7TQA

7T QA procedure

The QA procedure contains several steps. Make sure there is no patch activated while doing them.

1) MR signal stability and RF transmit test

2) EPI stability

3) SPT batches

MR signal stability and RF transmit test

The goal of the test is to show stable performance using the Dual 1H TR interface box with the Nova volume TR coil and the receive interface boxes with the Nova 32 channel array insert. Or in case of MTX8 the Nova TX8 Rx32 coil. If the results are stable the system can be used for sensitive scanning like fMRI.

Duration:

Classic: 12 minutes including 1-time repositioning (excluding building setup)

MTX8: 25 minutes including 1-time repositioning (excluding building setup)

Preparations

Before starting make sure that:

• The system is fully calibrated
• No patch is loaded
• Application software isn't running

Classic: Build the setup using the next coils and interface boxes. Use the wooden phantom holder with the blue 10cm sphere to position the phantom. Move the setup to iso center.

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MTX8: Build the setup using the Nova TX8RX32 coil. Use the wooden phantom holder with the blue 10 cm sphere to position the phantom. Move the setup to iso center.

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How to run:

All batches mentioned here are located in g:\Toolbox_TestPlatform. Execution starts by checking if the setup is in the iso center. Run the following batch to check the phantom position:

• Classic: start_01_mtx2_check phantom_position.bat
• MTX8: start_11_mtx8_check phantom_position.bat

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Figure 1

See Figure 1 for a screenshot of how the profiles look like. If the setup is within 1 cm of the iso center, it's sufficient to proceed with the stability and transmit test. Execution of the stability test and transmit test is done by running the following batches:

• Classic: start_02_mtx2_MR_signal_stability_quick.bat & start_03_mtx2_transmit_signal.bat
• MTX8: start_12_mtx2_MR_signal_stability_quick.bat & start_13_mtx2_transmit_signal.bat

Possible issues: patch not removed. Remove patch and do a start_stop_procs.pl stop & start

Output:

Analysis is done visually by comparing the results with the default sets.

• The expected results of the stability and transmit test for classic are depicted in Appendix 2
• The expected results of the stability and transmit test for MTX8 are depicted in Appendix 4

For the MR signal stability test compare the tabs in the test viewer (ScopeViewer) with the appendixes mentioned.

What if it indicates problems:

Report to Philips.

EPI stability

Duration:

Preparations

How to run:

Output:

What if it indicates problems:

SPT batches

There are two SPT batches for the MTX8 that tell you something about technical SNR (not related to clinical SNR/IQ). You can perform them separately.

Duration: 15 minutes

Preparations

How to run:

• System --> SPT --> Batch Files --> IQT --> NOVA --> novahead & novaheadd
• Right-click --> Run batch

Output:

After the IQT scan finishes, a window pops up, ignore this window and then:

• Image view --> right click scan name (novahead or novaheadd) --> generate reports
• This generates an HTML-file with values for the tested parameters. If any values are marked in red, it means that the scanner is out-of-spec.

What if the IQT indicates problems:

Report to Philips.