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A programmable motion phantom for quality assurance of motion management in radiotherapy

Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine volume 35, pages 93–100 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

A commercially available motion phantom (QUASAR, Modus Medical) was modified for programmable motion control with the aim of reproducing patient respiratory motion in one dimension in both the anterior–posterior and superior–inferior directions, as well as, providing controllable breath-hold and sinusoidal patterns for the testing of radiotherapy gating systems. In order to simulate realistic patient motion, the DC motor was replaced by a stepper motor. A separate ‘chest-wall’ motion platform was also designed to accommodate a variety of surrogate marker systems. The platform employs a second stepper motor that allows for the decoupling of the chest-wall and insert motion. The platform’s accuracy was tested by replicating patient traces recorded with the Varian real-time position management (RPM) system and comparing the motion platform’s recorded motion trace with the original patient data. Six lung cancer patient traces recorded with the RPM system were uploaded to the motion platform’s in-house control software and subsequently replicated through the phantom motion platform. The phantom’s motion profile was recorded with the RPM system and compared to the original patient data. Sinusoidal and breath-hold patterns were simulated with the motion platform and recorded with the RPM system to verify the systems potential for routine quality assurance of commercial radiotherapy gating systems. There was good correlation between replicated and actual patient data (P 0.003). Mean differences between the location of maxima in replicated and patient data-sets for six patients amounted to 0.034 cm with the corresponding minima mean equal to 0.010 cm. The upgraded motion phantom was found to replicate patient motion accurately as well as provide useful test patterns to aid in the quality assurance of motion management methods and technologies.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a scholarship from the RMIT University Health Innovations Research Institute.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Applied Sciences and Health Innovations Research Institute, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia

    L. Dunn, T. Kron, P. N. Johnston, M. L. Taylor & R. D. Franich

  2. Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia

    T. Kron, M. L. Taylor & J. Callahan

  3. Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie, VIC, 3085, Australia

    P. N. Johnston

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    L. N. McDermott

Authors
  1. L. Dunn
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  2. T. Kron
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  3. P. N. Johnston
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  4. L. N. McDermott
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  5. M. L. Taylor
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  6. J. Callahan
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  7. R. D. Franich
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Correspondence to L. Dunn.

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Dunn, L., Kron, T., Johnston, P.N. et al. A programmable motion phantom for quality assurance of motion management in radiotherapy. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 35, 93–100 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-011-0114-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-011-0114-0

Keyword

  • Varian Rpm
  • Motion
  • Phantom
  • Radiotherapy
  • Respiratory motion