Technical Note: Unified imaging and robotic couch quality assurance.

Journal: Medical physics
Published Date:

Abstract

PURPOSE: To introduce a simplified quality assurance (QA) procedure that integrates tests for the linac's imaging components and the robotic couch. Current QA procedures for evaluating the alignment of the imaging system and linac require careful positioning of a phantom at isocenter before image acquisition and analysis. A complementary procedure for the robotic couch requires an initial displacement of the phantom and then evaluates the accuracy of repositioning the phantom at isocenter. We propose a two-in-one procedure that introduces a custom software module and incorporates both checks into one motion for increased efficiency.

Authors

  • Molly C Cook
    Medical Physics Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, 770 State Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30332.
  • Justin Roper
    Radiology Oncology, Emory University, 1365 Clifton Road, Department of Radiation Oncology, Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, UNITED STATES.
  • Eric S Elder
    Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, 1365-C Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
  • Eduard Schreibmann
    Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, 1365-C Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.