User:Rsteinh/Sandbox

Gammex was the first company to introduce alignment lasers into radiation oncology treatment rooms in hospitals. Lasers were introduced in this application in 1969. Precision alignment is now used in association with Computed Tomography. Gammex is also produces phantoms used for radiation quality control and diagnostic ultrasound quality control. Its primary quality control product, the ACR CT 464 phantom, is the basis of the American College of Radiology (ACR) quality control program for CT scanners, which is the only such nationally recognized program in the United States 1. Its 156 Mammographic Accreditation Phantom is one of the phantoms that must be used in an accredited quality control program for film based mammography systems 2.

History

In 1969 the company introduced the first laser alignment device for use in medical imaging applications. The acquisition of Radiation Measurements Incorporated (RMI) allowed the company to introduce tissue mimicking materials, such as Solid Water, to the medical physicists community to permit the development of uniform quality control testing protocols. In 1995 the company introduced a computer controlled multi-laser product, CT Sim, which integrated laser guided alignment coordinates directly into the patient treatment planning guides that are a routine part of radiation treatment 3. In 1991, the company introduced its mammography phantom which became the standard used by the ACR for its mammography quality control program. For facilities to satisfy the requirements of the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA), they are required to use an approved quality control phantom in their quality control testing program. In 2001, the company introduced a quality control phantom for CT scanners which became recommended in the ACR CT accreditation program. In 2007 the company introduced the first quality control phantom developed specifically for Computed Radiology or Digital Radiology (CR/DR)imaging 4. The phantom is used in neonate testing applications where radiation dose is critical.

[edit] References 1.^ American College of Radiology (ACR)CT Accreditation Program Requirements 2.^ American College of Radiology (ACR) Mammography Accreditation Program Requirements 3.^ K. Smans, L. Struelens, M. Smet, H. Bosmans and F. Vanhavers, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, Ap 2010; 139: 281-286 4.^ S.R. Chandari, O. L. Pechenaya, S.M. Goddu, S. Mutec, D. Rangaraj, J. Bradley and D. Low, Phys Med Biol, Apr 21, 2009; 54(8): 2315-2322 5.^ C. Houser, A.O. Nawaz, J. Galvin and Y Xiao, Med Phys, June 2006; 33(6): 2285 - 2286 [edit] External links gammex.com