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myQA StarTrack3 - Quick Start Guide

  • Updated

This chapter provides short general workflows to get the devices setup and SW started quickly.

 

Setup the Device

  • Power on the device.
    A 5 minute warm-up time is needed before performing clinical measurement.
  • You can pre-irradiate during warm-up. Recommended pre-irradiation conditions:
    • SDD 100 cm
    • Field size 30 cm × 30 cm
    • 500 MU
    • It is recommended to use the same energy as the planned measurement (The myQA StarTrack3 supports beam qualities of 4-25 MV)

  • Place the StarTrack3 on the treatment couch and align to the isocenter using the lasers.

    Please ensure that the device electronics (1) are facing away from the LINAC gun, and are not within the irradiated area.

 

Install the myQA StarTrack3 SW

Detailed installation instructions can be found in the myQA StarTrack3 Installation Guide.

  • Run the MSSQL application provided in the Installation file.

    If a MSSQL 2022 Server is already installed on your system, just add an instance for myQA ECOsystem
    and myQA StarTrack3.

  • Right-click the IBA Ecosystem application > Run as administrator.
  • The IBA Ecosystem Setup Wizard opens. Follow the instructions until the installation is complete.

  • Click Finish. The myQA ECOSystem Configuration Manger should open automatically.

  • In the myQA ECOSystem Configuration Manger the user can:

    • Check the status of the databases, directory configurations, and server configuration.
    • Manage the Service (start, stop, restart, refresh)
    • Configure the Database connection and Hosting Configuration
    • Reset the configuration to system defaults

    Note: Databases are created automatically if entered in the Configuration Manager with the correct Server instance.

  • Right-click myQA StarTrack3 application > Run as administrator.
  • The myQA StarTrack3 Setup Wizard opens. Follow the instructions until the installation is complete.
  • Click Finish. The myQA StarTrack3 Configuration Manger should open automatically.

  • In the myQA StarTrack3 Configuration Manger the user can:

    • Check the status of the databases, server configuration, and Ecosystem URL.
    • Manage the Service (start, stop, restart, refresh)
    • Configure the Database connection, Ecosystem Configuration, and Hosting Configuration
    • Reset the configuration to system defaults

    Note: Databases are created automatically if entered in the Configuration Manager with the correct Server instance.

  • Start the services for ECOsystem and myQA StarTrack3. Check the Manage service tab to ensure myQA ECOSystem is running.

 

myQA StarTrack3 Web App Settings

  • Open a browser and navigate to the URL provided in the myQA StarTrack3 Configuration Manger
    Hosting Configuration. The myQA StarTrack3 Web App login page will load.
  • If logging in for the first time, enter the provided username (admin) and password (IBAweb23!). Click Login.

  • Click Settings in the Navigation panel to access:

    • Users and Roles
    • Clinic locations
    • Machines, Devices, and Phantoms
    • Default Protocols and General Settings

    Settings page tabs

    Note: Depending on the user role permissions, some settings will not be available (i.e., the tabs are not visible on the settings page) to the current user (see Section 6.2).

 

Setup Users and Roles

New User or Role

  • On the Users and Roles pages, click the + User / + Rolebutton.

  • In the Create user / Add role dialog, enter the necessary information.

    Note: The username must be unique. This applies to current and deleted users.

  • Click Save.

    Edit User or Role

  • Click the Edit button . The Edit dialog opens.
  • Update the user or role information.

  • Click Save.

    Delete User or Role

  • Click the Delete button of a user or role and then click Delete in the dialog to confirm the action.

 

Setup a Location, Machine, or Device

New Location / Machine / Device

  • On the New Location / Machine / Device pages, click the + Location / + Machine / + Device button.
  • In the Add Location / Machine / Device dialog, enter the necessary information.

  • Click Save.

    Edit Location / Machine / Device

  • For Locations and Devices, click the Edit button. The Edit dialog opens.
    For Machines, select a Machine from the list and edit the properties that appear to the right.
  • Update the information.

  • Click Save.

    Deactivate / Activate a Machine / Device

  • Open the Machines / Devices menu for an active Machine / Device and select Deactivate.
    Before activating a device, ensure that the deactivated devices are shown.
  • Click on the menu above the list of Machines / Devices and select Show inactive devices.

  • Open the Machines / Devices menu for a deactivated Machine / Device and select Activate.

    Duplicate a Machine

  • Open the Machines menu for a Machine and select Duplicate.

  • In the Duplicate machine dialog, enter the new name of the machine. Click Save to create a duplicate
    of the machine.

    Delete Location / Machine / Device

  • Click the Delete button of a user or role and then click Delete in the dialog to confirm the action.
    For Machines select Delete from the Machines menu  

 

Add an Output Calibration

  • To create an Output Calibration, open the Device page.
  • Select a device and click the Output calibration button . The Output Calibration
    dialog opens.
  • Connect the detector and click Continue
  • Set the parameters, including BEAM SETUP, PHANTOM SETUP, and kTp CORRECTION. Click Continue.
  • Follow the Measure Output Calibration instructions:
  • Click the Start measuring button .
  • The new output calibration can be marked as Active to set it as the active output calibration for
    measurements with the device.
    • The newly measured calibration is set Active by default.
    • It is specific to the Device / Machine / Energy combination, not just Device. It cannot be used for
      different machines and energies.
    • Only one Calibration at a time can be active for a given Device / Machine / Energy combination.
    • For matched Machines, the Output Calibration can be Duplicated to a new machine with the same
      energy of the original one.
  • Click the Save Output Calibration button .
  • All output calibrations for the device are listed in the Output Calibration section.
     

Perform a Measurement with a myQA StarTrack3

  • Before starting measurements, ensure that the myQA StarTrack3 device has been turned on and warmed up.

  • In the Device Selection section, click the Connect button for the device.

    Check the Show offline devices to include previously saved offline devices.

    The user can connect any device reachable in the network. Typically these devices are shown as Online and can be connected with a click. However, they can be hidden in a complex network.

    In this case:

    • If they have been already added, the user can show them with Show offline devices and try to connect.
    • If they have been not added yet, than their IP address/host name can be typed manually (Manual connection).
  • Select the Background measurement type:
    • Automated - Collects the background automatically when the device is connected and can be refreshed anytime by the user.
    • Manual - The Background measurement will be collected when the Start button is clicked.
    • None - Background measurements will not be collected.

  • Select the Measurement Mode type:

    • Beam triggered - The user must define (Start / Stop) the time interval during which the beam is expected. Within this period, acquisition is automatically performed when the signal of pixels in the central area exceeds the selected threshold.
    • Manual - Measurements will be collected when the Start / Stop button is clicked.
    • Fixed time - Measurement will be collected over a predefined period of time.

    Click the Settings icon to set the specifics for the Measurement type selected.

  • Check the kTp box to apply the kTp Correction. This is automatically applied by the myQA StarTrack3
    detector.

  • If machine and energy are selected, and if an active Output Calibration exists for the device and for the selected machine and energy, it is automatically applied.

    Please note, even if an Output Calibration is applied to Measurements with the same Device / Machine / Energy combination, the Calibration procedure only generates accurate results only if the measurement is also taken with the same SDD and depth of the Output Calibration.

  • Turn on the beam before starting the measurement.
  • Click Start to begin the Measurement. Click Stop to end measurement acquisition.

 

Analyze the Measurement

  • Once a measurement is complete, it is added to the list of Corrected Measurements on the left side of
    the main display of the Measure page.
  • Click on a measurement to display its details to the right.
  • Click on the Measurement menu to:
    • Select the measurement for comparison
    • Set the measurement as a reference
    • Delete the measurement
    • Export as OPG or CSV
    • Flip & compare: the measurement is automatically compared with a version of itself that has been flipped horizontally (180°). With flipping both data coordinates are reversed (x->-x, y->-y)

  • Detailed measurement information is displayed to the right of the main display.

    Available information includes general information, beam parameters, calibrations & corrections, device
    setup, phantom setup, and additional parameters.

    Note: If a measurement has been set as a reference, the information is not editable.

  • The Measure workspace supports the analysis of a single measurement or the pairwise comparison
    between two measurements. The analysis consists of:
    • PROFILES tab: Here the user can see two 1D plots of profiles (either inline & crossline or diagonals).
      The profiles of the selected measurement and the comparison (if selected) are superimposed in the
      same plot.
    • 2D CHART tab: A 2D false color map of either the selected or comparison measurements is
      displayed.
    • ENERGY tab: Here the user can see the Energy Validation Results and Raw Data (relative dose) of
      the selected measurement. The energy tab is only visible for the measurement if:
      • An Energy plate (Photons or Electrons) is set as phantom
      • The Energy is specified
      • The Energy type (Photons / Electrons) is consistent with the selected plate
    • Numerical Analysis Table: Analysis performed for all four profiles directions (inline, crossline and
      diagonals).
  • General analysis options:
    • Signal scaling: relative, counts or dose (if the calibration is available)
    • Projection: measurement plane or isocenter plane (if SDD and SAD are defined). For measurements taken in the SW, SAD is defined as long as the machine is defined.

    • High resolution mode: (off axis ion chambers close to main axes are moved to the axes to artificially improve resolution) The use of high-resolution mode is beneficial for all symmetric fields. It generates artifacts only if the field edge lays along one main axis.

      High Resolution mode is the default unless changed by user. The change persists for subsequent
      logins.

 

Run QA Tests

  • Click the Create Test button .
  • Select the test type: Energy validation, Light/radiation field coincidence, Output constancy, Profile constancy
  • Specify test conditions based on the type of test selected.
  • Provide a measurement to evaluate Measured values of parameters:

    • Option 1: acquire a measurement 

      Optional (only for Output constancy): acquire multiple measurements and take their average.

    • Option 2: load an existing measurement from database (this measurement shall fit all test settings).

  • Review test results.

    For every parameter, the expected value is compared to the reference, and, in view of tolerances, a
    pass / warning / fail result is generated.

  • Add a Test Note (optional)
  • Save the test by clicking the Complete Test button.

  • Optional: move to Measure measure workspace and automatically select the measurement and the reference (if applicable) so that the user can compare them in 1D plots.

    If the test is Profile constancy, the test protocol is automatically set in measure workspace too.
     

Generate a QA Test Report

To Generate a QA Test Report:

  • Review test execution history
  • Select the tests to be included in the report. Click the Generate Report button .
  • Tests are ordered in the report accordingly:
    • Machine (alphabetical)
    • Test type (output, profiles, light/radiation, energy)
    • Beam setup (gantry angle, field size, collimator angle)
  • Beside QA tests definition and results, the report can include the following items (if specified in General
    settings):
    • Institution logo
    • Information (e.g., name and address)
    • Test execution notes
  • Print the report using browser functions (which typically allows printing on paper or saving a PDF in a selectable location).