A diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart. Cardiomyopathy: The term used to describe all diseases of the heart muscle. carotid endarterectomy: The surgical removal of the lining of a portion of a clogged carotid artery leading to the brain. Cholesterol A fatty substance that travels through the blood and is found in all parts of the body.
Imaging machines are costly. Each type of imaging device comes in a range of prices, and hospitals recoup those expenditures through imaging charges. For example, the cost of a CT scanner can be as low as $65,000 for a refurbished one that produces only small images quickly. A larger and brand new CT scanner can run as high as $2.5 million. Prices are slightly higher for MRI machines, running up to about $3 million for a new machine. Ultrasound machines are much cheaper at $10,000-$200,000, depending on brand and type. For hospitals and imaging centers, the base price for machines is just the beginning. CT and MRI imaging machines usually cost about $100,000 per year to maintain, since they get very hot and must have an internal cooling source, which also requires a lot of energy.
Cost of Machines. Not surprisingly, there are various CT scanners available and there is a large variation in price depending upon the features and brand. This is a good pricing guide for CT scan machines. A vanilla 4-slice CT scanner costs $85,000 to $150,000.