DOSE CALC, MODEL VS. 1.02
Device Facts
| Record ID | K990833 |
|---|---|
| Device Name | DOSE CALC, MODEL VS. 1.02 |
| Applicant | Integrity Medical Software, Inc. |
| Product Code | IYE · Radiology |
| Decision Date | Jun 8, 1999 |
| Decision | SESE |
| Submission Type | Traditional |
| Regulation | 21 CFR 892.5050 |
| Device Class | Class 2 |
| Attributes | Software as a Medical Device |
Indications for Use
DoseCalc is a program utilized in a radiation therapy department for the determination of monitor units. The Monitor Unit is a quantity used by a treatment machine for determining the length of time that it should remain on in order to deliver a prescribed amount of radiation to a point. Most of the time, a radiation treatment planning system is used to decine the location and dose distribution of the radiation. Radiation therapy planning systems typically calculate the monitor units needed to deliver the desired amount of reduction to a point of reference and this produce the desired dose distribution within the patient. On occasion, a hand calculation will be performed in order to determine the number of monitor wuits needed to deliver the prescribed anount of radiation. DoseCalc is a program which allows the user to input data by hand through the use of the mouse or keyboard or clectronically from the primary radiation therapy planning system. From this data, it will then determine the number of monitor units needed to be given to a patient. The process of calculating the monitor units involves DoseCalc automatically looking up the data parameters from previously inputed data and then calculating the monitor units from these values. This process greatly increases the speed at which a calculation can be performed and also eliminates many errors that occur from manually looking up the data. DoseCalc's monitor unit calculation can then be used to validate the monitor units previously determined by hand or by the primary radiation therapy planning system. It is not the intention of DoseCalc to reglace the calculation performed by the primary radiation therapy planning computer but to validate its calculation as a means of quality assurance. The practice of performing a secondary check is recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 40 as part of good quality assurance program. This practice is an important aspect in providing quality patient care. DoseCalc is not only being submitted to perform this secondary function but to also be used as the primary means of calculating monitor units in situations where the physician does not order the use of a radiation therapy treatment plan. For this situation, it is important to accurately determine the monitor units needed for a patient streatment. DoseCalc provides this operation. It has many built in checks that will check for many common crrors that occur when calculating monitor unlis as well as checking that the inputted parameters are within predcfined limits for the treatment machine. The use of DoseCalc in this manner provides a means for accurately determining the monitor units. A plysicist can then visually examine the inputted data for accuracy and verify the computed parameters to be sure that they are correct. DoseCalc also allows for the transfer of the treatment planning data from the primary radiation therapy planning computer to DoseCalc and then to the facility's Verify and Record system. This will reduce the number of errors that occur as a result of manually inputting this data. This feature merely transfers information from one system to another without performing any calculations.
Device Story
DoseCalc is a PC-based software program for radiation therapy departments; operated by medical physicists. Inputs include manual data entry (mouse/keyboard) or electronic data import from primary radiation therapy planning systems. Device transforms inputs by automatically looking up parameters from pre-inputted tables to calculate monitor units for photon beams. Outputs include calculated monitor units; data can be exported to facility Verify and Record systems. Used for secondary validation of primary treatment planning system calculations or as a primary calculation tool when no formal plan exists. Built-in checks verify input parameters against predefined machine limits. Benefits include reduced manual calculation errors, improved speed, and adherence to AAPM Task Group 40 quality assurance recommendations.
Clinical Evidence
Bench testing only. Performance validated through numerous monitor unit calculations compared against hand calculations. Beta site testing conducted at East Texas Medical Center; calculations compared against ADAC's Pinnacle3 APEX (K951581) and manual hand calculations. No clinical patient data reported.
Technological Characteristics
PC-based software operating in Windows environment. User interaction via mouse and keyboard. Performs monitor unit calculations using lookup tables for photon beams. Includes data import/export functionality for Verify and Record systems. No hardware control. Software-based validation and calculation logic.
Indications for Use
Indicated for use in radiation therapy departments to determine monitor units for treatment machines. Used by medical physicists to validate monitor unit calculations from primary radiation therapy planning systems or as a primary calculation method when no formal treatment plan is ordered.
Regulatory Classification
Identification
A medical charged-particle radiation therapy system is a device that produces by acceleration high energy charged particles (e.g., electrons and protons) intended for use in radiation therapy. This generic type of device may include signal analysis and display equipment, patient and equipment supports, treatment planning computer programs, component parts, and accessories.
Predicate Devices
- muCheck - Monitor Unit Validation Program (K980904)
Reference Devices
- ADAC's Pinnacle3 APEX (K951581)