August 7, 2014 — The San Diego Chargers NFL team has purchased a Carestream DRX-Ascend system for use at Qualcomm Stadium in time for the 2014 season. Diagnostic imaging workstations are being installed in both home and visiting team locker rooms to allow for medical image viewing by physicians and trainers from both the Chargers and visiting teams.
This installation spotlights Carestream Health’s focus on providing its digital X-ray technology for use in sports medicine. Several NFL teams and other professional sports organizations also have adopted Carestream’s medical imaging systems for use in diagnosing player injuries.
“The DRX-Ascend system delivers high-quality X-ray images in seconds, which will help trainers and physicians accurately diagnose and treat injuries or other medical conditions. It also will enable our medical staff to more quickly and accurately determine whether a player can return to the game or if further treatment is necessary,” said James Collins, Chargers head athletic trainer.
The DRX-Ascend is used for X-ray exams at hospital radiology departments, imaging centers, clinics and specialists’ offices. This system is designed to simplify weight-bearing, cross-table and tabletop imaging studies with a versatile floor-mounted tube stand and a wide, elevating float-top table with a weight capacity of 650 pounds. Users can customize the stand, tables and accessories to match budget and workflow needs.
“Our digital imaging systems are being adopted by sports organizations because they offer not only excellent image quality but also immediate image access. Having the ability to accurately assess an athlete’s condition can help prevent further injury,” said Diana Nole, president, digital medical solutions, Carestream. “We are also investing in the research and development of new imaging systems for use in sports medicine that will offer additional advantages, particularly for diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries.”
The DRX-Ascend system is part of Carestream’s flexible family of DRX systems that include portable and room-based systems. Carestream also offers the ability to retrofit existing room or portable imaging systems with DRX detectors, which enables healthcare providers to affordably convert from film or computed radiography (CR) to a fully featured digital radiography (DR) solution.
For more information: www.carestream.com
March 31, 2026 
