The 6σ quality approach for quantitative arteriography performance improvement

Quantitative angiography is a medical application where the user requires tools whose operational results in term of accuracy, precision, robustness and reliability must be extensively assessed and validated for clinical use. In this study, the 6σ methodology has been applied to analyze the performances of the General Electric QA software method. In particular, the catheter calibration procedure was identified as the weakest function in term of sensitivity to procedure parameters, like point-spread-function, field-of-view, catheter dimensions. It was therefore improved by following a design for 6σ scheme, and the main parameters that govern the QA accuracy and precision were put under quantifiable control.