a data acquisition device is disclosed for use in a patient monitoring system which includes a display device . the system also includes a pressure transducer which produces patient blood pressure signals . the data acquisition device includes terminals for receiving signals representing blood pressure from the pressure transducer . circuitry in the data acquisition device , including multiplexers and a digital to analog converter conditions the signals representing blood pressure . the pressure transducer and the circuitry are collocated . the device also includes circuit paths for electrically coupling the pressure transducer and the conditioning circuitry . the conditioning circuitry is selectably coupled to the display to provide the conditioned signals to the display . the data acquisition device may be positioned independently of the display device .