Abstract: A method of tuning a digital hearing device can include playing portions of test audio, wherein each portion of test audio represents one or more distinctive features of speech. The method also can include receiving user responses to played portions of test audio heard through the digital hearing device and comparing the user responses with the portions of test audio. An operational parameter of the digital hearing device can be adjusted according to the comparing step, wherein the operational parameter is associated with one or more of the distinctive features of speech.

Abstract: A conscious sedation system and a request assembly for a response testing apparatus for a conscious sedation system. The conscious sedation system includes a controller which generates a request for a predetermined response from a patient and which analyses at least a response made by the patient to the request to determine a level of sedation of the patient. The response testing apparatus includes a request assembly and a response assembly. The request assembly audibly communicates to the patient the request generated by the controller and includes a non-ear-canal-contacting speaker. The response assembly senses the response and communicates the response to the controller.

Abstract: An electronic device with audio output, such as a television, is adjusted to the customized listening profile of a user with a user interface module 100 and a control module 110. A user sets the level of amplification for the center or test frequency of a number of audio frequency bands. The control module generates tones at the test frequencies and the user adjusts the amplification of each tone until the user is satisfied with hearing that tone. The other frequencies in the band are adjusted by the same amount as the test tone.

Abstract: A method for providing customized audio data products that includes the steps of (1) storing a machine readable hearing profile for a customer, (2) accepting via a data input device or data network for example, machine readable orders from the customer for a particular audio data product, (3) associating the hearing profile for the customer with the particular audio data product, (4) modifying the particular audio data product according to the hearing profile to produce a customized audio data product, (5) delivering the customized audio data product to the customer, for example via a network or by a machine readable storage medium, (6) accepting feedback from the customer concerning the subjective performance of the customized audio data product, and (7) modifying the hearing profile in response to the feedback is provided.

Abstract: In a diagnostic system wherein a patient's auditory brainstem response (ABR) to each of a plurality of auditory stimuli is recorded and wherein a plurality of derived-band ABRs representing cochlear responses in a plurality of respective frequency bands are constructed, the derived-band ABRs are temporarily aligned based on observable peaks in integrated, detrended derived-band waveforms.

Abstract: An electrophysiological measurement method and system is provided for positioning an implantable transducer of a hearing instrument relative to a middle ear component or inner ear of a patient. The method and system employ electrophysiological measurement signals obtained in response to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In one embodiment, the electrophysiological measurements are obtained by an electrocochleography measurement device that measures the cochlear summating potential and/or action potential responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In another embodiment, an auditory brainstem response measurement device is utilized to obtain electrical potential measurement signals responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer.

Abstract: A method for the visualization of the hearing capacity of a person. As a function of audiogram data, text is modified in any of several characteristics, including brightness, contrast, sharpness, and/or omission of letters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting an ear disorder. The apparatus includes structure for transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals to interact with an ear, and includes structure for directing the plurality of signals along different directions. In one example, the apparatus includes a plurality of transducers, each for interacting with a different ear portion. The transducers may be in a curved array. A determination as to which of the transducers is operable to provide an accurate indication of the detected ear disorder can be made. The transducers can be operated sequentially. In general, the method includes transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals to interact with an ear for ear disorder detection, and directing the plurality of signals along different directions. In one example the method includes providing a probe that has a plurality of transducers for use in detecting the ear disorder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaluation of hearing loss is disclosed. The apparatus and method use evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) to determine if the subject is able to hear click stimuli that are repeatedly administered. In order to facilitate efficient differentiation of the ABR from the accompanying noise, normative data is used to detect test conditions where physiological, non-physiological, and ambient acoustic noise would interfere with the progression of test.

Abstract: Pathological binaural phase time delay (BPTD) asynchrony is measured at a variety of frequencies and to speech stimuli to develop a BPTD profile for a subject. Then a corrective device (600, 1000) is designed to apply clinical BPTD to compensate for the subject's pathological BPTD. An electronic device (500) is used to measure the subject's ability to comprehend words at a variety of relative time delays between ears to estimate the ideal overall relative time delay. The optimal relative phase shift at a variety of frequencies is also measured. An electronic device (600) may be used to correct the pathological BPTD by delaying sound in different frequency bands differently to the target ear, according to the BPTD profile, or a passive filtered earplug (1000) may be used to correct smaller amounts of BPTD.

Abstract: A way of reducing channel interaction is provided in a multichannel neural implant that has the ability to stimulate multiple tissue or nerve sites simultaneously. Channel interaction is minimized through measuring or estimating what the channel interaction is or will likely be, and then using that measured or estimated channel interaction to adjust the intensity of the applied stimuli so that, with the channel interaction, the actual stimuli applied to the tissue or nerves is of a desired intensity level. In one embodiment, the measured or estimated channel interaction is collected or compiled and saved as a channel interaction matrix. The channel interaction matrix is created during a fitting procedure by stimulating one channel at a time while measuring the effects of the stimulation on the neighboring channels. The superposition principal is used, as needed, to determine all the terms of the channel interaction matrix.

Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken. However, should there be errors in the place-pitch ranking, which errors evidence perceptual place-confusions, then a search is undertaken for the spread of the perceptual confusion by separating the target channel and competing channel by one electrode contact at a time.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a method and a device for easily connecting and disconnecting a telephone communication line using an auditory organ instead of using a complex mechanism component. A distance between a speaker and the auditory organ of a telephone call receiver or a telephone call transmitter is detected using acoustic impedance and reflective wave properties of the auditory organ of the telephone call receiver or the telephone call transmitter to control call operations such as connection and/or disconnection of a communication line.

Abstract: A digital hearing aid according to the present invention is capable of measuring its own performance. The measurement and initialization capability may be entirely integral to the hearing aid, or an external processor may be used to download the measurement program and the run time program, and assist in computing the parameters. The hearing aid includes a test signal generator for feeding a test signal into the hearing aid amplifier. The response to the test signal is acquired at a specific point in the hearing aid, depending upon what aspect of performance is to be measured. Various elements of the hearing aid and/or the hearing aid feedback may be bypassed. The hearing aid further includes the capability of initializing hearing aid parameters based upon the performance measurements.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a transmission characteristic of an electronic circuit, in a hearing aid. The hearing aid is connected with a computer. The current operating parameters of the hearing aid are transmitted to the computer. The computer from the operating parameters, calculates the current transmission characteristic and represents it on a monitor screen as a three-dimensional graphic diagram. The acoustics specialist, with the help of a mouse, selects a point of a segment of the graphic diagram and modifies the graphically depicted transmission characteristic. As a result the current operating parameters are modified as well. From these, a new current transmission characteristic is calculated and represented on the monitor screen as a three-dimensional graphic. This adaptation process is repeated until the current transmission characteristic coincides with the desired response. Then the current operating parameters are transmitted from the computer to the hearing aid and there stored in memory.

Abstract: A hearing test device and method are disclosed which involve the placement of a testing probe in the ear canal of a test subject. The device analyzes responses to stimuli applied to the ear canal to determine whether the testing probe has been properly placed in the ear canal. The device may determine, for example, whether the probe is stable, whether it is sealed in the ear canal, whether the resulting volume of the ear canal is acceptable, and/or whether the stimuli delivery system is blocked in any way. If the device determines that the testing probe has been properly placed in the ear canal, the device automatically starts a hearing test without requiring any operator input.

Abstract: A method for estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter which is used as a model for the shape of the auditory filter is provided, which comprises the steps of: generating a tone S?; generating a masker of a notch width g and level Nx? including in a notch the frequency f in which frequency characteristics of the external and middle ears of the subject are considered; transmitting to the subject a sound which superposes the masker on the tone S?; measuring the minimum notch width gx?a of the subject while varying the notch width g; calculating the coefficient p from an upper limit value gmax of the notch width g suitable for the subject and estimating the shape of the auditory filter from the coefficient p calculated above and the value x corresponding to the coefficient r.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting hearing tests with real-time ambient noise measurement are provided. More particularly, one or more microphones are provided to measure ambient noise in a test area during a time interval in which hearing test tones are provided to the patient. By measuring ambient noise during the actual presentation of the test tones, or at least near in time thereto, a much better indication of the reliability of the hearing test is provided. Methods of conducting a hearing test are also provided that comprise presenting a test tone to a patient and simultaneously measuring the ambient noise in the test area during at least a portion of the presentation of the test tone.

Abstract: The invention relates to statistical testing method for the objective verification of auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) in the frequency domain by using a “q-sample uniform scores test” whereby only the phase angles are used. Phase angles computed by Fourier transformation are used in one embodiment example. In another embodiment example, spectral amplitudes and phase angles are used; however, the phase angles remain unranked while ranks for the spectral amplitudes are still taken into account for the test. In yet another embodiment example, the values of the phase angles and of the spectral amplitudes are used directly (unranked) whereby said values are computed by means of Fourier transformation. The invention relates also to a testing device to carry out the statistical test method.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products display visual choral speech to a patient who stutters or has a speech impediment or impairment as a visual stimulus for the patient to enhance the fluency of the patient. The visual choral speech is incongruous with the speech produced by the stutterer and is provided by a visual display of the articulatory movements of a person other than the patient (or a simulated representation thereof) of the person's lips and mouth as the person speaks. The visual speech gestures can be displayed to the patient in advance of a speaking event or speech production by the stutterer and/or concurrently with a speaking event (either intermittently or continuous during the speaking event). The visual choral speech gestures can be based on a string of coherent words to provide the visual speech gestures signal such that it is relayed to the user without the attendant auditory component allowing the user to speak at a substantially normal pace with enhanced fluency.

Abstract: A system and method for using a telephone to reconfigure or readjust the performance characteristics of a hearing aid or to check whether a user has a hearing problem. The telephone is used to generate one or more frequency tests covering the audible spectrum using a DSP contained in the phone, an external computer and/or a hearing aid. The keypad of the phone or keyboard of an attached computer is used as a feedback mechanism. The generated frequencies can be used to test the hearing of a user and the quality (or fit) of a hearing aid while being worn by the user. A local memory may be used to store the results of the tests for future reference or for transmission over the network for analysis at a later time. Once the hearing response of a user wearing the hearing aid has been measured, an updated compensation configuration (audiogram) can be downloaded into the hearing aid via an infra-red link, via a physical connection or a direct audio transmission from the telephone to the DSP in the hearing aid.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for automated testing of a patient's hearing. The automated hearing test allows the patient to quickly and accurately test his own hearing with minimal or no assistance from an audiologist or other hearing health professionals. The test prompts and instructs the patient for inputs and responses as needed. The patient can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, tympanogram, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Multiple languages are supported. Data obtained from one test may be used for another test or another iteration of the same test to calculate masking levels. The automatic hearing test also detects ambient noise and can compensate for it in the test results. If a contingency occurs, the automated hearing test is configured to page the operator for assistance.

Abstract: This patent relates to an apparatus and method for screening a subject's hearing by recording steady-state auditory evoked responses. The apparatus generates a steady-state auditory evoked potential stimulus having a plurality of stimulus components, presents the stimulus to the subject, senses potentials while simultaneously presenting the stimulus and determines whether the sensed potentials contain a plurality of responses to the stimulus.

Abstract: A hand-held device includes an audio transducer (i.e., speaker) for delivering acoustic test stimuli to a test subject within the direct sound field range of the device. The device accurately delivers multi-level and multi-frequency test stimuli for the subjective response by the test subject holding the device. An ultrasonic position sensor within the device determines the position of the device with respect to the head or a portion of interest of the head of the test subject while the device is being held. The acoustic test stimuli are controlled and regulated based on the position of the device with respect to the test subject so that accurate levels of test stimuli are presented only when the device is within a proper range and irrespective of its exact position with respect to the test subject's head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for simultaneously assessing the functional status of component parts of the nervous system by presenting sparse stimuli to one or more parts of the sensory nervous system. Sparse stimuli consist of temporal sequences of stimulus conditions presented against a baseline null stimulus condition, where the non-null stimulus condition, or conditions, are presented relatively infrequently. The low probability of encountering a stimulus differing from a baseline or null stimulus condition in sparse stimulus sequences insures that gain control mechanisms within the nervous system will increase the neural response magnitude and also bias the measured responses to those neurone populations having such gain controls. The consequently increased response amplitudes ensure more reliably recorded responses than are obtained with non-sparse stimuli.

Abstract: Signal processing techniques and systems and, in particular, an apparatus, system, algorithm and method of extraction of sinusoidal signals of time-varying nature is described. The apparatus, system, algorithm and method provide for extraction of a specified single sinusoidal component of an input signal, potentially containing other components and noise, and tracking variations of the amplitude, phase and frequency of such a sinusoid component over time. A “tool” or “core unit,” embodying the apparatus, system, algorithm or method may be used in isolation or as the fundamental building block of single-core or multi-core systems.

Abstract: A method of measuring the stress or relaxation level of a mammal and a method of measuring the activity of the sympathetic nervous system of a mammal by measuring quantititative levels of deoxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin are disclosed. Preferably, the levels of deoxyhemoglobin and hemoglobin are measured by a noninvasive technique, such as spectroscopy. A method of changing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system of a mammal is also disclosed, wherein the method includes a step of administering an effective amount of sensory regimen to the mammal. The method is useful for humans who are operating vehicles or machinery, who are suffering from cardiovascular disease or related complications, who are pregnant, or who are preparing for sleep. In addition, a method of improving the complexion of the skin of a mammal is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for bone conduction hearing testing is provided. The apparatus comprises a planar spring having opposed first and second elements to which are coupled, respectively, a bone conduction vibrator and an engagement element. The bone conduction vibrator contacts a first head portion, preferably the forehead, and the engagement element contacts a second head portion, preferably the rear of the head. The spring preferably has a lenticular shape, and may be either biconvex or D-shaped.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for applying a focused, directed audio beam at a fetus to stimulate the fetus in utero. An ultrasound signal is amplitude modulated with an audio range signal, and directed to an ultrasound transducer positioned on the abdomen of a pregnant woman. A focused beam from the ultrasound transducer is directed at the head of a fetus, wherein the resultant audio signal stimulates the middle ear, causing the fetus to move. Motion of the fetus can be tracked to test hearing in individual ears or to test the general health of the fetus. Furthermore, the focused beam can be successively directed at the fetus to cause to the fetus to move to a selected location in the womb for clinical testing or delivery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for picking up biological electrical signals, and more precisely auditory evoked potentials generated by acoustic and/or electrical and/or mechanical stimulation of the cochlea, or of a portion of the auditory system in man or animal. The device for measuring or picking up auditory evoked potentials is surgically implantable in the temporo-occipital area and comprises at least two extracochlear pickup electrodes connected to the inputs of a differential amplifier.

Abstract: The systems, methods and associated devices performing diagnostic hearing tests which use a computer network to allow interaction between a test administration site and one or a plurality of remote patient sites. The test can be administered by an audiologist or clinician at a site remote from the patient, in a manner, which can allow interaction between the user and the clinician during at least a portion of the administration of the test. The diagnostic hearing tests can be performed such that they meet standardized guidelines such as ANSI requirements or certification standards and can include distortion product emission level measurements or middle ear compliance measurements.

Abstract: Improved approaches to assist those having hearing loss are disclosed. One approach pertains to providing customization of personal audio systems for a hearing impaired individual. Another approach pertains to designing and producing an audio product that includes components or software that can be customized for hearing impaired individuals. The customization provided by either approach can be performed on-line or off-line.

Abstract: A test site Internet-based client CPU has hearing testing equipment operably connected therewith to produce tones in a first test to which a test person responds in a manner utilized by the test site Internet-based client CPU and which produces a first test data signal corresponding to the response. Software is preferably operably provided in the system for manipulating the first test data signal to produce a first output data indicative of one characteristic of said test person's hearing level. Further, a remote Internet-based server CPU is provided which preferably includes software for gathering the first output data and personal information data of the person and presenting the data in a predetermined audiological test report data form for review by a person certified in audiometric testing.

Abstract: A method for fitting a cochlear implant to a patient. A genetic algorithm operates to generate successive generations of multiple groups of values for a parameter subset, and patient feedback during execution of the genetic algorithm determines the multiple groups of subset values in successive generations. In each generation, half of the groups of values for the parameter subset are selected and used to determine the groups of values for the next generation. Values for the parameters not included in the subset are selected by any traditional method that does not use a genetic algorithm. In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, there are only three parameters in the subset that are selected by a genetic algorithm—parameters relating to rate, number of channels and filtering characteristics.

Abstract: A method for generating digital filters for tuning a hearing aid to enhance hearing ability. Data is provided, for a range for a target response curve representative of enhanced hearing ability of sound level versus frequency. Second digital data is also generated, for an initial response curve or audiogram of an individual's hearing ability. The first digital data is compared with the second digital data and it is determined whether the initial response curve is within the tolerance range. If not, digital audio filters are iteratively generated, and the digital audio filters are applied to digital data representing received sound signals to generate third digital data to enhance hearing. Parameters of the digital audio filters are automatically optimized until the compensated response curve is within the tolerance range or a predetermined number of digital audio filters has been reached.

Abstract: A portable hand-held electrical testing device including a processor housed within an enclosure. The processor is configured to operate on commands by a user to process sub-microvolt electrical signals received through an input/output interface. The input/output interface includes a capacitive coupled amplifier with adjustable gain settings. Onboard memory linked to the processor stores processing data and instructions. A display device is mounted to said enclosure and is operatively connected to the processor to display processing results in real time.

Abstract: Reciprocal noise cancellation of a patient's mono-frequency tinnitus tone is achieved utilizing an externally generated tone which is subjectively defined by a mono-frequency tinnitus patient to match his/her tinnitus tone in frequency and amplitude. An externally generated sound wave, selectively designated by subjective observations of a patient to match the patient's tinnitus tone is first applied to the tinnitus patient via earphones or a speaker system and then the same externally generated sound wave is sequentially phase shifted through a plurality of angularly shifted sequence steps to shift or slide the external sound wave through at least a 180 degree phase shift of the generated signal as it is applied to the patient to achieve a series of reductions of the patient's tinnitus tone and in one of such shifted steps a reciprocal, canceling relationship with the patient's tinnitus tone.

Abstract: A technique allows a web site visitor, or other user of a consumer electronics device that is remote from a hearing test server, to measure their hearing loss in an efficient and consistent way which is self-administered, and to store the measurements as a hearing profile which can be used for customizing audio products. The technique includes a method for conducting a hearing test using a computer program. The method includes establishing a communication channel between a remote device and server in a communication network. A first component of the computer program is executed on the server, and a second component of the computer program is executed at the remote device. The computer program according to the invention comprises a routine to manage interaction via an interface on the remote device, and adaptively select stimuli based upon the interaction to be produced at the remote device according to a convergent process to determine a hearing characteristic.

Abstract: Acoustic parameters of an ear are recorded by measuring the impedance of the ear canal. A first pressure microphone measures the sonic pressure. A second pressure microphone measures the sonic pressure through a calibrated acoustic resistance. The sound energy flux is determined by the difference between the measured sonic pressures. The impedance is calculated from these results.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of detecting ischemia within the brain of a patient. The method includes assigning a first value to a first signal generated by a tissue on the right-hand side of the body and assigning a second value to a second signal generated by a tissue on the left-hand side of the body. The method also includes comparing the first value and the second value. The difference between the first value and the second value indicates that ischemia is present within the patient's brain.

Abstract: The sound quality of a hearing aid device with a directional microphone system is to be improved. For this purpose, the microphone signals of microphone units with directivities of different orders are analyzed and divided into frequency bands. A weighting of the microphone signals that are emitted from the microphone units with directivities of different orders takes place in the individual frequency bands. The weighting takes place in particular in dependence on the signal level of the microphone signals.

Abstract: Sounds input via a sound input device are corrected in accordance with age-based hearing characteristic data read from a memory or correction values for reference hearing characteristics for individual hearing characteristics-measured by an individual hearing characteristics measurement device, and the sounds corresponding to the hearing characteristics are measured and displayed by the display.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the depth of anesthesia experienced by a patient includes identifying a change in one or more evoked bio-potentials (100) using a wavelet transform, and calculating at least one index (108) indicative of the depth of anesthesia experienced by the patient based on the changes in the evoked bio-potentials (100) over a period of time during which anesthesia is administered to the patient. Optionally, changes in random electroencephalogram activity, pulse oximetry measurements, and blood gas measurements are combined with the changes in the evoked bio-potentials (100) in calculations of the index. The resulting indices are optionally displayed in a graphical representation (110) of the level of anesthesia experienced by the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for objective verification of auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) in the time domain whereby the individual epochs are transformed into the frequency domain. The response can be made free from noise of the asynchronous EEG in the frequency domain; the amplitudes of the spectral lines, which contain only noise, are set at zero, and the spectral lines of the harmonics remain uninfluenced. The altered spectrum is subsequently transformed back into the time domain.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for determining shifts in the attentional state of a subject. These methods are useful for diagnosing subjects with a psychological or behavioral disorder. The invention also features methods for determining the effect of a therapy on the overall attentional state and shifts in the attentional state of a subject.

Abstract: Measurements of responses of a subject are performed automatically. The measurements include a sufficient set of measurements to complete a psychological evaluation task or to derive a complete conclusion about a cognitive state, an emotional state, or a socio-emotional state of the subject. The task is performed or the complete conclusion is derived automatically based on the measurements of responses.

Abstract: This patent relates to an apparatus and method for screening a subject's hearing by recording steady-state auditory evoked responses. The apparatus generates a steady-state auditory evoked potential stimulus having a plurality of stimulus components, presents the stimulus to the subject, senses potentials while simultaneously presenting the stimulus and determines whether the sensed potentials contain a plurality of responses to the stimulus.

Abstract: A body-worn device, such as a hearing aid, is adapted to the shape of an individual's body area, such as an ear. A digitized, three-dimensional representation of the area is prepared. At least one characteristic feature of the representation, such as a dimension of a part of the ear, is automatically determined. A shell is produced based on the characteristic feature.

Abstract: A module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) may be electrically connected to a PCB (18) residing in a device (14) or may be joined to the device (14) to form a portion of the housing (16) of the device (14). The module includes a housing (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602) having at least one layer, a surface mountable component, such as a surface mountable acoustic transducer (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610) having a connecting surface (114, 214, 314, 414, 514, 614) disposed within the housing (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602), and at least one acoustic port (124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) formed on a surface of the housing (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602). The module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) may further include a secondary mounting structure (654) electrically connected to the connecting surface (114, 214, 314, 414, 514, 614) of the surface mountable acoustic transducer (110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610). The acoustic port (124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 624) may include a layer of an environmental barrier (450, 550).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing various auditory tests utilizing a hand-held, portable, wireless testing device is provided. Within the device is a diagnostic subsystem used to implement and analyze selected tests. Attached to the device, either directly or via a flexible cable, are one or more probes. A processor, storage means, input means and display means are included, thus allowing the device to process and store instructions as well as process, store and display data. A wireless networking subsystem is included, enabling the device to communicate with other, similarly enabled, systems and devices within the device's communication range. Due to the inclusion of the wireless networking subsystem, the device can be configured to allow the user to transmit and/or print data, connect to a network, obtain device configuration updates, and send and receive patient and office updates.