Abstract: Described are various methods for validating a patient's radiotherapy plan. One possible method comprises receiving a dose distribution at a dosimetry service, receiving dose data at the dosimetry service from a radiation detection device at a treatment site removed from the dosimetry service, the data having been gathered in accordance with the dose distribution, and evaluating the dose data in comparison to the dose distribution to prepare a validation report.

Abstract: An image-based quality assurance (IBQA) system is provided for performing quality assurance testing of a medical linear accelerator photon beam. The IBQA system includes an imaging phantom integrated with an automated image analysis system. The imaging phantom comprises a set of fixed and rotatable reference objects which, when radiographed, set the orientation of the phantom, determine magnification factors and measure spatial distortions. The imaging phantom includes a chamber for inserting a radiographic film to record an image of the photon beam. The sampled image is digitized and made available to the automated image analysis system for measuring quality assurance parameters from the sampled image. The measured beam quality parameters are compared with baseline parameter values to determine whether they fall within prescribed specifications.

Abstract: A quality assurance device is provided for ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of the mechanical parameters of medical linear accelerators (Medical LINACs). The quality assurance devices is configured for placement within two parallel slots on the gantry of a Medical LINAC and includes off-the-shelf components for ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of an optical distance indicator (ODI) distance measurement readout, collimator and gantry angles indicated by a display of the Medical LINAC, a radiation field size indicated by the Medical LINAC display, the centering of cross-hairs on the gantry with the intersection of the Medical LINAC axes, and alignment of the two lasers emanating from two positions toward the Medical LINAC with the intersection of the Medical LINAC axes.

Abstract: An image-based quality assurance (IBQA) system is provided for performing quality assurance testing of a medical linear accelerator photon beam. The IBQA system includes an imaging phantom integrated with an automated image analysis system. The imaging phantom comprises a set of fixed and rotatable reference objects which, when radiographed, set the orientation of the phantom, determine magnification factors and measure spatial distortions. The imaging phantom includes a chamber for inserting a radiographic film to record an image of the photon beam. The sampled image is digitized and made available to the automated image analysis system for measuring quality assurance parameters from the sampled image. The measured beam quality parameters are compared with baseline parameter values to determine whether they fall within prescribed specifications.