研究目的
To evaluate the long-term performance and reliability of an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based daily quality assurance (QA) system for photon radiation beams on a linear accelerator (linac) over a three-year period.
研究成果
The EPID-based daily QA system is efficient and reliable for monitoring linac performance, with output deviations correlating well with ionization chamber measurements. Long-term trend analysis helps in understanding machine behavior and predicting failures, and the system reduces setup time and costs compared to traditional methods.
研究不足
The current daily QA solution does not include electron beams. The study only presented results from one linac, and the proposed EDQA was only tested on a Varian linac. Some mechanical checks still require manual verification.
1:Experimental Design and Method Selection:
An in-house developed EPID-based QA strategy was used to test daily linac performance. The methodology involved acquiring MV and kV images using EPID and on-board imaging systems, analyzing beam dosimetric parameters and image quality metrics, and performing trend analysis and comparisons with ionization chamber measurements.
2:Sample Selection and Data Sources:
Data was collected over three years from daily QA tests performed on a Varian TrueBeam linac equipped with an aS1000 EPID and OBI system. The phantom used was an in-house designed device with MV and kV modules.
3:List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
Varian TrueBeam linac, aS1000 EPID, PaxScan 4030CB kV imager, in-house designed phantom with steel plugs and water-equivalent plastic, PTW N30001 Farmer Chamber for ionization chamber measurements, and a web-based quality assurance information system (QAIS) for automated analysis.
4:Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
The morning therapist inserted and locked the phantom, verified alignment, and delivered radiation fields including kV and MV beams. Images were automatically saved and analyzed using QAIS to generate daily reports. The workflow was designed to be completed within 15 minutes.
5:Data Analysis Methods:
Data analysis included measuring mean pixel values, beam profiles, gamma passing rates for IMRT fields, and image quality metrics. Statistical analysis involved trend visualization, correlation analysis using Pearson coefficients, and failure rate calculations.
独家科研数据包,助您复现前沿成果,加速创新突破
获取完整内容