Standards Development

Scope

The purpose of this document is to specify categorial structures within the subject field of acupuncture needling (specialized for using filiform needles) by defining a set of domain constraints.

This document describes a concept system detailing domain constraints of sanctioned characteristics, each composed of a semantic link and an applicable characterizing category.

The potential benefits of this document include:

a) support for developers of new terminology systems concerning acupuncture needling;

b) support for developers of new detailed content areas of existing terminology systems concerning acupuncture needling procedures to ensure accuracy, repeatability and comparability;

c) facilitating the representation of acupuncture needling procedures using a standard core model in a manner suitable for computer processing;

d) providing a conceptual framework for the generation of compositional concept representation of acupuncture needling;

e) facilitating the mapping and improved semantic correspondence between different terminologies by proposing a core specification for acupuncture needling;

f) providing a core model to describe the structure of acupuncture, and facilitate improved semantic correspondence with information models;

g) providing a tool for acupuncture text mining, database construction, ancient documents processing and wide area of acupuncture information collection and processing;

h) providing a new method for researchers to conduct relevant research, and ideas for the development of acupuncture disciplines.

Target groups include:

— stakeholders such as companies that offer systems that incorporate Electronic Categorial Structures, by helping building knowledge databases or automatic processing of medical literature, and

— doctors, who can be better assisted with knowledge and documentation of needling procedures.

This document can also be used in clinical decision support and to help in data mining for researchers.