Reported by (Name):

Geoffrey S. Ibbott, Ph.D
Organization:

International Electrotechnical Commission
Position Title:

Chair, Subcommittee 62C; Member, Working Group 1; Technical Advisor to US National Committee; Chair, Technical Advisory Committee
Activity:

Technical Advisory Committee meeting
Meeting Dates:

October 16, 2007
Meeting Location:

Arlington, VA
Payment $:

Travel reimbursement
Reasons for Attending or not Attending

Attended to develop US position and comments on international standards for radiotherapy equipment.
Issues from Previous Meetings or Year:

See below.
General Description of Activities of the Organization and/or Meeting:

Meeting of the US Technical Advisory Committee to Working Group 1 of Subcommittee 62C of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

The US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) met on October 16, 2007 in Arlington, VA at the offices of the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of the National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA). The meeting was held to review national committee comments submitted previously in regard to several IEC draft standards, which will be discussed at the upcoming Working Group meeting. The TAG also met to develop comments on another draft standard that had been distributed recently and that will be discussed at the WG-1 meeting.

Members attending the meeting included: P. Biggs, A. Cohen, J. Galvin, G. Ibbott (chair), S. Johnsen, G. Lukey, A. Marles, M. Moyers, G. Starkschall, T. Steinberg

Discussed agenda

61217: Dicom has already developed a standard for out-of-plane sources. Moyers will investigate and will report the status to the TAG. Galvin pointed out that it is important that the WG get involved early. We will bring this up at the next working group meeting.

Ibbott will ask for time to present Moyers’s PPT at the upcoming WG-1 meeting.

It wouldn’t be possible to discuss all standards, and instead will focus on the new drafts of the accelerator standard and the treatment planning system standard.

Draft 3rd edition of 60601-2-1, accelerator safety standard.

The 3rd edition is being prepared to comply with new requirements of the 3rd edition of the “general standard”, IEC 60601-1 and to promulgate new requirements to address newer capabilities of treatment equipment.

The TAG reviewed NC comments and added several new comments. Ibbott will submit the new comments and ask that they be included for discussion at the WG-1 meeting.

Considerable discussion was held regarding a proposal from the German national committee to reduce the allowable levels of radiation leakage from accelerators used for IMRT by a factor of 5. This raised a question about the time following publication of a standard by which manufacturers must comply, and whether there is the option to specify a certain date for implementation.

Ibbott will ask about dates of implementation (regarding MLC leakage issues) at an upcoming meeting of the TC62 Chairman’s Advisory Committee (CAG).

Draft 2nd edition of 62083, treatment planning system safety standard

Michael Moyer and other TAG members had prepared comments. These were reviewed and several additional points were raised.

Ibbott will send the TAG comments through the official channels at ANSI for submission to the IEC.

Respectfully submitted,

Geoffrey S. Ibbott, Ph.D.

Respectfully submitted,

Geoffrey S. Ibbott, PhD

Issues for AAPM:

AAPM must stay closely involved in the IEC and its working groups. The decisions made by the IEC dictate the design of radiology and radiotherapy equipment, and affect its use in the clinic, as well as issues of radiation protection. These issues were discussed during a refresher course at the Orlando meeting.
Budget Request ($):

Liaison to IEC

2008 Budget

Position: Liaison to IEC

Name: Dr. Geoffrey S. Ibbott

Reason(s) for requesting funds: Funds are requested to support travel to meetings of the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to IEC subcommittee 62C, Working Group 1, and to meetings of the Working Group itself. The AAPM, ASTRO and ACR share these expenses.

Expenses requested (list and explain):

CY 08

CY 08 (AAPM)

Travel: 9 members to US TAG meeting @ $500 x 2 mtgs

$9,000

3,000

Hotel: 9 members @ $125 x 2 nights x 2 mtgs

$4,500

1,500

Per Diem: 9 members @ $40 x 2 days x 2 mtgs

$1,440

480

Travel: 1 member @$1,000 x 2 international meetings

$2,000

667

Hotel: 1 member @ $125 x 4 nights x 2 mtgs

$1,000

333

Per Diem: 1 member @ $40 x 4 days x 2 mtgs

$320

107

USNC/ANSI dues: 9 members @ $285 ea.

$2565

855

SUBTOTAL

$20,825

6942

Each association’s share (1/3 of total)

$6,942

6942

Date: October 17, 2007

Reported by (Name):

zailu

2007-07-10

Geoffrey Ibbott

aapm