Getting started

A practical person should know everything about the linac. So read all the documentation that you have! Then install Pylinac, Orthanc and QAserver. And then start doing experiments. To be able to send images to Orthanc for QAserver to read them and pass them to Pylinac, you first have to set the appropriate dicom export filters in XVI and iView.

One of the things that you will also need is Elekta’s iCOM CAT. This program comes with your linac, you can find it on the Sequencer. We will use this program to upload some quick beams into Service.

Another thing that you will need are sheets of paper and a thin pencil.

Configuring iView and XVI workstations

Configure both imaging workstations to be able to export images to Orthanc. You do this by modifying sri.ini and mergecom.app.

Warning

Before you edit sri.ini and mergecom.app make a safety copy of both files! If you do something wrong, your workstation may not work anymore.

sri.ini contains the list of export filters, and mergecom.app defines further details for each export filter. See QAserver configuration for more details (more accurately, Orthanc configuration). Add an additional export filter for Orthanc to mergecom.app:

[QAserver]
        PORT_NUMBER     = 104
        HOST_NAME       = Put Orthanc IP here
        SERVICE_LIST    = Storage_Only_Service_List

Put in the port number of the Orthanc server, usually 104, but check the configuration of Orthanc to be sure. And type in the IP address of the orthanc server where it says HOST_NAME.

Add this export filter to sri.ini:

[Dicom]
NumberOfExportServers=4
...
ExportServer3=MOSAIQ,IMPAC_DCM_SCP
ExportServer4=QAserver,QAserver
...

Just define a new export filter, in my case ExportServer4, and increase NumberOfExportServers by 1, if neccessary.

These two files have a similar structure on both iView and XVI. Once you are done, restart the application, acquire an image, and try to send it to Orthanc. If you experience problems, it maybe that the NSS computer is blocking the transport. In this case talk to your service engineer.

Using iCom CAT to send plans to Service

Find the iCOM CAT program on your Scheduler. It is normally installed in the “Program Files” directory under “Elekta”. If you cannot find it, have somebody install it on the Scheduler. Make sure Mosaiq is not running. The linac should be in Clinical mode with Receive External Prescription on. Open iCOM CAT and input the necessary settings. Type in the IP address of your linac. And Linac ID, which is the serial number of the linac (last four digits). iCOM CAT should then connect with the linac.

_images/icom.png

We will use iCOM CAT to send a couple of beams to service, two for the Winston-Lutz test, and one for Picket fence test. There is a zip archive of the beams at: Example beams

Copy the beams to the Scheduler. Then:

  • Open the beam in iCOM CAT.

  • Change the Machine value to match the serial number of your linac (last four digits).

  • Click Send Field.

  • Once the beam has loaded on Integrity, click Copy to Service. Or you could run the beam in Clinical mode by clicking Confirm Settings in iCOM CAT.