Expression constraints can be nested in a variety of ways to form nested expression constraints. These nested expression constraints use subexpressions, enclosed in round brackets, in the place of a simple concept reference.

Nested expression constraints can be created by:

• Applying constraint operators to an expression constraint
• Applying the memberOf function to an expression constraint
• Combining expression constraints using binary operators
• Adding dotted attributes to expression constraints
• Adding refinements to expression constraints
• Using expression constraints to represent valid attribute names
• Using expression constraints to represent valid attribute values

In this section, we describe each of these approaches to creating nested expression constraints.

Constraint Operators

When a constraint operator is applied to an expression constraint, the resulting set of matching expressions is the union of applying the constraint operator to each of its members.

For example, the following expression constraint represents all the members of the  | Example problem list concepts reference set|  plus the union of the descendants of each of these members. 

As another example, the following expression constraint represents the set of all descendants of the | Finding site|  of  | Fracture of bone| . 

MemberOf Function

The memberOf function may also be applied to an expression constraint that returns a set of concept-based reference set concepts. When this is done, the nested expression constraint (to which the memberOf function is applied) must always be enclosed in round brackets.

For example, the expression constraint below is satisfied by the set of concepts which are members of any subtype of  | GP/FP health issue reference set| . In other words, it represents the union of applying the memberOf function to each of the descendants of | GP/FP health issue reference set| . 

Compound Expression Constraints

When conjunction (i.e. AND), disjunction (i.e. OR) or exclusion (i.e. MINUS) are applied to one or more complex subexpression constraints, brackets are usually required to nest the subexpression constraints.

For example, the following expression constraint uses brackets around the first complex operand ( <  404684003 |Clinical finding| :  363698007 |Finding site|  = <<  39057004 |Pulmonary valve structure| ) to apply the 'AND' operator to two expression constraints.

Dotted Attributes

Dotted attributes can also be applied to a nested subexpression constraint. When this is done, the resulting subexpression represents the union of the values of the given dotted attribute for any expression that matches the given nested subexpression constraint.

For example, the following expression constraint represents the set of all substances that are the | Direct substance|  of a | Specimen collection|  procedure that is  | Using device|  equal to a subtype (or self) of  | Catheter| .

Refinement

As mentioned in  6.2 Refinements, it is possible to apply refinements to nested expression constraints. When a refinement is applied to a complex subexpression constraint, the subexpression constraint must be enclosed in brackets.

For example, the expression constraint below represents the set of all clinical findings and events which occur after some procedure.

In some cases, the valid set of attribute names can be represented using an expression constraint. For example, the expression constraint below represents the set of bone fractures that have no additional defining attributes (besides | Finding site|  and | Associated morphology| ).

Attribute Values

Similarly to the SNOMED CT Compositional Grammar, it is also possible to nest expression constraints within an attribute value. Please note that when the attribute value is a simple expression constraint (as per the above examples), brackets are not required around the value. However, when the attribute value is either an expression constraint with a refinement, or a compound expression constraint with a binary operator, then brackets must be placed around the attribute value. For example, the following expression constraint represents the set of clinical findings which are associated with another clinical finding that has an associated morphology of 'infarct' (or subtype).