On: Why Are Ultrasound Machines So Expensive?

[rsingla]

It's probably worth mentioning that relatively low-cost and mobile ultrasound machines exist. One company just recently received FDA approval for a wireless ultrasound machine. Target price seems to be ~7k to ~10k

See news here: http://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/clarius-mobile-health-...

See company website here: http://www.clarius.me/

[Gibbon1 → rsingla]

I think there are low end Chinese transducers that plug into a laptop that are $1500.

That said the idea that an ultrasound machine is expensive is just laughable from a commercial/industrial cost perspective. Ok a mid range ultrasound machine costs $50,000. $50,000!!!! Oh the agony!!! Oh please, a taxi costs $30,000 and I can get a taxi ride downtown for $8.

What's expensive is US medical pricing. Where they charge $700 for an ultrasound. When the machine itself has a capital cost of about $600/mo.

[outworlder → Gibbon1]

You got lucky. My insurance got charged 6k for an abdominal ultrasound. Of which I'm on the hook for 2k still.

[Gibbon1 → outworlder]

Probably wouldn't be a good time for me to mention how much your dentists x-ray machine costs.

[ihnorton → Gibbon1]

TeleMed [1] is slightly higher-end and has CE mark (IIRC in the $1-2k range for the uncleared/demo version). UltraSonix [2] used to be relatively reasonable option (IIRC under $10k), but they were bought by BK and prices may have increased.

[1] http://www.pcultrasound.com/ [2] http://www.ultrasonix.com/