By Vvon Engineering Team | Published | Updated
Select dosimetry film, software and immobilisation equipment from a medical-physics brief, with validated measurements, documented interfaces and exact MR safety status.
Medical equipment RFQ checklist (TXT)
Radiotherapy relies on a commissioned and maintained treatment system, imaging and verification processes, and a medical-physics quality-assurance programme. Film, analysis software and immobilisation equipment each have a defined role; their procurement should follow the department’s approved methods and clinical scope.
Separate the purpose of each measurement before estimating equipment and consumables. The responsible medical physicist defines methods, tolerances, frequency and action levels within the department’s programme.
A film grade may support more than one application when its range and validated performance are suitable. Estimate quantities by the planned measurements, expected activity, calibration needs and wastage, and identify uncertainty in the demand forecast instead of assuming every annual quantity is known in advance.
Radiochromic film changes its optical response following irradiation without wet chemical development. It can support spatially resolved measurements when combined with an appropriate reading and analysis method. Its dose response, energy applicability, handling and storage requirements must be checked for the selected grade.
Document the scanner and reading configuration within a validated measurement procedure. Orientation, position, scanning settings and response corrections can affect results; a consistent workflow and an uncertainty assessment are part of the measurement.
Ashland differentiates Gafchromic grades by intended application and recommended operating range. Select the grade using the expected dose, radiation quality and validated measurement method rather than treating a brand name or nominal maximum as proof of suitability.
| Film | Manufacturer application and purchasing check |
|---|---|
| EBT3 | Ashland lists machine and patient QA applications. Confirm the current grade, format, recommended range and the department’s validated method. |
| EBT-XD | Intended for extended-dose applications, including suitable stereotactic QA workflows; verify range and uncertainty for the planned measurement. |
| RTQA2 | Listed for machine QA. Check the exact product format and whether its intended use fits the required quantitative or geometric assessment. |
| MD-V3 | Higher-dose measurement of high-energy photons; request current range, energy and handling documentation. |
| HD-V2 | High-dose film with a different construction. Confirm application, radiation quality and handling requirements rather than substituting it for another grade. |
Retain lot identifiers and follow the film’s specified storage and handling conditions. The physicist should define calibration and lot-change verification within the measurement procedure; a calibration from one batch should not be transferred to another without justified validation.
Select immobilisation with the radiation oncology, therapy and medical-physics teams for the intended imaging and treatment workflow. Reproducibility, patient tolerance, accessory compatibility and setup verification all matter; equipment alone does not ensure accurate delivery or a particular clinical outcome.
Thermoplastic masks are supplied in different frames, shapes and materials for specified positioning systems. Record the exact mask, baseplate, headrest and locking interface required by the approved clinical workflow. Similar family names do not prove interchangeability, and preparation must follow the specific manufacturer instructions.
Have the clinical team compare the available thickness, perforation and open-face options using current manufacturer evidence and a controlled evaluation. Do not infer immobilisation accuracy or patient tolerance from thickness alone. Include fitting equipment, consumables and staff familiarisation in the scope.
Check baseplate dimensions, allowed loads, accessory positions and indexing against both simulation and treatment couches. Request the exact part numbers and interface drawings rather than assuming a plate is suitable for adults, children or every couch because of its size.
Verify the complete mask, baseplate, headrest and indexing arrangement before purchase. Acceptance should include the approved imaging and treatment workflow under qualified supervision, not a first check with a patient on the couch.
For vacuum cushions, check intended use, materials, valves, pump compatibility, indexing, cleaning and maintenance. MR suitability requires the exact product’s documented MR status and conditions; it cannot be inferred from appearance or from another version in the range.
For stereotactic body or breast workflows, the clinical team should define the positioning and any motion-management method. Compare the corresponding boards, supports, restraints and interfaces as an approved system. Abdominal compression, prone positioning or a particular accessory kit is not mandatory for every patient or technique.
Use the exact device’s MR Safe or MR Conditional labelling and manufacturer instructions, reviewed by the MR safety team for the planned system and conditions. Non-ferrous material alone does not establish MR safety: heating, induced forces and other hazards still require assessment. Meicen offers designated MR positioning products, but that does not make every accessory or assembled configuration automatically acceptable.
The following checks help identify preventable gaps before procurement and use:
Share your application, equipment requirements and procurement timeline. Our engineers can help clarify the configuration and scope for your enquiry.