G16H - Definition

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Cross-sectional aspects of computer, information or communication science with medical or healthcare science, where the focus is clearly placed on digital computing or data processing or handling system or methods, which are specially adapted for medical or healthcare science.

It deals with the ICT resources, devices, systems and methods for the handling and processing of information and data in healthcare, medicine and well-being.

Healthcare informatics tools include not only computers, systems and devices but also clinical guidelines, formal medical terminologies, and information and communication systems. It is applied to the areas of medical care, nursing, diagnosis, therapy, dentistry, surgery, pharmacy, public health, occupational health, wellbeing, medical research and medical cooperation.

Relationship between large subject matter areas

In order to determine whether a technical subject relating to medical or healthcare science is classified in this subclass or in the relevant subclasses of A61, the following should be observed:

a. to classify a technical subject in this subclass it is required that the essential technical characteristics of the subject focus onto digital computing or data processing systems or methods;

b. if the technical subject focuses onto aspects of medical science, e.g. physiological signals or medical conditions, or if the subject involves a significant interaction with the patient, e.g. details of a diagnostic measurement, then classification shall be directed to the appropriate subclasses of A61;

c. the mere presence of “a computer” or “a flowchart” in relation to medical devices or procedures is not a key element for classifying in this subclass; in this case classification shall rather be directed to the appropriate subclasses covering those medical devices or procedures;

d. if guidance indicated in the subparagraphs above cannot be used, classification is made in both this subclass and the appropriate subclasses of A61.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Signal processing or signal transmission associated to diagnostic measurements, e.g. signal waveform analysis

A61B 5/00

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Digital computers in which all the computation is effected mechanically	G06C
Digital fluid-pressure computing devices	G06D
Optical computing devices	G06E
Electric digital data processing	G06F
Analogue computers	G06G
Hybrid computing arrangements	G06J
Computer systems based on specific computational models	G06N
Data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes	G06Q
Bioinformatics	G16B
Chemoinformatics	G16C

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

handling

of medical or healthcare data covers the acquisition, storage, retrieval, analysis, management, transmission or usage of such data

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents the expression/word "medical informatics, health informatics, clinical informatics" is often used instead of "healthcare informatics" which is used in the classification scheme of this subclass.