Carestream Health, a worldwide provider of dental and medical imaging systems and healthcare IT solutions and its subsidiaries were awarded 47 patents in 2011 from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for innovations in its radiology imaging and healthcare IT, dental imaging and molecular imaging products.

These new patents include: improvements in image processing techniques for digital radiography and mammography exams; data processing enhancements for radiology information management systems such as RIS and PACS; advances in camera and sensor technology for dental imaging systems; and new sensor, dye and multi-modal imaging improvements for the company’s molecular imaging products.

“These patents illustrate our commitment and success in developing and delivering technologically advanced capabilities and new products that will help our customers enhance results in patient care, healthcare IT and research environments,” said James R Milch, director, Research and Innovation Laboratories at Carestream.

The company’s radiology products include digital imaging capture solutions for radiology and mammographic applications; digital image output to medical film and paper; RIS+PACS and vendor-neutral archiving systems; and cloud-based RIS/PACS/archiving and image sharing services. Its dental division develops and markets film and digital imaging solutions, anaesthetics and practice management software.

Carestream’s molecular imaging division develops and markets optical, X-ray and nuclear imaging systems, and film for in vivo and in vitro research applications.