PHYSICAL HUB FOR CABLES OF A PORTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

1 . A hub comprising:

a housing;

a monitor port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to a monitor connector of a monitor cable that is configured to be connected to a monitor-defibrillator;

an electrocardiogram (ECG) port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to an ECG connector of an ECG cable that is electrically connected to an electrode;

a first circuit electrically connected to the monitor port and the ECG port;

an oximetry port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to an oximetry connector of an oximetry cable that is electrically connected to a pulse oximetry sensor;

a second circuit electrically connected to the monitor port and the oximetry port; and

an attachment mechanism configured to attach the housing to a garment or a patient support apparatus.

2 . The hub of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastener, a clip, a magnet, a snap fastener, a zipper, an adhesive, a clamp, a cable tie, a spring, a spring-loaded hose clamp, or a snap link.

3 . The hub of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first contact sensor configured to detect whether the ECG connector is physically coupled to the ECG port;

a first light emitter configured to emit a signal in response to the first contact sensor detecting that the ECG connector is physically uncoupled from the ECG port;

a second contact sensor electrically connected to the second circuit and configured to detect whether the oximetry connector is physically coupled to the oximetry port; and

a second light emitter configured to emit a second signal in response to the second contact sensor detecting that the oximetry connector is physically uncoupled from the oximetry port.

4 . A hub, comprising:

a housing;

a device port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to a device connector of a device cable that is configured to be connected to a portable medical device;

a first port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to a first connector of a first cable that is electrically connected to a first sensor;

a first circuit connected to the device port and the first port;

a second port disposed in the housing and configured to be physically coupled to a second connector of a second cable that is electrically connected to a second sensor, the second sensor being different than the first sensor;

a second circuit connected to the device port and the second port; and

an attachment mechanism configured to attach the housing to a garment or a patient support apparatus.

5 . The hub of claim 4 , wherein the device cable comprises an elastic cord, a stretchable cord, or a coil cord; or

wherein the garment comprises a material with a Young's modulus in a range of about 0.001 to about 10.

6 . The hub of claim 4 , wherein the first port comprises a first magnetic material and the first connector comprises a second magnetic material.

7 . The hub of claim 6 , wherein the first magnetic material comprises an electromagnet and the second magnetic material comprises a rare earth magnet.

8 . The hub of claim 4 , wherein the first sensor or the second sensor comprise an electrode, a perfusion sensor, a blood oxygenation sensor, a blood flow sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a capnography sensor, a motion sensor, a heart wall movement sensor, a sound sensor, an airway sensor, a pulse sensor, an ECG sensor, or a temperature sensor.

9 . The hub of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first contact sensor configured to detect whether the first connector is physically coupled to the first port;

a first transmitter configured to transmit a first signal to the portable medical device in response the first contact sensor detecting that the first connector is physically uncoupled from the first port;

a second contact sensor electrically connected to the second circuit and configured to detect whether the second connector is coupled to the second port; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit a second signal to the portable medical device in response to the second contact sensor detecting that the second connector is physically uncoupled from the second port.

10 . The hub of claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to attach the housing to a surface of the patient support apparatus, a railing of the patient support apparatus, or a topper disposed on the patient support apparatus.

11 . The hub of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first locking mechanism physically connected to the first port and configured to selectively prevent uncoupling of the first connector and the first port; and

a second locking mechanism physically connected to the second port and configured to selectively prevent uncoupling of the second connector and the second port.

12 . The hub of claim 11 , wherein the first locking mechanism or the second locking mechanism comprises a magnetic connector, a twist-lock mechanism, a notch-lock mechanism, a latch, a screw-locking mechanism, or a spring-loaded mechanism.

13 . The hub of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first holder configured to be physically coupled to the first cable; and

a second holder configured to be physically coupled to the second cable,

wherein the first holder and the second holder are attached to the garment or the patient support apparatus.

14 . A method, comprising:

attaching a housing to a garment or a patient support apparatus;

coupling a device port disposed in the housing to a device connector of a device cable that is configured to connect to a portable medical device;

coupling a first port disposed in the housing to a first connector of a first cable that is electrically connected to a first sensor, the first port being connected, by a first circuit, to the device port; and

coupling a second port disposed in the housing to a second connector of a second cable that is electrically connected to a second sensor, the second port being connected, by a second circuit, to the device port;

wherein the second sensor is different that the first sensor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein attaching the housing to the patient support apparatus comprises:

attaching the housing to a surface of the patient support apparatus, a railing of the patient support apparatus, or a topper disposed on the patient support apparatus.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein coupling the first port to the first connector comprises engaging a first locking mechanism; and

wherein coupling the second port to the second connector comprises engaging a second locking mechanism.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first locking mechanism or the second locking mechanism comprises a magnetic connector, a twist-lock mechanism, a notch-lock mechanism, a latch, or a screw-locking mechanism.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

detecting, by a contact sensor configured to detect whether the first connector is physically coupled to the first port, that the first connector is uncoupled from the first port; and

in response to detecting that the first connector is uncoupled from the first port, outputting an indication that the first cable is uncoupled from the first port.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein outputting the indication comprises:

transmitting a signal to the portable medical device; or

causing a light emitter to emit a signal.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

attaching the first cable to the garment or the patient support apparatus; and/or

attaching the second cable to the garment or the patient support apparatus.