Abstract: An ultrasound test phantom includes a block of human-tissue-mimicking material having a top surface and spaced-apart groups of targets embedded therein. Each group is located at a unique depth region within the block as measured from the top surface. The targets in each group include a first linear target spaced-apart from a second linear target. For each group, the first linear target extends in a first direction at a first depth of the depth region associated therewith, and the second linear target extends in a second direction at a second depth of the depth region associated therewith. When viewed from the block's top surface, a crossing point is defined where the first direction and second direction cross at an angle between 10° and 170°. For each group, the crossing point is located along a line perpendicular to the block's top surface.

Abstract: A method of determining a patient dose during or prior to therapy from an external radiation beam includes determining a dose distribution from a patient plan as delivered in a QA phantom at each appropriate beam angle and comparing the dose distribution determined from measurements or calculations to a corresponding treatment planning system (TPS) dose modeled distribution in the QA phantom and providing a correction distribution when applied to the TPS dose modeled distribution results in the dose distribution determined. The correction distribution may optionally be interpolated to non-measured points for each beam angle and geometrically projected toward the source of radiation through a volume that equals a dose volume of the TPS for a patient beam for each beam angle. The correction distribution is applied to the TPS patient dose volume for each beam angle for providing a corrected dose distribution in the patient.

Abstract: A dosimeter comprising an ionizing radiation detector array is used to generally encompass a three dimensional geometric shape such as that employed as a phantom in radiation dosimetry measurements. The ionizing radiation detector array may include passive or active detectors. The active detectors in the array may comprise diodes, ionization chambers, luminescent sensors or amorphous silicon. The three dimensional geometric shape may comprise a shape defined by a closed directrix, wherein each of a plurality of detectors within the ionizing detector array is within an envelope defined by a generatrix of the directrix. The closed directrix may be an open or closed cylinder, or a structure having a cross section described by a polygon. The plurality of detectors may only be positioned on or at least proximate the envelope.