Ontology-based reengineering of the SNOMED CT context model

Abstract

SNOMED CT is a terminology system partially built on formalontological principles. Although its on-going redesign efforts increasingly consider principles of formal ontology, SNOMED CT's top-level categories and relations still reflect the legacy of its predecessors rather than formal ontological principles. This is apparent in its Context Model, which blends characteristics of information models with characteristics of ontologies. We propose a reengineering of the SNOMED CT Context Model formulated with ontology design patterns based on the BioTopLite upper ontology. Our analysis yields a clear division between clinical situations in a strict sense and information artefacts that denote clinical situations. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.