Acqplan

The ACQPLAN is an integrated 3-D RTP and simulation system embedded in a volumetric image processing computer environment. AcQPlan is intended to be used to plan radiation therapy treatments on linear accelerators and other similar teletherapy devices with x-ray beams of energies from 4 to 50 MV, cobalt-60, and electron beams with energies from 4 to 50 MeV of the entire human anatomy. It allows the treatment planner to employ such techniques as asymmetrically collimated fields, irregular fields, multi-leaf collimators, non-coplanar fields, bolus, fixed wedges, and Varian's enhanced dynamic wedges. It allows the treatment planner to take heterogeneities into account for photon beams using two versions of the Batho method or the Equivalent TAR (ETAR) method, and it uses a generalized Gaussian pencil beam model for electron beams. Using AcQPlan, the treatment planner can simultaneously visualize target and normal tissues and the computed 3-D dose distributions in great detail, on a real-time basis. The treatment planner develops treatment plans in a coordinate system accurately fixed to set-up marks on the patient, using CT and multi-modality information made possible by volumetric 3-D image processing. Tools for managing competing and complementary plans are provided. Tools, based on DVH plots, are provided for comparing competing plans. High quality DRRs and DCRs (digitally composited radiographs), with BEV and beam graphics superimposed, are generated to replace conventional simulator films. This device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient and equipment supports, components and accessories. This device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient and equipment supports, components and accessories.