Quick Start Guide

To analyze data on the AQA platform, a user must define a machine and create the RTPLAN file ( account required, contact Jim Irrer ). This step is only done once, and subsequent tests may be run against the defined machine repeatedly. The steps involved are:

Deliver the planned fields on the machine defined in the AQA platform
Export the images
Upload the images and plan to the AQA website on AWS
Run the tests on the images on AWS.

Each institution will receive user accounts that will have access to run files and create additional accounts. This account must be created by Jim Irrer, please contact Jim at irrer@med.umich.edu to request up to 2 active accounts for your institution. Jim will send you your account details.

1: Create Machine

Administration → Machines → Create new Machine →

Fill out the requested information to reflect your machine, and click Create . This leads to the creation of your machine and the screen will return to the list of machines. Each Linear accelerator is referred to as a Machine in the software.

2: Create RTPLAN

Click the name of the newly created machine, then the "Customize Plan" button at the bottom.

The Patient ID , Patient Name , and Plan Name are arbitrary, but can be helpful for tracking the machine's test activity.

The Tolerance Table Name should be one that exists in your treatment planning system.

The Machine Name should be one that exists in your treatment planning and management systems.

Click Create to create the RTPLAN. This will bring up another page with a link to download the just-created RTPLAN.

3: Import RTPLAN into your Treatment Management System and make minor modifications to plan

Import the RTPLAN into your treatment system.

Note any errors/warnings you receive during import

Verify the couch coordinates are correct for your machine. The couch needs to be retracted so it won't be on imager, but still in a position to beam on. (At UM, we use couch long of +20 cm)
Schedule sessions and add integrated image template in scheduling.

The plan needs to acquire integrated images , not continuous.

At UM, we perform the couch position and imager position in Treatment Preparation

Source to Imager distance should be 150 cm for each field (not at ISOCENTER)
The imported plan will have a 3 ^rd party approval, thus plan approval will need to be performed at your institution.

4a: Acquire dark field for each energy and run Isocal verification. [DF update should be performed prior to AQA delivery]

Enter service mode with sufficient rights to update dark field and run Isocal verification.
PVA calibrations.
Select Imaging Technique you are using, typically Dosimetry.

It is beneficial to use a dosimetry mode because the QA for this mode may differ from that used for modes that are solely used for patient imaging.

Perform calibration for the dark field for each energy.
Export the MV dosimetry correction files from the XI node.

[This will be useful in correcting subsequent images back to a known point in time if any of the correction files have changed]

Perform IsoCal Verification
Export the results for tracking, since phantomless AQA will rely on the corrections.

4: Deliver planned fields at the linac in QA mode

Schedule at machine, open the plan in QA mode
Double check the source to image distance is correct.

Typical image coordinates at UM are (+50 cm vertical, 0 lat, 0 long)

Deliver the plan in QA mode (should take < 20 minutes)

5: Export & Upload Images, and Run the Test on https://automatedqualityassurance.org

Export the RTIMAGE files to a known location.

For example, go to Image Browser in Aria, select the last N images acquired, and export using the DICOM media file filter.

On the AQA site, click Run Procedure → Phase2
Drag and drop the RTIMAGE files into the upload box.
Click the Run button to start the analysis, which takes less than 2 minutes.
Results will be displayed automatically, showing an overview of results. Click on the tests for more details.