July 14, 2009 – Standard Imaging Inc. recently released QA BeamChecker Plus Communication software version 2.2, a free upgrade to its current application, adding rotational QA functionality to assist users in maintaining consistent output of their treatment machines.
As more radiation treatment facilities add rotational delivery methods such as RapidArc radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems and VMAT from Elekta to their existing techniques, it is critical for medical physicists to ensure these machines are performing as expected day after day. Additionally, it is important that the efficiencies gained from using these methods do not go wasted due to lengthy daily QA procedures.
The QA BeamChecker Plus, already widely used for traditional linear accelerators and TomoTherapy Hi·Art Systems worldwide, has been adapted to help medical physicists address these concerns quickly and easily. Furthermore, with its patented Wire-Free Mode, the QA BeamChecker Plus allows medical physicists to confidently pass this responsibility to radiation therapists.
No PC is required to perform this task: Simply place the QA BeamChecker Plus on the treatment couch, select a QA plan to be delivered and perform the measurement. Results are presented on the large alphanumeric display, saved, and can be downloaded for further review at a later, more convenient time.