ISO/TS 23541-1:2021

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 23541-1
First edition
2021-05
Health informatics — Categorial
structure for representation of 3D
human body position system —
Part 1:
Bones
Informatique de santé — Structure catégorielle pour la
représentation du système de positionnement du corps humain en
3D —
Partie 1: Os
Reference number
©
ISO 2021
© ISO 2021
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ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General . 1
3.2 Characterizing categories . 3
4 Categorial structure of 3D human body position system . 5
4.1 Overview . 5
4.2 Representational relations . 6
4.2.1 shareElement . 6
4.2.2 isBodyPart . 6
4.2.3 hasFinding . 7
4.2.4 hasIntervention . . . 7
4.2.5 hasObservation . 7
4.2.6 hasObject . 8
4.2.7 hasModel . . 8
Bibliography .10
Foreword
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iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Anatomical descriptions can be very abstract, requiring long narrative descriptions. These descriptions
can lead to ambiguity and coding inconsistency. Text-based expressions lack expressiveness and
accuracy, medical information is not captured and re-used sufficiently and there are also issues in
interoperability. There is currently no unified way of expressing anatomical concepts.
However, recent advancements in imaging technology are dramatically revolutionizing the field. For
instance, the spatial resolution in a CT scan is less than 1 mm. Regarding accuracy and expressiveness,
it is believed that the gap between medical imaging and clinical terminology is increasing over time.
Patients are also having problems understanding their disease because visualization is not given by
standard terminology.
Healthcare workers are seeking to achieve additional expressiveness by adopting 3D data in the
medical field. Radiation therapies are designed by 3D systems to generate optimal intensities while
protecting adjacent tissue. In operating theatres, operations are often guided by 3D navigation
systems. For example, arthroplasties are designed and simulated before surgery using 3D technology.
Researchers are also studying ways to simulate operation tactics using 3D data by 3D printing, such
as AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality). Since 3D systems can deliver accurate spatial
information in the human body, it is evident that a standard terminology infrastructure will provide
additional expressiveness, accuracy and comparability when 3D data is adopted in medical informatics.
Since anatomy is a key piece of information in many clinical descriptions, 3D data can increase the
accuracy and expressiveness of clinical terminology. 3D data are numbers that can be processed by
mathematical functions providing more computability in research, software production and artificial
intelligence.
3D systems provide a consistent way of expressing anatomical concepts in a precise manner. Accurate
data can improve data exchange between electronic health records, epidemiological analysis and
quality. Increased accuracy also means better clinical decision support systems for patient safety,
reducing medical errors and improving efficiency. It also provides visual information for patients and
caregivers when conventional standard terminology system does not. HBPS (Human body position
system) is intended to be used in electronic health records, personal health record and various medical
research purposes.
HBPS is a way of expressing clinical concepts by combining 3D data and text-based terminology.
Although the main purpose of 3D is graphical expression, it can play a terminological role in many
ways as it has accurate anatomical concept. It can have attributes that are similar to codes in semantic
terminological system. It can be pre- or post-coordinated, just as conventional terminological concepts.
Since the data inside a 3D system is purely numeric, it can be captured and retrieved better than
semantic medical information.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 23541-1:2021(E)
Health informatics — Categorial structure for
representation of 3D human body position system —
Part 1:
Bones
1 Scope
This document describes the high-level concepts required for representation of 3D data in health
information systems from a terminological perspective. It is intended to be used in analysing,
developing and managing terminologies in HBPS. The use cases include clinical findings, disorders,
problem lists and procedures.
Topics considered in the scope of this document:
— description of terminological concepts for representation of 3D data for human body;
— establishing of the relationships needed for 3D data in terminological systems;
— use cases.
Topics considered outside the scope of this document:
— 3D data structure, implementation and software functionality.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General
3.1.1
3 dimensional
3D
computer graphics that define an object by its width, length and depth
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
Figure 1 — Three-dimensional space and coordinate of a point
3.1.2
3D data element
unit of 3D data for which the definition, identification, representation, and permissible values are
specified by means of a set of attributes
Note 1 to entry: A 3D data element include vertex (a single point that has three-dimensi
...