Objective  To analyze the patents of blockchain technology in the field of medical and health information worldwide. 

Methods  Based on the blockchain patent data in this field from 2009 to 2020 in the Orbit patent database, both patent and social network analysis were used to analyze the application situation, distribution of research and development institu-tions, key areas and cooperation networks. 

Results  A total of 1,927 invention patent samples of blockchain technology in the field of medical and health information were obtained, and 1,660 valid patents (86.1%) were obtained. China is the country with the largest number of patents (615), but the United States is the country with the largest number of patent priorities (1,031). Blockchain technology has been applied in many fields, such as healthcare informatics, electronic digital data processing, digital information transmission, diagnosis and identifica-tion. 

Conclusion  Blockchain technology in the field of medical and health information is undergoing a period of rapid development. China should enhance the awareness of the global patent layout, and further consolidate the technological research and development, and co-operation in data identification, data representation and record carrier, transmission devices.

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