G16H

HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA[2018.01]

Note(s) 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 systems or methods, which are specially adapted for medical or healthcare science.[2018.01]This subclass does not cover: medical equipment, medical methods, methods of diagnosis, methods of treatment or therapy, clinical care or surgical procedures per se, which are covered by the relevant subclasses of class A61;signal processing or signal transmission associated to diagnostic measurements, e.g. signal waveform analysis, which are covered by group A61B 5/00. 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: to classify a technical subject in this subclass, it is required that the essential technical features of the subject focus onto digital computing or data processing systems or methods;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 class A61;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.