Overview
ISO 16843-2:2025 - "Health informatics - Categorial structures for representation of acupuncture - Part 2: Needling" defines a standardized concept model for representing acupuncture needling (specialized for filiform needles) in health information systems. The standard specifies a set of domain constraints and a concept system that links sanctioned characteristics (semantic links + characterizing categories) to enable consistent, computable representation of needling procedures. This first edition replaces ISO/TS 16843-2:2015 and is part of the ISO 16843 series developed by ISO/TC 215 JWG 1.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Categorial structures: minimal domain constraints required to represent acupuncture needling concepts.
- Concept and category definitions: formal definitions for concepts, categories and characteristics used to describe needling.
- Semantic links: directed associative relations between concepts (with inverses). Examples enumerated include:
- Measures, Causes, Result of, Evaluation of
- Co-occurs with, Precedes, Produce, Be applied to
- Characterizing categories specific to needling, such as:
- Needle grasping, insertion technique, insertion parameters (angle, depth, direction)
- Needling manipulation, needle withdrawal, needle retaining
- Supplementation and draining methods (reinforcement/reduction)
- Additional stimulation methods (e.g., electro-acupuncture)
- Arrival of qi and acupuncture effect (as defined conceptual characteristics)
- Concept system constraints: each characteristic is constrained by semantic links and applicable characterizing categories to support repeatability and computability.
- No normative references are required; definitions reference standard terminology sources (e.g., ISO Online Browsing Platform).
Applications
- Standardizes representation of needling procedures for:
- Electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical documentation
- Terminology systems and controlled vocabularies for acupuncture
- Clinical trial reporting and meta-analysis where consistent intervention descriptions are required
- Decision support, data mining, text mining, and database construction for acupuncture literature and historical documents
- Interoperability and mapping between acupuncture terminologies
Who should use this standard
- Health informatics vendors and terminology developers building acupuncture modules
- Clinicians and acupuncture practitioners documenting needling procedures
- Researchers conducting clinical trials, systematic reviews, or data-driven studies of acupuncture
- Institutions or agencies creating standards-based clinical content or knowledgebases
Related standards and context
- Developed by ISO/TC 215 (Health informatics), JWG 1 - Traditional Chinese Medicine (Informatics)
- Uses terminology approaches consistent with ISO terminology standards (e.g., ISO 17115, ISO 1087) referenced in definitions
- Part of the broader ISO 16843 series for acupuncture representation
Keywords: ISO 16843-2:2025, acupuncture needling, health informatics, categorial structures, semantic links, clinical documentation, terminology systems, electronic health records.