Unified Medical Language System.
UMLS Metathesaurus License.
Appendix 1: UMLS Source Vocabularies.
Appendix 1 of the UMLS Metathesaurus License
includes information about each of the current
Metathesaurus source vocabularies.
You can access the Metathesaurus License
from the UMLS homepage.
Click on the “Sign Up” button
under “Access the UMLS”.
The UMLS Metathesaurus License has three parts:
The License Agreement for the Use of the UMLS Metathesaurus,
Appendix 1: UMLS Metathesaurus Source Vocabularies and
Appendix 2: SNOMED CT Affiliate License Agreement.
Click on the print icon to view or print a
PDF version of the entire License
and its appendices.
Your usage of each source vocabulary is
subject to the terms of the License Agreement,
including any usage restriction categories that may apply.
This tutorial explores Appendix 1 and
describes the usage restriction categories for the source vocabularies.
To access Appendix 1, scroll to the bottom of the License Agreement.
Click ”Accept and Continue”.
Appendix 1 is a complete list of current
Metathesaurus source vocabularies,
updated biannually with each Metathesaurus release.
You can find descriptions of each usage
restriction category in Section 12 of the
License Agreement.
Note: the Metathesaurus data files
encode each source vocabulary’s usage restriction
category as a source restriction level (SRL): 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9.
In the Metathesaurus data files,
source restriction level 9 applies to
SNOMED CT vocabularies.
Terms of use of SNOMED CT are
defined in Appendix 2 and are
not covered in this tutorial.
Let’s scroll down this page to see the first few source vocabularies.
Source vocabularies appear in alphabetical
order by their Metathesaurus data file versioned source abbreviation (VSAB).
Each entry includes the name of the source vocabulary,
a bibliographic citation,
contact Information, and, when available,
a Web address.
Each entry also includes a link to additional source vocabulary information created by NLM,
describing its purpose, content, and use.
This source vocabulary, FMA,
has no additional usage restrictions.
Its category restriction level is 0 (zero).
Only the general terms of the License Agreement
apply to its use in an application.
This source vocabulary, UMD,
has category 1 usage restrictions.
Category 1 restrictions
prohibit translating this source vocabulary
into another language and producing any
derivative works from this source vocabulary.
Click the Category 1 Restrictions link
to view its explanation in Section 12 of the License Agreement.
This source vocabulary, CPM,
has category 2 usage restrictions.
Category 2 restrictions permit using this
source vocabulary for research or development.
Category 2 restrictions prohibit translating this source
vocabulary into another language and
using this source vocabulary in applications
that create information containing data from this source vocabulary.
The source vocabulary, CPT,
has category 3 usage restrictions.
Category 3 restrictions
permit a Licensee to use
this source vocabulary internally for research,
product development and
statistical analysis only.
Category 3 restrictions
prohibit the use of this source vocabulary for
routine patient data creation;
incorporation into any publicly accessible computer-based information system;
publication, translation or creation of
derivative works; selling, leasing,
licensing, or otherwise making this source
vocabulary material available to any unauthorized party;
and duplicating for any purpose except for back up
or archival purposes.
This source vocabulary, ICD10CM has category 4
restrictions if you use it within the United States.
If you use ICD10CM outside the United States,
you need to adhere to category 3 restrictions.
Category 4 restrictions
prohibit translating the source vocabulary into
another language; prohibit
changing the content of the source vocabulary;
limit the use and distribution of this source
vocabulary to the United States;
and permit distribution of this source vocabulary only
in combination with other UMLS Metathesaurus content.
For SNOMED CT sources, the terms in Appendix 2 apply.
Recall that Appendix 2 is the SNOMED CT Affiliate License Agreement.
The UMLS Source Release Documentation page is a
great source for detailed information about each source vocabulary.
You can access this through the Documentation
menu and the General sub-menu.
By selecting the Restriction Categories tab,
you can browse the UMLS source vocabularies by
restriction categories.
In Appendix 1 of the UMLS Metathesaurus License,
you will find information about each of the current
Metathesaurus source vocabularies
as well as their usage restrictions.
It is important to read and understand the entire License
and its Appendices.
Please contact the individual source vocabulary providers
if you need to use their data beyond the UMLS license restrictions.
For more information about the UMLS,
go to UMLS Web site.
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