TM Virtual Phantoms for IGRT QA
Why ImSimQA? ImSimQA was developed to overcome the limitations of physical phantoms for testing modern medical imaging and radiation therapy software systems, when there is limited access to clinical scanners. With the growth of new techniques such as deformable image registration, atlas and model-based auto segmentation, multi-modality image fusion, 4D planning, IGRT and adaptive RT, it is clear that innovative tools are required to commission, benchmark and deliver routine quality assurance for these new clinical imaging software systems in a time efficient manner. ImSimQA closes the loop of testing by creating infinite test image data, and then applying quantifiable analyses with pass/fail metrics to the resulting data imported from clinical systems. It is the only commercially available standalone software designed for DIR and RIR QA. Benefits Practical, extensive, cost effective testing for new techniques Increases confidence in complex clinical software Reduces the physics QA time on scanners and RT imaging devices Provides testing not possible with physical phantoms
Virtual phantoms for real QA ImSimQA is an essential software toolkit that generates ground-truth DICOM test images to validate clinical software systems (OnQ rts, MIM Maestro, Velocity, ABAS, SPICE and smart segmentation) and provides quantitative analysis of DIR algorithms. Flexible, thorough testing Change phantom size and shape, add and deform structures, switch modality without having to re-scan physical phantoms. Extensive phantom editing Translate, rotate and re-size. Edit slice thickness, number, FOV, resolution. Delete, add, copy VOIs. Change density and noise. Generate DICOM CT, MR & PET images of phantom setups DICOM CT, CBCT, MR and PET images of phantoms. Export DICOM images of phantoms DICOM images of phantoms for full compatibility with other RT systems.
QA workflows QA Deformable image registration Auto-contouring Adaptive IGRT 4DCT Software that automatically generates contours and deformed images are complex and often regarded as black boxes. Deformable image registration (DIR) is the basis for auto-contouring, adaptive re-planning and dose-mapping techniques. DIR is a complex process that cannot be validated fully by physical phantoms. ImSimQA s flexible image editing and integrated analysis tools, help to close the loop of testing these complex clinical systems by generating test data and then importing the results from clinical systems back into ImSimQA for quantifiable analysis with pass/fail results. ImSimQA provides unique tools to help close the loop of testing, validation and understanding.
QA workflows ImSimQA provides the flexibility of centre specific QA without the timely processes involved in generating real phantom data. Save time and close the loop using ImSimQA, the only commercially available standalone software designed for DIR + RIR QA. ImSimQA reports pass / fail results for a range of metrics Import gold standard DICOM images / contours into ImSimQA Deform and edit gold standard DICOM images / contours in ImSimQA Run ImSimQA analysis comparing original gold standard images / contours to results from clinical system Closing the loop Export newly created images / contours from ImSimQA to clinical system Export clinical system image / contour results to ImSimQA Run DIR / auto-contouring in clinical system
Modules ImSimQA Base module with virtual phantom library, DICOM editing, transformations & scaling, density & noise editing, DICOM import & export. ImSimQA dform Deformation applied to imported DICOM images. Deformable fusion QA analyses for validating DIR software. Import and export deformation fields. Includes a library of 10 original and deformed synthetic head and neck phantoms with ground truth DVFs. ImSimQA 4d Creation of 4D CT image phases from virtual phantoms. Individual structures can be assigned differing motion patterns. Varian RPM signals can be applied to phantoms. ImSimQA contour Extensive contour analysis tool that measures difference in size, position and shape of structures. Pass/fail report that can be printed or exported including conformity index (CI) and mean distance to conformity (MDC).
ImSimQA Client Testimonials Northampton General Hospital ImSimQA has been in use at Northampton General Hospital for over three years. It has been an incredibly useful tool with many applications. We originally procured it because we had acquired new Virtual Simulation software, and needed a way of commissioning and comparing the two image fusion packages we now had available. As with most departments, there is a distinct lack of time available on MR / PET scanners; and ImSimQA seemed an inspired idea! We were able to assess the advantages and limitations of each system in a controlled and methodical way; for each algorithm provided by the two systems. Following software upgrades we were able to easily re-test the planning systems. Additional uses have been in training staff in the image fusion packages; and setting new scanning protocols in the diagnostic department to improve the chances of a successful fusion of images. We have also been able to use it for other departmental development. For example, the advancement of breast planning, by showing the effect on a treatment plan of putting patients on lower wedge angles on breast boards. ImSimQA has been an incredibly useful tool with many applications ImSimQA is such an exceptionally valuable tool. We could not have implemented image fusion at NGH without it; and there have also been unforeseen advantages as shown above. We look forward to using it to commission respiratory gating, CT-PET fusion and other new developments in the future all of which will be a lot less time consuming via ImSimQA. Nicky Whilde, Deputy Head of Radiotherapy Physics Northampton General Hospital
Manufactured by Oncology Systems Limited Oncology Systems Limited 14 Longbow Close Shrewsbury SY1 3GZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1743 462694 software-support@osl.uk.com www.imsimqa.com MKT140210.ImSimQAFolder.v01