Lifeline Software

Question: Can I use RadCalc® remotely / from my home office?

Answer: 

Yes.

The following steps are in the RadCalc Help manual, however we’ve included them here for your convenience:

A client installation can take place on another computer by browsing to the ‘setup’ folder located in the RadCalc installation folder on the server. During this installation, the Client Install option must be chosen from within the Upgrade/Installation Preference step of the Install program. This type of installation will first prompt the user to locate where the Standard Install remote physics and patient data are located. This path will be pre-populated with the path from the server install but it may need to be corrected by entering a UNC path or drive letter. Secondly, this installation will require the user to specify the folder where the executable and its supporting files will reside. After this installation is complete, a Windows shortcut will be created such that it has a command line option (i.e. /home) indicating where patient and physics data reside. The radcalc.ini file will be in this remote location and will be read by RadCalc during startup. The Windows shortcut that is created during this Client install process will have a “Target” line that reads something like the following:

C:\RadCalc\RadCalc.exe /home “\\server_name\apps\RadCalc”

In order to view the properties of the Windows shortcut, simply perform a right mouse click on the shortcut and choose Properties from the resulting menu. The “/home” command line argument tells RadCalc where to find the radcalc.ini file as well as the patient and physics data.

Also, as a last resort, you could do an actual installation of RadCalc on the PC, using your sites license key information and restore your physics data to it. This would only run locally on each laptop. Since the electronic signatures and other clinical install preferences need to be the same, I would also recommend placing a copy of the users.dat and prefs.ini files from the clinical server install. The users.dat file is in the main RadCalc directory and the prefs.ini file is in the RadCalc\Inst1 directory. This way patient calculations can be done locally on the PC and then periodically the user could archive the patients they have done and restore them to the server install.

If you need additional assistance with any of these options please contact our Technical Support Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by dialing 1-866-592-1343 option #2 (International 1-903-207-4298 option #2). We are available Monday - Friday from 7AM-5PM Central Time  

Question: Does RadCalc® have FDA 510(k) clearance to sell in the U.S.?

Answer: 

Yes.

LifeLine Software, Inc. is committed to providing safe and effective QA software. We pledge to continue to follow FDA guidelines required for Class II medical devices such as RadCalc®, as well as follow industry good manufacturing practices that help ensure the safety of our products and help minimize risk to our clients and the patients they serve.  

Click here to see LifeLine Software's regulatory compliance documentation.

Question: What is next for RadCalc®?

Answer:

On January 27, 2020 Version 7.1.2.0 includes 3D Dose Volume Modules.

Our latest RadCalc version 7.1.2.0 provides purchasable licensed modules employing Monte Carlo and Collapsed Cone Convolution Superposition algorithms that provide fast, easy, and accurate 3D Dose Volume verification for most commonly used treatment planning systems. For details, please review our press release and contact our sales team at your convenience.

TomoTherapy® verification module in version 6.3.5.0 and 6.4.2.0 with Gamma Knife Module:

Please see PDF brochures available under the RadCalc icon on this website:

https://lifelinesoftware.com/index.php/radcalc/radcalc-brochures

Coming Next:

Future releases will add more 3D Dose Volume supported RT items currently in development. Please contact our sales team for more details.

Question: For 3D Dose Volume Calculations, do I need special computer hardware?

Answer: 

We recommend two types of Dose Engine computers to perform 3D Collapsed Cone and Monte Carlo calculations. Please request our spec sheet or this webpage for a GPU and CPU Dose Engine computers from our sales team. These are not sold by LSI or LAP but can be bought “off the shelf”.

RadCalc 3D EPID

In 2020, our plans are to incorporate all of Dosimetry Check’s 3D EPID dose calculation functionality into the current RadCalc fully automated platform. This expanded QA platform will provide all of RadCalc’s core dose verification and 3D Dose Volume functionality while adding support for conventional linac EPID and TomoTherapy® detector based patient Pre-treatment and Exit-Transit dosimetry utilizing a collapsed cone convolution superposition algorithm.

The combined QA Software Package will include the first fully automated Pre-Treatment and 3D In-Vivo Exit dose verification software and provides a complete suite of 3D Dose Volume verification analysis tools. The 3D EPID functions are currently available for sale in the form of Dosimetry Check. Contact our sales department for more information about purchasing Dosimetry Check software from LifeLine Software.

Answer: 

Yes.  It supports 3D Dose Volume Brachytherapy calculations which include DVH protocols.

The Brachytherapy module is available for purchase to those clients who have upgraded to or purchased RadCalc version 6.0. The Brachytherapy module will function only with version 6.0 and future releases.

For a demonstration and a quote, please contact our sales department or click on the Request A Demo Link on our Homepage. Our contact information is provided below. We look forward to serving you soon with RadCalc for Brachytherapy.

Answer: 

Yes, RadCalc supports all VMAT solutions. 

One of the most challenging second check calculations in radiation therapy is the Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) calculation, with trade names such as RapidArc, Monaco with VMAT by Elekta, and SmartArc. The challenge has to do with the fact that the treatment planning systems only provide a physical average depth and effective depth. This is not adequate because the beam does not have a constant output as it rotates around the patient. A correct solution requires that the depth and effective depth for every control point be known and the treatment planning systems do not provide this.
These second check calculations can now be performed quickly, easily, and effectively with RadCalc's Regions of Interest (ROI) Module. A Regions of Interest tab was added to RadCalc's Photon Calculations for this purpose.

To perform these calculations, the CT structures are exported along with the plan file from the VMAT calculation to the RadCalc software. Average densities for the various structures can be imported (depending on the planning system), automatically selected from a prepopulated density table, or manually entered.

The ability to import Regions of Interest requires one to purchase the Regions of Interest module. Please contact our sales team for a quote. 

Answer: 
Yes, RadCalc supports CyberKnife for single point calculations. 

Answer: 
We have an automated process to configure your system to make this a very easy process. The following input would be needed: TMR, TPR, or PDD data Output factors: Total scatter or phantom and collimator scatter factors Wedge factors: Single factor or field size dependent factors Attenuator Factors: For block trays and other devices Off Axis Profiles: For open and wedge fields of varying field sizes and depths Electron cone and cutout factors.

Answer: 
Yes.  We added this functionality in RadCalc® version 6.3

Answer: 
Depending upon how automated you would like to have your MU or point dose verification process, RadCalc provides these two optional utilities to further streamline the verification process. For example: The Import module allows the user to import all the necessary parameters from the treatment planning system that would be entered by hand into RadCalc automatically, thus speeding up the process of data entry and eliminating potential human data entry errors.

The Export module allows the user to transfer plan information and MU dose to the Verify and Record system if the user cannot transfer this information from their RTP system, thus reducing re-entry of data parameters and potential data entry errors. Another Export module function is when you are using RadCalc to perform simple calculations such as a whole brain, spine, or electron calculations without using the RTP system. These types of calculations can be transferred directly without hand entry of data. Another potential benefit of the Export module is in cases where you would like to modify the imported plan within RadCalc and then send it on to your V&R system for testing or research purposes. RadCalc currently exports to IMPAC/Mosaiq, LANTIS, Varis, and ARIA systems.

As one of our clients stated, "These utilities have tremendously increased our throughput!"

Answer: 
First, RadCalc is purchased as a site licensed package. You may have as many machines and energies as you like configured. You may also have as many people accessing the software as you like at one institution either via multiple PC's or a Network setup. Additional charges may apply if you have multiple institutions. This would require the purchase at a discount of another site license or if you have more than two machines, additional setup fees may apply depending on your unique situation. Please ask your sales rep for details on your setup. Second, RadCalc has available five optional add on modules, i.e. Import Module, Export Module, the IMRT Module, 3D Dose Volume Brachytherapy, and the Regions of Interest Module. Additionally, the 3D Dose Volume Brachytherapy Module can be purchased as a stand-alone module or be used along with the other modules.

For the most recent pricing information, please contact our sales team at 1.866.592.1343, Opt 1. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. International callers dial: 1.903.207.4298, Opt. 1.