A multiplexed medical carrier (100) provides for sensing one or more patient parameters and/or delivering energy via separately identifiable effectors (106). The carrier (100) includes a body (102) and at least two electrical conductors (104) coupled with at least two effectors (106). Effectors (106) may be any combination of sensors (206), actuators (206) or both. Sensors (206) may measure such parameters as pressure, oxygen content, volume, conductivity, fluid flow rate, or any other chemical or physical parameters. Actuators (206) may be used, for example, to pace a heart, stimulate muscle or neural tissue, broadcast ultrasonic energy, emit light, heat or other forms of radiation, or deliver any form of energy or substance. A method for collecting medical data from a patient includes interrogating a network of multiplexed sensors (106) residing on parallel conductors in the patient, including addressing a first addressable sensor (106) in the network to obtain data and addressing a second addressable sensor (106) in the network to obtain data.