18. Feedback on the implementation of an automatic quality tests analysis software for nuclear medicine devices

Abstract

Introduction Nuclear medicine devices manufacturers provide quality tests analysis software which only partially meet medical physicists’ needs. In fact, some of the references describing quality tests are specific to one country [1] , [2] , [3] , and therefore are not implemented on widely distributed devices. Angers Academic hospital decided to purchase a new fully configurable software to allow medical physicists analysing all the tests, whether they are prescribed by regulations or based on international recommendations. This work presents our feedback on the implementation of this software. Methods Qualimagiq® software (Qualiformed, France) was acquired as a part of a partnership contract which lead to upgrade it in order it could process images of our proper phantoms acquired on hybrid gamma-cameras and PET systems. For each type of test procedure and on each device, Qualimagiq® settings requires 3 steps: tuning of the required images for the test, tuning of the analysis methods and parameters specified in the reference according to the test performed, tuning of the results tolerances. The different analysis methods and parameters of Qualimagiq® were tested and their results were compared to those calculated by ImageJ or manufacturers tools. Tolerances were based on mean value calculated on analysis of 3 acquisitions. Results Qualimagiq® upgrade specifications, corresponding parameters tuning and subsequent tests needed two 4-months students work. The software is now currently used to perform quality tests analysis of gamma-cameras (intrinsic uniformity, count rate between detectors, multiple energy windows spatial positioning, center of rotation, whole-body uniformity, spatial linearity, planar and tomographic spatial resolution, tomographic image quality), PET scanners (spatial resolution, SUV check, PET-CT registration, image quality) and combined CT scanners (water Hounsfield Units, noise and uniformity). Conclusion The use of a fully configurable software allows medical physicists to have a better command of devices performances analysis compared with the use of manufacturers analysis solutions.