MEETS GUIDELINES IN AAPM REPORT #1 “PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE OF CT SCANNERS”
The CIRS Model 610 AAPM CT Performance Phantom offers the user a single test object that measures ten distinct CT performance parameters. The phantom design is based on the guidelines presented in Report #1 of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Force on CT Scanner Phantoms. The goals of report #1 were to “(1) define ‘performance’ of a CT scanner and (2) describe methods of performance testing through utilization of particular phantoms.”
A CT number linearity insert, high contrast resolution insert and slice width insert are housed in an 8.5 “ diameter PMMA water tank with quick disconnect valves for ease of filling and draining between use. Also included is a 0.25” bone equivalent ring that can be fit over the inserts to evaluate the effects of beam hardening.
A contrast test object is adhered to the bottom of the tank that includes two rows of cavities from 1 to 0.125” diameter. The cavities can be filled with various solutions for contrast evaluation. An aluminum alignment insert is incorporated in the lid of the tank and can be interchanged with a polystyrene TLD insert for dose measurements. A user’s manual, holding cradle, filling tubes and other accessories are included.
Measurement Capability
- Noise
- Sensitivity / Detectability
- Mechanical Alignment
- Beam Hardening
- Slice Thickness
- Size Independence
- Radiation Dose
- Spatial Uniformity
- HU Linearity
- Spatial Resolution and line spread function
