Investigating the robustness of the AlignRT InBore™ co-calibration process and determining the overall tracking errors

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the overall tracking errors inherent to the co-calibration procedure of AlignRT InBore™’s (Vision RT Ltd., London, UK) ceiling-mounted and ring-mounted cameras. MethodsExtrinsic calibration errors related to the mismatch between ceiling and InBore cameras’ isocentres and treatment isocentre were determined using MV images and the SRS package and compared to traditional plate-based error. Next, using a realistic anthropomorphic female phantom, intrinsic calibration errors were determined while varying source-skin distance (80 to 100 cm), breast board inclination (0° to 12.5°), room lighting conditions (0 to 258 lx), skin colour (dark, white and natural skin colour), and pod occlusion. ResultsMV images of the cube proved plate-based calibration to suffer from large errors especially in the vertical direction (up to 2 mm). Intrinsic calibration errors were considerably lower. Indeed, RTD values of ceiling and InBore cameras showed little variability with isocentre depth (within 1.0 mm/0.4°), surface orientation and breast board inclination (within 0.7 mm/0.3°), changing lighting conditions (within 0.1 mm/0.2°), skin colour/tone (within 0.3 mm/0.3°) and camera pod occlusion (within 0.3 mm/0.2°). ConclusionThe use of MV-images proved critical to maintain co-calibrating errors of ceiling and InBore cameras to Halcyon’s treatment isocentre below 1 mm.