Pro-CT phantom

USER MANUAL
PRO-PROJECT
Wolności 35 / 15 Street, 22-100 Chełm, Poland
tel.: +48 668 453 266; fax: +48 82 563 69 08

worldwide.pro-project.pl
e-mail: contact@pro-project.pl
 Pro-CT phantom

Disclaimer

CE – Marking

 This product bares CE-mark “CE” in accordance with the Council Directive
93/42/EEC about Medical Devices and fulfils essential requirements of Annex 1 of the
directive.
The product is a class I device without measuring function (MDD).

General information

 This user manual is an integral part of the product and should always be kept near the
device. Observance of the manual is a prerequisite for proper device performance and
correct operation.
 Operator safety, specific measuring accuracy and interference-free operation can be
guaranteed only if original devices and parts are used. Safe operation and proper
device performance are not guaranteed if accessories or consumables from other
manufacturers are used.
 Pro-Project cannot be held liable for damages resulting from the use of accessories or
consumables from other manufacturers
 The warranty period is 5 (five) years and begins on the day of delivery.
It is unaffected by repairs covered by the warranty regulations.
 Pro-Project considers itself responsible for safety, reliability and performance of the
device only if assembly, extension, readjustment, modification or repair is carried out
by Pro-Project or by persons/companies authorized by Pro-Project, and if device is
used in compliance with the technical documentation.
 This technical documentation is in conformity with the device specifications and all
applicable safety standards valid at printing date.
All rights are reserved for devices, techniques and names appearing in the manual

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 2
 Pro-CT phantom

Safety instructions

 Dispose packaging material according to the applicable waste disposal regulations and
keep it out of children’s reach.
 The product is a medical device. Only person with sufficient knowledge and skill may
use the device
 Before using the device, the operator must ascertain that it is in correct working order
and operation condition
 The operator must be trained in the use of the device.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 3
 Pro-CT phantom

Pro-CT phantom
The Pro-CT phantom may be used for carrying out acceptance and constancy tests of
computed tomography systems according to IEC 61223-3-5 and the AAPM (American
Association of Physicists in Medicine) guidelines.

Phantom can be used to do the following tests:

 artefacts, noise
 homogeneity
 spatial resolution (high contrast resolution)
 sensitivity (low contrast resolution)
 absorbed dose
 size dependence
 contrast scale
 slice thickness
 alignment
 linearity
 beamwidth

Geometry module:
 diameter: 230mm
 thickness: 50mm
 contains two pairs of copper wire ramps whose slope angle tangent is equal to 0.5.
Thanks to such construction, evaluation and calculation of the slice thickness is very
quick and easier than with aluminium bar ramps with a 45° slope
 middles of ramps intersect on the same plane allowing for very precise evaluation of
the slice location
 contains four PMMA rods (ø 5mm) placed in vertexes of a square (sides 100mm
long). Rods are placed on a vertical and horizontal axis of the module. This makes it
possible to precisely evaluate the correctness of shape and geometry imaging
 module density is similar to water.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 4
 Pro-CT phantom

Spatial / high contrast resolution module:

 diameter: 230mm
 thickness: 30mm
 contains 11 concentrically placed aluminium elements for spatial resolution evaluation
from 1 to 11 LP/cm contains optional steel rod (ø 0.2mm)
 made of acrylic

Low contrast module:

 diameter: 230mm
 thickness: 40mm
 contains three groups of low-contrast objects. In each group, there are rods of the same
density, 20mm in height and with a diameter ranging from 2 to 15mm. Density
difference between groups and surrounding material is exactly 1, 2 and 3%
 made of acrylic

Sensitometry / contrast module:

 diameter: 230mm
 thickness: 50mm
 contains 5 sensitometric samples shaped as rods (ø 25mm): acrylic, PTFE, polythene,
polyamide and air
 module density is similar to water.

Homogenous module:
 diameter: 230mm
 thickness: 50mm
 module density is similar to water

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 5
 Pro-CT phantom

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 6
 Pro-CT phantom

Test procedures

Artefacts (Homogenous module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. make visual evaluation of the image

Recommendations:
 there should be no significant artefacts or distortions visible.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 7
 Pro-CT phantom

Noise level (Homogenous module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. measure a standard deviation of HU in 500mm2 ROI (Region Of Interest) in centre of
module image
Note! Reference value should be evaluated by performing a series (about 5) of measurements
for completely functional CT scanner (right after installation). They should be repeated after
each modifications or repairs of the device.

Recommendations:
 standard deviation in ROI shouldn’t differ more than ± 20% from reference values.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 8
 Pro-CT phantom

Homogeneity (Homogenous module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. measure a mean value of HU in 500mm2 ROIs (Region Of Interest): in centre of the
module and in four places near its border

Note! Reference value should be evaluated by performing a series (about 5) of

measurements for completely functional CT scanner (right after installation). They
should be repeated after each modifications or repairs of the device.

Recommendations:
 difference in HU value between the centre and sides should be constant in time –
differ less than ± 4 HU from reference values.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 9
 Pro-CT phantom

HU values (Sensitometric module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. measure a mean value of HU in ROIs (Region Of Interest) placed in centre of each
sensitometric sample and body of the module

Note! Reference value should be evaluated by performing a series (about 5) of

measurements for completely functional CT scanner (right after installation). They
should be repeated after each modifications or repairs of the device.

Recommendations:
 difference in mean HU values for each sensitometric sample and module body should
be constant in time – differ less than ± 4 HU from reference values.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 10
 Pro-CT phantom

Spatial resolution (High contrast modules)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. evaluate the number of distinguishable high contrast patterns.

Note! Reference value should be evaluated by performing a series (about 5) of

measurements for completely functional CT scanner (right after installation). They
should be repeated after each modifications or repairs of the device.

Recommendations:
 number of distinguishable high contrast objects should not differ from reference
values.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 11
 Pro-CT phantom

Low contrast resolution (Low contrast module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module
4. start the scan
5. evaluate the number of distinguishable low contrast objects in each group.

Note! Reference value should be evaluated by performing a series (about 5) of

measurements for completely functional CT scanner (right after installation). They
should be repeated after each modifications or repairs of the device.

Recommendations:
 number of distinguishable low contrast objects in each group should not differ from
reference values.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 12
 Pro-CT phantom

FWHM measurement (Geometry module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module (positioning in this case
is very important)
4. start the scan

To calculate FWHM (Full Width at Half Maximum) for wire ramps maximal HU values for
background and ramps must be evaluated. To find the ramp maximum restrict the window to
1 or lowest selectable value. Move the window centre to the point when ramp image almost
disappears. This level value is maximum for the ramp. Background can be evaluated using
ROI tool – mean value of HU near ramps.
Net HU peak = maximal HU value for ramps – background
Half peak net = Net HU peak / 2
HU Value at half maximum = Half peak net + background

5. set window centre to calculated HU value and window width to 1

6. measure ramp length to get FWHM

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 13
 Pro-CT phantom

Image geometry (Geometry module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module (positioning in this case
is very important)
4. start the scan
5. measure distances between four rods in horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions.
Rods are placed in vertexes of square 10x10cm rotated 45 0 . Diameter of each rod is
5mm.

Recommendations:
 dimensions measured on the image shouldn’t differ from actual values more than
±1mm.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 14
 Pro-CT phantom

Slice thickness (Geometry module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module (positioning in this case
is very important)
4. start the scan
5. measure length of ramp images using FWHM procedure. Divide the mean value by 2
to get the slice thickness

Recommendations:
 measured slice thickness should not differ more than ±20% form actually set value.

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 15
 Pro-CT phantom

Alignment (Geometry module)

Procedure:
1. place phantom module on a stand on a CT table
2. level the phantom so the horizontal light markers go through the upper edge of the
stand – this marks the half of the module
3. scanning plane should be placed on the middle of the module (positioning in this case
is very important)
4. start the scan
5. mark main axes of the module by drawing lines passing vertically and horizontally
through middles of four rods.
6. measure distances between middles of ramp images and module axes to get actual
position of slice.
Module contains two sets of opposing ramps which middles are passing through actual
axes of the module.

Recommendations:
 measured distance should not be greater than 2mm

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 16
 Pro-CT phantom

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 17
 Pro-CT phantom

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 18
 Pro-CT phantom

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT 19
 Pro-CT phantom

HOMOGENOUS MODULE
Unit: ……………………………………......…..………………………………………………

X-Ray device: …...…………………………........……………………………………………...

Reference values

HU standard deviation in centre ROI

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean difference between centre and side ROIs

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Test results

Date

Artefacts visible
[Yeas / No]
No

Mean value in
centre ROI [HU]

Difference from
the reference [%]
≤ 20%

Mean difference
between centre and
side ROIs [HU]

Difference from
the reference [HU]
≤ 4 HU

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT
 Pro-CT phantom

SENSITOMETRIC MODULE
Unit: ……………………………………......…..………………………………………………

X-Ray device: …...…………………………........……………………………………………...

Reference values
Mean HU value in upper sample (I)
1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean HU value in lower sample (II)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean HU value in left sample (III)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean HU value in right sample (IV)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean HU value in centre sample (V)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Mean HU value in module body (I)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Test results

Date

II
Difference
from reference III
values [|HU|]
IV
≤ 4 HU
V

VI

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT
 Pro-CT phantom

LOW CONTRAST MODULE

Unit: ……………………………………......…..………………………………………………

X-Ray device: …...…………………………........……………………………………………...

Reference values

Number of low contrast objects (group I)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Number of low contrast objects (group II)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Number of low contrast objects (group III)

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Test results

Date

Number of
low contrast
objects
II
≥ reference
value

III

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT
 Pro-CT phantom

SPATIAL RESOLUTION MODULE

Unit: ……………………………………......…..………………………………………………

X-Ray device: …...…………………………........……………………………………………...

Reference values

Number of distinguishable high contrast patterns

1 2 3 4 5 Mean

Test results

Date

Number of high
contrast patterns

≥ reference value

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT
 Pro-CT phantom

GEOMETRY MODULE
Unit: ……………………………………......…..………………………………………………

X-Ray device: …...…………………………........……………………………………………...

Test results

Date

I
Distance
between II
rods [mm]

≤ 101mm III
≥ 99mm
IV

Rod I
diameter
[mm] II

III
≤ 6mm
≥ 4mm IV

Mean ramp length (D)

[mm]

Mean ramp thickness

(S) [mm]

Slice thickness
(D - S) * 0,5

Difference between
set-up and measured
value [%]
≤ 20%

Mean distance of ramp

middles from module
axes (Sd) [mm]
≤ ±2mm

Copyright: PRO-PROJECT