  3810  can be routed around the patient&#39;s wrist and through the strap loop  302  of the dock  222 . Once routed through the strap loop  302  of the dock  222 , the strap  308  can be routed around the strap loop  302  and wrap the wrist in a second direction. The first direction of wrapping the strap  308  around the wrist can be clockwise or counterclockwise. The second direction of wrapping the strap  308  around the wrist can be clockwise or counterclockwise.  FIG. 7H  shows the sensor assembly  202  of  FIG. 3A  affixed to a patient&#39;s wrist. 
       FIG. 7I  illustrates yet another example of an attachment mechanism for the sensor assembly  202 . The dock  222  and the sensor  240  can be coupled to a glove  712 . When the glove  712  is placed on a patient&#39;s hand, the sensor  240  of the sensor assembly  202  can be placed one of the fingertips. The dock  222  can be attached to a top portion of the glove  712  as shown in  FIG. 7I . The sensor  240  of the sensor assembly  202  can be built inside or outside the fingers of the glove  712 . The sensor  240  can be integrated to the fingers of the glove  712 . The cable  230  of the sensor assembly  202  can be integrated to the glove  712 . 
     Dongle and Pairing 
     Given the time demands placed on clinicians in busy hospitals and the number of patients and patient monitoring devices, manual interaction to establish connection between the computing device  206  (for example, a mobile patient monitoring display device) and the reusable module  250  can be burdensome. In some cases, the time required to manually interact with a patient monitor device in order to establish connection with a pairing device can even jeopardize a patient&#39;s well-being in particularly urgent circumstances. For at least the foregoing reasons, it would be advantageous for the computing device  206 , such as bedside patient monitors, central monitoring stations, and other devices, to have the capability to detect the presence of the reusable module  250  nearby and establish a wireless communication  204  with the reusable module  250 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8C  illustrate various view of a dongle  800  connected to the computing device  206 . The dongle  800  can include a body  802  and a connector  804  coupled to the body  802  via a cable  806 . The connector  804  can connect to the computing device  206  to allow transmissions between the dongle  800  and the computing device  206 . The cable  806  can include one or more conductive wires that can transmit data and/or power between the body  802  and the connector  804 . The body  802  of the dongle  800  can be removably attached to the computing device  206 . The body  802  can receive power from the computing device  206  via the connector  804  and the cable  806 . 
     When the dongle  800  is connected to the computing device  206  via the connector  804 , the computing device  206  can automatically detect the connector  804 . The computing device  206  can determine a type of connector  804  and automatically change its settings. The settings may include, but not limited to, display settings for the display  208 , display setting for the computing device  206  (for example, color of lights used to denote pair or communication status), communication protocol settings (for example, type of wireless communication utilized), communication signal settings (for example, varying communication signal type or strength based on different types of communications), and the like. Additionally, the settings for the dongle  800  can change to accommodate different types of computing devices  206  and their displays  208 . Such setting can include display settings (for example, colors or messages denoting communication/pairing status), communication signal settings (for example, frequency of wireless signal used), communication protocol settings (for example, types of wireless communication used), and the like. 
     The computing device  206  can receive processed physiological parameter data and display on a display screen. This feature can be advantageous because it can reduce the amount of processing power required by the computing device  206 . As discussed above, the reusable module  250  can perform signal processing on raw patient physiological data collected by the sensor  240  and calculate patient physiological parameters. Therefore, the data transmitted from the reusable module  250  to the computing device  206  via the body  802  includes patient physiological parameters that do not require further signal processing. 
     The reusable module  250  can transmit patient physiological parameters with low resolution and the dongle  800  can fill in the data using various methods. For example, the dongle  800  may use different types of averages to fill in the data transmitted from the reusable module  250 . The reusable module  250  can send waveform data, for example, at a low resolution and the dongle  800  can increase the resolution of the waveform. This feature can further increase the life of the battery  224  of the disposable module  220 . 
     The body  802  of the dongle  800  can include a transceiver or receiver, and a communication module for communicatively coupling the computing device  206  to other patient monitoring devices such as the reusable module  250 . When the reusable module  250  is sufficiently proximate, the body  802  can communicate with the reusable module  250  so as to identify the reusable module  250 . The body  802  can include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader and while the reusable module  250  can include an embedded RFID chip containing an identifying information unique to the reusable module  250 . The RFID reader of the body  802  can identify the embedded RFID chip inside the reusable module  250  and establish a wireless communication  204  between the reusable module  250  and the body  802 . The body  802  can include a transceiver that complies with one or more short-range wireless communications standards, such as Bluetooth®. Other types of wireless communication protocols may be utilized to establish communication and transfer data between the dongle  800  and the reusable module  250 . 
     The body  802  can include a groove  808  dimensioned to receive a portion of the reusable module  250 . The groove  808  can indicate a medical personnel where to place the reusable module  250  in order to associate (for example, pair) the reusable module  250  with the computing device  206 . 
     The dongle  800  can include a holder  850  that can retain the reusable module  250  when not in use. The holder  850  can be separate from the dongle  800  as shown in  FIG. 8B . The holder  850  can include a surface dimensioned and shaped to engage with a surface of the reusable module  250  to assist in retaining the reusable module  250 . The holder  850  can use a magnet to retain the reusable module  250 . The holder  850  can be attached on the computing device  206  via various mechanisms including, but not limited to, adhesives, Velcro, magnet, and the like. 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate a process of pairing the reusable module  250  with the computing device  206  using the dongle  800 . Wireless communication  204  between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206  can be initiated by coupling the connector  804  of the dongle  800  with the computing device  206  and placing the reusable module  250  within a certain distance away from the body  802  of the dongle  800 . The reusable module  250  may or may not require a physical contact with the body  802  to transfer its identifying information to the dongle  800 . 
     When the reusable module  250  is brought sufficiently close to the body  802  of the dongle  800 , the body  802  can, for example, use RFID technology to receive from the reusable module  250  information that can identify the reusable module  250  to the computing device  206 . The identifying information can be an ID tag of a token specific or unique to the reusable module  250 . The identifying information can include Bluetooth® parameters of the reusable module  250 . Other types of identification mechanisms can be used to allow the computing device  206  to identify and associate with the reusable module  250 . 
     The identifying information of the reusable module  250  can be stored in the memory  256 . The identifying information may be hardwired into the memory  256  or programmable. The identifying information can include pairing parameters (for example, a pairing device ID) that is unique to the reusable module  250 . The identifying information may be unique to the patient to whom the reusable module is assigned. The identifying information of the reusable module  250  may also include other information such as, for example, the pairing device&#39;s information, information regarding the sensor  240  the reusable module  250  is operatively connected to, or a code or other indicator for initiating a predetermined action to be performed by the computing device  206 . Additionally and/or alternatively, the identifying information of the reusable module  250  can be generated using physiological data collected by the sensors  240  of the sensor assembly  202 . 
     The body  802  of the dongle  800  can include a RFID reader. The RFID reader can communicatively couple the computing device  206  to other patient monitoring devices such as the reusable module  250 . When the reusable module  250  is proximate to the body  802 , as shown in  FIG. 9B , the RFID reader of the body  802  can receive the identifying information from the reusable module  250 . Once the body  802  receives the identifying information, the identifying information can be transmitted to the computing device  206  via the cable  806  and the connector  804 . 
     The computing device  206  can use the identifying information to associate the reusable module  250  with the computing device  206 . For example, the Bluetooth® parameters of the reusable module  250  can be used to associate the reusable module with the computing device  206 . Once associated, the reusable module  250  can connect with the computing device  206  using the pairing parameters (for example, Bluetooth® parameters) included in the identifying information. The computing device  206  can identify the reusable module  250  and allow wireless communication  204  with the reusable module  250  using the Bluetooth® parameters it received from the reusable module  250 . After establishing connection with the computing device  206 , the reusable module  250  can communicate with the dongle  800  and the computing device  206  via Bluetooth® transmission. Other types or standards of wireless communication can be used, including, for example, ultrasound, Near Field Communication (NFC), and the like. If multiple reusable modules  250  are proximate to the computing device  206 , a priority scheme or a user acknowledgment may be used to determine which reusable modules  250  are accommodated. 
     The reusable module  250  can use the NFC to provide instructions to program the dongle  800  to take certain actions in certain situations. The NFC communication circuitry of the reusable module  250  can have an associated memory that can have read/write capabilities. For example, the reusable module  250  can use NFC to indicate how long the dongle  206  must wait before deleting the pairing parameters (“giving up”). In another example, the reusable module  250  can use the NFC to indicate when the dongle  800  is disallowed from deleting the pairing parameters (“not giving up”). The NFC can be used to allow the dongle  800  to associate with one or more reusable modules  250  at the same time. 
     The dongle  800  can use the NFC to receive various types of information from the reusable module  250 . The dongle  800  can receive information associated with NFC components of the reusable module  250  and determine sensor types, patient types, patient information, physician information, hospital information, authorized uses, authorized supplies, authorized manufacturers, emitter wavelengths, or indications of the usage or life of the reusable module  250 , parameters the reusable module  250  is capable of measuring, and the like. For example, the dongle  800  can receive information via the NFC to determine that a particular reusable module  250  is designed to work with sensor assembly  202 . The dongle  800  can also write back using NFC. For example, the dongle  800  can provide programming information through NFC to the reusable module  250 . The dongle  800  can also write sensor usage information to the reusable module  250 . For example, the reusable module  250  may only be allowed to be used a certain number of times before it must be discarded in order to maintain quality. This information can be written to the reusable module  250  through NFC communication. 
     Throughout the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the dongle  800  may be incorporated directly into the computing device  206 . For example, the dongle  800  can be built into the circuitry of the computing device  206  such that the dongle  800  and the computing device  206  are in the same housing. In another example, the dongle  800  and the computing device  206  are in the same housing but the dongle  800  is not built into the circuitry of the computing device  206 . The dongle  800  can be incorporated into the computing device  206  such that the dongle  800  is located near an outer housing or body of the computing device  206 . Such a configuration can allow the reusable module  250  to readily establish wireless communication  204  with the dongle  800 . The dongle  800  incorporated directly into the computing device  206  can prevent possible connection issues between the dongle  800  and the computing device  206 . 
     Once the computing device  206  is associated with the reusable module  250 , it can transmit a signal to the reusable module  250  indicating that the reusable module  250  is associated with the computing device  206 . Different types of notifications can be generated when the reusable module  250  has successfully established wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . The notifications can be generated by the computing device  206 , the reusable module  250 , or both. 
     The computing device  206  can provide an auditory notification or a visual notification on the display  208 . For example, the computing device  206  can play a pattern of beeps or a predetermined melody for successful pairing. In another example, the computing device can play an auditory message such as “SpO 2  sensor number  1234  has been successfully paired with patient monitoring device A 123 .” Visual notifications can include a blinking LED on the display  208 . Another example of a visual notification can be in a form of text such as “Pairing successful” displayed on the display  208 . The reusable module  250  has one or more LEDs to indicate status of wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . For example, the reusable module  250  can include a red LED to indicate that no wireless communication  204  has been established between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . In another example, the reusable module  250  can include a blue LED to indicate that the reusable module  250  has established the wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . A blinking green LED may be used to indicate that the computing device  206  is waiting for the reusable module  250  to establish the wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . Different color LEDs and different schemes can be used to indicate different status of wireless communication  204  between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . 
     After receiving the pairing parameters from the reusable module  250 , the computing device  206  can wait for a predetermined time period for the reusable module  250  to establish the wireless communication  204  (for example, Bluetooth® connection). If the wireless communication  204  is not established within the predetermined time period, the pairing parameters can expire, requiring the reusable module  250  to retransmit the pairing parameters to the computing device  206  again. The predetermined time period can be modified. 
     Once the computing device  206  receives the pairing parameters from the reusable module  250 , the reusable module  250  can be mated with the dock  222 , as shown in  FIG. 9C . Once the reusable module  250  is mated with the dock  222 , it can draw power from the battery  224  to establish wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . The reusable module  250  can use the power drawn from the battery  224  to perform signal processing on the raw data to calculate physiological parameters. Once the physiological parameters are determined, the reusable module  250  can use the power from the battery to transmit the physiological parameters to the computing device  206  via the wireless communication  204 . 
     The computing device  206  can receive the patient data including patient physiological parameters from the reusable module  250  and display the parameters on the display  208 . The computing device  206  can receive the patient data via the body  802  of the dongle  800 . In other words, the body  802  of the dongle  800  can receive patient physiological parameters from the reusable module  250  and in turn transmit the parameters to the computing device  206 . As discussed above, Bluetooth® can be used to transmit the patient data between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206  (or the body  802 ). For example, the reusable module  250  operatively connected to a SpO 2  sensor can establish Bluetooth® communication with the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  can receive the patient data including SpO2 parameters from the reusable module  250  and display the parameters on the display  208 . In another example, the reusable module  250  operatively connected to a temperature sensor can establish Bluetooth® communication with the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  can receive the patient data including temperature parameters from the reusable module  250  and display the parameters on the display  208 . The computing device  206  can receive one or more parameters from the reusable modules  250  and display the one or more parameters on the display  208 . 
     The reusable module  250  can include an ID tag that is active or passive RFID tag. An active RFID tag may be WiFi-enabled, for example. The ID tag can be a barcode (e.g., two-dimensional or three-dimensional) or a WiFi-enabled RFID tag. By communicating with the WiFi access points, the computing device  206  can triangulate its position relative to that WiFi access points. Likewise, the position of the reusable module  250  (and the sensor  240  if the reusable module  250  is operatively connected to the sensor  240 ) can be triangulated. Thus, the distributed WiFi access points can be used by, for example, the computing device  206  to determine the approximate position of the reusable module  250  (and/or the sensor  240 ) with respect to the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  may also communicate directly with the reusable module  250  in order to, for example, enhance the position approximation determined using the distributed WiFi access points. 
     Positions of one or more reusable modules  250  can be used to determine relative or absolute positions of the one or more reusable modules  250 . For example, consider reusable modules  250 A,  250 B,  250 C, and  250 D. When locations of the reusable modules  250 A,  250 B, and  250 C are known, their positional information can be used to determine a position of the reusable module  250 D. 
     The presence or proximity of the reusable module  250  to the computing device  206  may be determined by the reusable module  250  including an RFID tag. An “RFID tag” or simply “tag” can include any wireless communication device and/or communication standard (e.g., RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, ultrasound, infrared, and the like) that can remotely identify a proximate user to a monitor. Tags include, but are not limited to, devices in the form of badges, tags, clip-ons, bracelets or pens that house an RFID chip or other wireless communication components. Tags also encompass smart phones, PDAs, pocket PCs and other mobile computing devices having wireless communications capability. The RFID tag can include identifying information or pairing parameters for the reusable module  250 . 
     The computing device  206  may respond to the departure of all proximate reusable modules  250  by automatically removing displays associated with the reusable modules  250 . This feature can provide display patient physiological data only for sensors  240  associated with reusable modules  250  proximate to the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  may respond in a similar manner by automatically silencing pulse “beeps” or other non-critical sounds when there are no proximate reusable modules  250  and associated sensors  240 . 
     The computing device  206  can generate alarms when its wireless communication  204  with the reusable module  250  is disrupted or no longer exists. For example, the computing device  206  can create at least one of auditory and visual alarm when the reusable module  250  is no longer mated with the disposable sensor  220 . 
     The computing device  206  can monitor signal strength of the wireless communication  204  between the computing device  206  and the reusable module  250 . Under some circumstances, the reusable module  250  may move out of the range of the computing device  206  which may cause the wireless communication  204  to be disrupted. For example, a patient equipped with the reusable module  250  may visit an x-ray room for a routine visit and disrupt the wireless communication  204  between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . If the same reusable module  250  becomes available within the range within a period of time, the computing device  206  can automatically reestablish the wireless communication  204 . For example, if the patent returns from the x-ray room within 30 minutes, the computing device  206  may be able to reestablish the wireless communication between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . Upon reestablishing communications, any information stored on the reusable module  250  for the time period where communication was disrupted can be downloaded to the computing device  206 . 
     The computing device  206  can be configured to not lose (or delete) the pairing parameters received from the reusable dongle  250 . This feature can prevent other reusable modules  250  from pairing with the computing device  206  even when the reusable module  250  is no longer wirelessly communicating with the computing device  206 . For example, a first computing device  206  and a first reusable module  250  are in a first wireless communication  204 . The first computing device  206  can be configured to not “give up” or “give up” the first reusable module  250  even after the first wireless communication  204  is terminated. When configured to “give up,” a second reusable module  250  can be paired with the first computing device  206 . When configured to “not give up,” a second reusable module  250  cannot be paired with the first computing device  206 . 
     This feature can also apply in situations in which the battery  224  of the disposable module  220  is about to be depleted or when the reusable module  250  is removed from the disposable module  220 . Without power from the battery  224 , the reusable module  250  cannot maintain the wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . The computing device  206  can be configured to prevent or not prevent other computing device  206  from establishing wireless communication  204  with the reusable module  250 . The reusable module  250  can also send a “dying” signal to the computing device  206  providing instructions on pairing or other instructions as the device is removed from the disposable module  220  or when the batteries are depleted. This dying instruction allows the pairing to be maintained. 
     Computing devices  206  (or dongle  800 ) can communicate to other computing devices  206  (or other dongles  800 ) to ensure that each computing device  206  (or dongle  800 ) is paired to a single reusable module  250  at any time. For example, when a first reusable module  250  is paired (or associated) with a first computing device  206 , a second reusable module  250  may not be paired (or associated) with the first computing device  206 . However, the first reusable module  250  may be able to pair with a second computing device  206 . Pairing the first reusable module  250  with the second computing device  206  can cause the second computing device  206  to inform the first computing device  206  to release its pairing with the first reusable module  250 . 
     The computing device  206  can identify the sensors  240  and the reusable modules  250  associated with the computing device  206 . When one or more sensors  240  and reusable modules  250  are wirelessly associated to the computing device  206 , it may be advantageous for the computing device  206  to distinguish and indicate different physiological parameters from different sensors  240  or reusable devices  250 . For example, the computing device  206  can be associated with two different sensors  240  (and their respective reusable modules  250 ) for detecting peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and acoustic respiration rate (RRa). The computing device  206  can display information pertaining to the sensors  240  or the reusable modules  250  (for example, sensor name, sensor type, sensor location, sensor ID, reusable module ID, reusable module name) to distinguish patient parameters from different sensors and/or reusable modules. 
     The reusable module  250  of the sensor assembly  202  can establish wireless communication  204  with mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, and the like. The mobile devices can include a mobile application that allows the mobile devices to establish wireless communication  204  with the reusable module  250  of the sensor assembly  202 , receive patient physiological parameters from the reusable module  250 , and display the patient physiological parameters. In addition to the patient physiological parameters, the mobile application can also display other patient information including, but not limited to, name, age, past medical history, current medications, address, gender, and the like. 
     The wireless communication  204  between the mobile devices and the reusable module  250  can be in a form of Bluetooth®. The wireless communication  204  between the mobile devices and the reusable module  250  can be established via the Internet. For example, the computing device  206  can be connected to the Internet or a secured network server. Once wireless communication  204  between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206  is established, the mobile devices can access the Internet or the secure network server to receive and display the patient physiological parameters via the mobile application described above. 
     The mobile application can include various security measures to prevent third-parties from accessing patient information. The mobile application can be associated with certain mobile devices that has been identified by a healthcare provider. Identification and a passcode may be required for using the application to connect to the reusable module  250  (or the computing device  206 ), receive patient data (for example, patient data and/or patient physiological parameters), and display patient data. Each of the mobile applications can be associated with a unique access code or an identification code that may be required for receiving patient data from the Internet or the secured network server. The unique access code or the identification code can be associated with the mobile device or the mobile application. The unique access code can be a media access control (MAC) address associated with each of the mobile devices. 
     Mating of the Dock and Reusable Module 
       FIGS. 10A-10D  illustrates the process of mating the reusable module  250  with the dock  222  of the disposable module  220 . The dock  222  of the disposable module  220  can be attached to a wrist of a patient as shown in  FIG. 10A . The dock  222  can include a housing  300  that includes slots  328  (see  FIG. 3B ) that correspond to the legs  326  of the reusable module  250 . 
       FIG. 10B  illustrates the reusable module  250  being inserted into the dock  222 . The legs  326  can face the slots  328  of the dock  222  as the reusable module  250  is inserted. When the legs  326  are substantially positioned within the slots  328  of the dock  222 , body of the reusable module  250  can be positioned at an angle with respect to the dock  222 . One end of the reusable module  250  may be positioned on top of the retainer  304  while at least a portion of the legs  326  are positioned in the slots  328  of the dock  222 . 
       FIG. 10C  illustrates the reusable module  250  being pushed down towards the dock  222 . As shown in the  FIG. 10C , the legs  326  can be partially inserted in the slots  328 . The reusable module  250  can be pushed down, which causes the retainer  304  to move away from the housing  300 , thus allowing the reusable module  250  to be fully inserted in the dock  222  and mated with the dock  222  as shown in  FIG. 10D . When the reusable module  250  is fully inserted, the retainer  304  can snap back in a direction towards the housing  300  and engage with the groove  322  of the reusable module  250  ( FIG. 3B ). Mating between the reusable module  250  and the dock  222  can cause the legs  326  engage the slots  328  of the housing  300 . The engagement between the groove  322  and the protrusion  324  ( FIG. 3B ) of the retainer  304  can hold the reusable module  250  in place while mated with the dock  222 . The engagement between the slots  328  and the legs  326  can hold the reusable module  250  in place. 
     Methods of Pairing, Collecting Data, and Transmitting Data to Computing Device 
       FIG. 11A  illustrates a method  1100  of establishing wireless communication between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 , determining patient physiological parameters using the sensor assembly  202 , and displaying the physiological parameters using the computing device  206 . 
     At block  1102 , a patient monitor (for example, the computing device  206 ) can generate and transmit a pairing signal. Generating the transmitting the pairing signal can be done automatically or manually. The pairing signal may be a radio signal. The pairing signal can be configured such that a nearby device, upon receiving the signal, is triggered to transmit an identification information in response. The nearby device may be the reusable module  250 . The pairing signal can also contain sufficient power to enable nearby devices to transmit pairing parameters in response to the pairing signal. 
     Generating and transmitting the pairing signal can be done by different devices. The computing device  206  can generate the pairing signal while the dongle  800  attached to the computing device  206  via the connector  804  can transmit the pairing signal. The dongle  800  can generate and transmit the pairing signal for the computing device  206 . 
     The reusable module  250  located within a predetermined distance from the computing device  206  can receive the pairing signal. This can be advantageous in hospital environments where many patients can be placed within a short distance from an electronic device such as the computing device  206 . Such configuration can allow the electronic device (for example, the computing device  206 ) to receive patient health data only from a patient who is nearby and prevent the electronic device from receiving patient health data from other patients who may not be a patient-in-interest. Strength of the pairing signal can be varied to allow the signal to travel further or closer. 
     At block  1104 , the reusable module  250  can receive power from the pairing signal generated by the computing device  206 . The pairing signal can be a high-frequency alternating current which can be used to create a voltage potential. The pairing signal of the computing device  206  may be received when the reusable module  250  is within a predetermined distance. As discussed above, physical contact between the computing device  206  (or the dongle  800 ) and the reusable module  250  may be required for the reusable module  250  to receive the power from the pairing signal. The reusable module  250  can automatically receive power from the pairing signal. By receiving power from the pairing signal, the antenna  252  of the reusable module may not need to draw power from the battery  226  of the disposable device  220 . 
     At block  1106 , the reusable module  250  can use the power received from the pairing signal to transmit identification information to the computing device  206 . The identification information can include pairing parameters of the reusable module  250 . The identification information may be a tag serial number unique to the reusable module  250 . The identification information can include, but not limited to, stock number, lot number, batch number, production date, or other specific information. The computing device  206  can use the identification information to uniquely identify the reusable module  206 . The transmission of the identification information can occur automatically. 
     The reusable module  250  can include a feature that prevents automatic transmission of the identification information to the computing device  206 . This feature can be advantageous to prevent inadvertent pairing of the reusable module  205  with the computing device  206 . Medical personnel can deal with patients in need of many different types of sensors. In such circumstances, reusable modules  250  may inadvertently be brought proximal to the computing device  206  (or dongle  800 ). Thus it can be advantageous for the reusable module  250  to have the feature to prevent the reusable modules  250  from automatically pairing with the computing device  206  (or dongle  800 ) to prevent inadvertent pairing. 
     At block  1108 , the computing device  206  can receive the identification information from the reusable module  250 . The dongle  800  connected to the computing device  206  can receive the identification information and relay it to the computing device  206 . At block  1110 , the computing device  206  can associate with the reusable module  250 , which allows the wireless communication  204  to be established between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . 
     The association between the computing device  206  and the reusable module  250  can occur automatically. On the other hand, the association can require a user input via the computing device  206 . For example, upon receiving the pairing parameters from the reusable module  250 , the computing device  206  can generate a notification prompting a user to allow or disallow the computing device  206  to associate with the reusable module  250 . If allowed, the computing device  206  can associate with the reusable module  250  and the reusable module  250  can establish a wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . If not allowed, the computing device  206  may not associate with the reusable module  250  and the reusable module  250  may not establish a wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . 
     Establishing wireless communication  204  can require the reusable module  250  to have an external power source. The battery  224  provides sufficient power for the reusable module  250  to receive raw patient physiological data from the sensor  240  and perform signal processing on the raw data to calculate patient physiological parameters. Moreover, the reusable module  250  can use the power from the battery  224  to use the antenna  252  to wirelessly transmit the calculated parameters to the computing device  206 . Without the battery  224  connected to the dock  222 , the reusable module  250  cannot receive power via the electrical contacts  228 ,  258 . 
     At block  1112 , the reusable module  250  can mate with the dock  222  and receives power from the battery  224  via the battery circuit  314  and the electrical contacts  228 ,  258 . At block  1114 , the reusable module  250  can establish wireless communication  204  with the computing device  206 . The wireless communication  204  can be established using the pairing parameters. The wireless communication  204  can be via Bluetooth®, as discussed above. The wireless communication  204  can be one-way or two-way communication between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . For example, the reusable module  250  can transmit calculated physiological parameters to the computing device  206 . The computing device  206 , in return, can transmit a confirmation signal back to the reusable module  250  to let the reusable module  250  know that the calculated parameters were received. The reusable module  250  can include one or more light sources (for example, LEDs) that can generate light when the reusable module  250  receives the confirmation signal from the computing device  206 . 
     At block  1116 , the sensor  240  can acquire raw patient physiological data and transmits the data to the dock  222  via the cable  230  and the flex circuit  320 . The raw physiological data can be transferred to the reusable module  250  via the electrical contacts  228 ,  258 . The sensor  240  can include, but not limited to, an acoustic sensor, ECG sensor, EEG sensor, respiratory acoustic sensor (RAS), SpO 2  sensor, and the like. The sensor  240  can include one or more different types of sensors. 
     The sensor  240  can be placed on various areas of a patient. The location of the sensor  240  can depend on the type of sensor used for the sensor  240 . For example, the sensor  240  can be an O 3  sensor typically adhered to a patient&#39;s forehead to monitor cerebral oxygenation. In another example, the sensor  240  can be a respiratory acoustic sensor typically attached to a patient&#39;s neck near the trachea to detect vibrations associated with respiration. 
     At block  1118 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can receive the raw patient physiological data from the sensor  240  of the disposable module  220 . The raw patient physiological data can be stored in the memory  256 . 
     At block  1120 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can perform signal processing on the raw physiological data. Various types of signal processing used on the physiological data raw can include, but not limited to, analog signal processing, continuous-time signal processing, discrete-time signal processing, digital signal processing, or nonlinear signal processing. For example, continuous-time signal processing such as time domain, frequency domain, and complex frequency domain can be used. Some of the signal processing methods that can be used on the raw physiological data include, but not limited to, passive filters, active filters, additive mixers, integrators, delay lines, compandors, multiplicators, voltage-controlled filters, voltage-controlled oscillators, phase-locked loops, time domain, frequency domain, fast Fourier transform (FFT), finite impulse response (FIR) filter, infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, and adaptive filters. Such processing techniques can be used to improve signal transmission, storage efficiency, and subjective quality. In addition, such processing techniques can be used to emphasize or detect components of interest in the raw physiological data. Noise filtering can be used to filter out raw physiological data corrupted by noise due to patient movement, electromagnetic interference, or ambient light. 
     Signal processing can determine the absorbance&#39;s of the light due to pulsating arterial blood. For example, pulse oximeter generates a blood-volume plethysmograph waveform from which oxygen saturation of arterial blood, pulse rate, and perfusion index, among other physiological parameters, can be determined. In the context of pulse oximetry, the sensor  240  can use adaptive filter technology to separate an arterial signal, detected by a pulse oximeter sensor, from the non-arterial noise for example, venous blood movement during motion). During routine patient motions (shivering, waving, tapping, etc.), the resulting noise can be quite substantial and can easily overwhelm a conventional ratio based oximetry system. This can provide accurate blood oxygenation measurements even during patient motion, low perfusion, intense ambient light, and electrocautery interference. 
     At block  1122 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can determine patient physiological parameters by processing the raw physiological data. The processor  254  can then store the processed data and the calculated parameters in the memory  256  before transmitting them to the computing device  206 . 
     The processed data can be indicative of an amount of attenuation of predetermined wavelengths (ranges of wavelengths) of light by body tissues, such as, for example, a digit, portions of the nose or year, a foot, or the like. For example, the predetermined wavelengths correspond to specific physiological parameter data desired including, but not limited, blood oxygen information such as oxygen content (SpOC®), oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), blood glucose, total hemoglobin (SbHb), methemoglobin (SpMet®), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO), bulk tissue property measurements, water content, pH, blood pressure, respiration related information, cardiac information, perfusion index (PI), pleth variability indices (PVI®), or the like, which can be used by the mobile computing device to determine the condition of the user. The processed data can provide information regarding physiological parameters such as EEG, ECG, heart beats per minute, acoustic respiration rate (RRa), breaths per minute, end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2 ), respiratory effort index, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), or the like, which can be used to determine the physiological condition of the user. 
     At block  1124 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  can transmit the patient physiological parameters to the computing device  206  via the antenna  252  using the communication protocol and the pairing parameters. It can be advantageous to transmit the calculated physiological parameters (for example, 60% SpO 2 ) as opposed to transmit the raw physiological data to the computing device  206 . Compared to calculated physiological parameters, the raw physiological data can be larger in size and thus require larger bandwidth during transmission to the computing device  206 . Calculated physiological parameters, on the other hand, can be much smaller in size and can require smaller bandwidth to transmit. Therefore, transmitting patient physiological parameters instead of raw physiological data can lead to decreased battery consumption and longer battery life for the disposable module  220 . 
     The transmission of the physiological parameters can occur wirelessly via NFC. For example, the transmission of the physiological parameters occur wirelessly via Bluetooth. The transmission of the physiological parameters may occur via a cable. 
     At block  1126 , the computing device  206  can receive the patient physiological parameters and displays them using the display  208 . As discussed above, the computing device can include the display  208  that can display various patient physiological parameters including, but not limited to, body temperature, heart rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure, and the like. 
       FIG. 11B  illustrates another method  1150  of establishing wireless communication between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 , determining patient physiological parameters using the sensor assembly  202 , and displaying the physiological parameters using the computing device  206 . 
     At block  1152 , the reusable module  250  can establish a NFC (near field communication) with the computing device  206 . As discussed above, establishing a NFC can require the reusable module  250  to be within a predetermined distance of the computing device  206 . As noted above, the NFC can be established between the body  802  of the dongle  800  and the reusable module  250 . 
     At block  1154 , the reusable module  250  can transmit pairing parameters to the computing device  206 . The transmission of the pairing parameters to the computing device  206  can occur when the reusable module  250  establishes the NFC with the computing device  206 . At block  1156 , the computing device  206  can receive the pairing parameters from the reusable module  250 . The computing device  206  can use the dongle  800  to receive the pairing parameters. For example, the body  802  of the dongle  800  can wirelessly receive the pairing parameters and transmit the pairing parameters to the computing device  206  via the cable  806  and the connector  804 . 
     At block  1158 , the computing device  206  or the body  802  can associate with the reusable module  250  using the pairing parameters. Once associated, the computing device  206  or the body  802  may wait for the wireless communication  204  from the reusable module  250 . As noted above, the wireless communication  204  can be made via Bluetooth®. At block  1164 , the sensor  240  of the disposable module  220  can acquire physiological data and transmit the data to the reusable module  250 . The physiological data acquired by the sensor  240  and transmitted to the reusable module  250  can be raw physiological data. 
     Blocks  1166  through  1174  may be optional. At block  1166 , the reusable module can receive the patient physiological data from the disposable module  220 . At block  1168 , the reusable module  250  can perform signal processing on the patient physiological data. At block  1170 , the reusable module  250  can determine patient physiological parameters using the processed physiological data. At block  1172 , the reusable module  250  can transmit patient physiological parameters using the wireless communication  204  established between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . The body  802  of the dongle  800  may wirelessly receive the patient physiological parameters from the reusable module  250  and transmit the parameters to the computing device via the cable  806  and the connector  804 . At block  1174 , the computing device  206  receives the patient physiological parameters and displays the parameters on the display  208 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates another method  1200  of determining patient physiological parameters using the sensor assembly  202  and displaying the physiological parameters using the computing device  206 . 
     At block  1202 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  receives raw patient physiological data from the sensor  240  of the disposable module  220  according to the blocks  1102 - 1120  of  FIG. 11 . 
     At block  1204 , the processor  254  of the reusable module  250  transmits the raw patient physiological data to the computing device  206 . The process  254  can use the antenna  252  to transmit the raw data via the wireless communication  204  established between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . As mentioned above, the wireless communication  204  can be one-way or two-way between the reusable module  250  and the computing device  206 . 
     At block  1206 , the computing device  206  receives the raw patient physiological data. At block  1208 , the computing device  206  performs signal processing on the raw patient physiological data. At block  1210 , the computing device  206  determines patient physiological parameters using processed raw patient physiological data. At block  1212 , the computing device  206  displays the determined physiological parameters on the display  208 . 
     Mobile Application 
     As discussed above, the computing device  206  can be a mobile device  1300  such as a phone, tablet, watch and the like. The mobile device  1300  can include a mobile application that can establish wireless communication with the reusable module  250  via a wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth or the like. 
       FIG. 13A  illustrates a mobile application being executed on the mobile device  1300  (for example, a mobile phone) to establish a wireless communication with the reusable module  250 . The mobile application can pair with nearby reusable modules  250 . In an example, a user can press a pair button  1302  to cause the mobile application to search for nearby reusable modules  250 . The mobile application can create a screen  1304  to display nearby reusable modules  250 . The screen  1304  can provide MAC address or any other pairing information unique to the reusable modules  250 . The mobile application may automatically search for nearby reusable modules  250  without any user intervention or input. 
       FIGS. 13B-13E  illustrate various examples the mobile application displaying patient parameters. Triggering a home button  1308  can cause the mobile application to show real-time, numerical and graphical illustration of patient parameters, as shown in  FIG. 13A . The mobile application can show numerical parameters  1310  (for example, patient&#39;s SpO 2 , PR BPM, and PI readings) in real time or with a predetermined delay. The mobile application may show graphical illustration  1314  of patient parameters that show real-time trend of the parameters. For example, a user can trigger an SpO 2  portion of the display to cause the mobile application to show real-tine trend of the SpO 2  parameters. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13C , triggering a history button  1312  can cause the mobile application to show the graphical illustration  1314  showing historical trends of patient health parameters. The graphical illustration  1314  can have an x-axis showing timestamp and a y-axis showing parameter values. The mobile application may show real-time numerical values of patient health parameter above or below the graphical illustration  1314 . The real-time numerical values can be embedded within the graphical illustration  1314 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 13D and 13E , the mobile application can display at least one of the numerical parameters  1310  and the graphical illustration  1314  in a landscape view. 
     Terminology 
     Many other variations than those described herein will be apparent from this disclosure. For example, depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the algorithms). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events can be performed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. In addition, different tasks or processes can be performed by different machines and/or computing systems that can function together. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. The described functionality can be implemented in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the disclosure. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed by a machine, such as a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of the same, or the like. A processor can include electrical circuitry configured to process computer-executable instructions. In another embodiment, a processor includes an FPGA or other programmable device that performs logic operations without processing computer-executable instructions. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. A computing environment can include any type of computer system, including, but not limited to, a computer system based on a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a portable computing device, a device controller, or a computational engine within an appliance, to name a few. 
     The steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module stored in one or more memory devices and executed by one or more processors, or in a combination of the two. A software module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, media, or physical computer storage known in the art. An example storage medium can be coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor. The storage medium can be volatile or nonvolatile. The processor and the storage medium can reside in an ASIC. 
     Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having its ordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which the term “each” is applied. 
     While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the systems, devices or methods illustrated can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As will be recognized, certain embodiments described herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practiced separately from others. 
     The term “and/or” herein has its broadest, least limiting meaning which is the disclosure includes A alone, B alone, both A and B together, or A or B alternatively, but does not require both A and B or require one of A or one of B. As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” A, B, “and” C should be construed to mean a logical A or B or C, using a non-exclusive logical or. 
     The apparatuses and methods described herein may be implemented by one or more computer programs executed by one or more processors. The computer programs include processor-executable instructions that are stored on a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium. The computer programs may also include stored data. Non-limiting examples of the non-transitory tangible computer readable medium are nonvolatile memory, magnetic storage, and optical storage. 
     Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure herein. Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the disclosure herein. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the description of the preferred embodiments, but is to be defined by reference to claims.