Integrating the Health Care Enterprise- Radiation Oncology

Flattening Filter Free- mode

IHE-RO Use Case Champions – callJune 13, 2011

Created by Mika Miettinen based on the request by MITA

Problem◦ Flattening Filter Free (FFF) has different beam characteristics

compared to standard flat beams, and requires a new definition to describe the filter configuration of the treatment head in the treatment plan

◦ Vendors need to implement the data transfer consistently to avoid potential interoperability and safety problems

◦ Potential safety risk can arise e.g. in following cases Treatment planning is configured using FFF beam data, but it is not able

to describe the FFF information to the information system, and thus FFF beam turns to a flat beam during data transfer

Information system does not understand the intended FFF beam definition from treatment planning, and thus FFF beam turns to a flat beam during data transfer

Treatment machine does not understand the intended FFF beam definition from information system or treatment planning, and thus FFF beam turns to a flat beam during data transfer

Solution◦ DICOM WG-7 has implemented a definition in

DICOM RT standard that can be used to characterize the FFF beam in DICOM RT data transfer

◦ Same data construct shall be used for other new beam modalities that require a special beam filter in treatment head.

◦ Natural extension to the Advanced RT Objects Integration Profile

Benefits Implementation of the standard, and testing in the

connecthaton will ensure safe interoperability of different radiotherapy systems that are managing treatment plan information containing FFF beams