A physical configuration of cables connecting a monitoring apparatus to a human patient, where said patient and his immediate surroundings define a potentially infectious contaminated zone. The configuration provides for the monitor and main trunk cable to lie outside of the contamination zone, and one or more serial cables connect to the trunk cable and enter the contamination zone to provide contact with the patient. This physical configuration prevents contamination of the monitor and trunk cable, so they may be reused on successive patients, while lightweight and inexpensive serial cables contacting the patient and his contamination zone may be disposable. Examples of monitoring various physiological variables are provided to exemplify the universal concept of such physical configuration. Adaptation for wireless transmission is also described.
