Mobile C-arm Machine Price Guide
We prepared a C-arm machine price guide for you!
And why?
We want to make it easier for you to determine the type and price range you should search for when purchasing a used or refurbished C-arm.
C-arms are great for surgical, orthopedic and cardio vascular procedures. They provide high-resolution X-ray images in real time, allowing the physician to monitor progress and make any corrections instantly.
There are many different models of C-arms on the market and the prices between new, refurbished, and used C-arm machines differ. Nevertheless, buying a used system will be favourable to your budget and you will get great value for money.
How is that possible?
You can get a high-end used system for almost the same price as a low-end C-arm system. And that pays off. Especially if you have a reliable partner who delivers high-quality C-arm machines, fully tested and in great condition.
For an easy overview of the C-arm machine prices, have a look at the price matrix below:
Note: The prices are in euros and are for the systems only. They do not include warranty, installation, or transport.
To learn more about C-arm machine prices, continue reading.
C-Arm Machine Price Ranges
So, what prices can you expect?
Older models such as the GE Stenoscope or the Siemens Siremobil Compact will naturally be less costly due to their age and relatively low number of functions, whereas late models such as Siemens Arcadic Avantic, Siemens Arcadis Varic, OEC 9800 Plus, or OEC 9900 have prices in the other end of the scale.
Let’s start with the lowest priced systems.
The C-arm machines that you can get for around 10.000 Euros are basic C-arm machines that have been manufactured before 2006. These are general surgery and orthopedics C-arms that come with a 9” image intensifier such as the Siremobil Compact from Siemens and OEC 7700 from GE.
Next, you can find systems with prices of around 20.000 Euros. These are cardio-vascular systems manufactured before 2006 that are available with 9” as well as 12” image intensifiers. In this category, you will find the BV Endura from Philips as well as the Vista Endo from Ziehm.
Another group of systems that cost around 20.000 Euros is systems manufactured after 2007 that can be used for general surgery and orthopedics. These have a 9” image intensifier and include systems such as the BV Pulsera from Philips.
Lastly, there are more expensive C-arms with prices from 30 – 90.000 Euros. These C-arms were manufactured after 2007 and serve in cardio-vascular applications.
They can have both 9” and 12” image intensifiers and flat-screen. In this category, you will see c-arms such as the OEC 9900 from GE.
The above prices are close estimates to current market prices. Nevertheless, some systems can be in different price ranges at the same time.
Also, you can find systems that do not fit any of our categories. For example, the OEC 9800 from GE. This system was manufactured before 2006 and does not have a flat-screen. However, it is a powerful system that is very popular, therefore, it sells at the price of younger C-arm machines.
As you can see, there are different factors affecting the price of C-arms. Let’s discuss them more in-depth so that you understand how they impact the price.
Factors Affecting C-arm Machine Prices
The factors that determine the prices are the year of manufacture, the size of the image intensifier (9” or 12”), flat screen, system options, and the type of applications you can use the C-arm for.
Year of Manufacture (YOM)
As mentioned, the age of the C-arm matters. If you are buying a very old system, you can expect to pay a small fraction of the original price. In addition, age often determines available system options and software, which can also affect the price.
Nevertheless, you must keep in mind that it is not always a rule that older systems are cheaper than newer ones, there are more factors to consider.
Image Intensifier
While there are many C-arms on the market in terms of image intensifiers, you usually have to choose between 9″ or 12” (though Siemens makes a 13” as well).
The obvious difference between these two is the size. And even though bigger, in this case, does not mean better, it means more money. C-arms that come with 12″ image intensifiers cost more than C-arms with 9″. Therefore, it is important to know with certainty which C-Arm is right for you.
So, how can you find that out?
It all depends on the procedures you would like to perform with your C-arm. Generally, if your practice focuses on orthopaedics, pain management, or general surgery, you will need a 9″ image intensifier.
If you are mainly focusing on vascular examinations, 12″ image intensifier will be the right choice. Although there are 9″ C-Arms with vascular capabilities, you will benefit more from a 12” C-arm. Its larger field of view enables you to see a larger portion of the body and that allows you to perform an exam in a single shot. That would be more difficult to do with the 9″ image intensifiers.
We have talked about the image intensifier but what about a digital detector?
Digital imaging is a powerful tool that offer some benefits. Nevertheless, it is still relatively new when it comes to C-arm machines and it will take some time before digital C-arms enter the market for pre-owned equipment. When they do, the prices of digital detector systems will be much higher than the prices of image intensifier C-arms.
No need to be concerned about not having access to digital C-arms on the secondary market. Image intensifier systems are still the standard and capture high-quality images comparable to those captured by digital C-arms. And as mobile C-arm are mainly used during surgeries, it is currently not as economical to acquire a digital C-arm. Nevertheless, in the future, we can expect that digital C-arm will be the standard also on the secondary market as these systems have better capabilities than image intensifier C-arms.
Generator Size
Another factor to keep in mind is the generator size. The larger the generator, the more you will pay for your C-arm package. If your practice is limited to extremities, it may not be necessary to spend more on a bigger generator. On the other hand, if you are going to use the C-arm mainly for cardio-vascular examinations, you should consider purchasing a stronger generator.
System Options and Applications
The different C-arms come with different options, which also impact the C-arm unit price. And as some examinations require certain features, make sure to always pick a system with options that fit your needs.
Don’t waste money on options you will never use anyway, but also don’t try to save money by not purchasing the options you will need in the near future.
As you can see from our price matrix at the beginning of this article, cardio-vascular C-arms are generally more expensive than systems for general surgery and orthopaedics. It is also because they have distinctive options available. For example, C-arm typically used for vascular application will come with DSA and Roadmapping.
Flat Screen
The presence of a flat-screen increases the price of C-arm machines. It makes sense as the flat screen provides you with bigger viewing space as well as higher resolution and brightness of the monitor.
Are there any more considerations you should make before choosing the right C-arm?
Oh yes, there are.
Whether you choose to go with a new, refurbished, or used system, you always have to keep in mind that reconditioning, delivery, installation, or warranty will add to the C-arm machine price. Depending on the conditions of the system and your proximity to your reseller.
Sum Up
As said in the beginning, we want to make it easier for you to determine the price of a C-arm machine.
However, C-arm is not a one size fits all product. So, even before looking at the price tag, be clear on your practice requirements. In addition to your budget, you need to know exactly what studies will be done to determine the applications you need. Also, you should know the approximate number of daily examinations, the services you require for the system, and be aware of your competition.
We hope that after reading our C-arm machine price guide, you have a better idea of how much a C-arm machine cost.
If you have any questions we have not answered in this article, get in touch with us at sales@lbnmedical.com. We would love to hear from you.
Are you also looking for mammographs and would you like to know How Much a Mammography Unit Cost? Then visit our recent article on this topic.
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