Table 3.
Variable | Cost (USD) | Cost Descriptor | Comments | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3D printer | $12,000 | Initial investment | Varies considerably from $150 to >$500,000. Examples from this institutional data were from three printers that cost $2,000, $4,000, and $6,000 respectively. | ||
Segmentation software | $20,000/yr | Fixed annual cost | Commercial 3D printing segmentation software $20,000. The RSNA 3D Printing Special Interest Group recommends using FDA approved software (4). | ||
Personnel (salary or time allocation) | $120,000/yr (derived from % effort of salary) | Biomedical engineers with radiologist approval in current example. Segmentation can be performed by biomedical engineers, imaging scientists, radiologic technologists, non-radiology physicians, and radiologists. | |||
“Simple” models or guides, n=6 | $119 (mean of 6 cases; calculated from cost of material and period of allocated time) | Variable cost dependent on volume and provider requests | “Simple” models or guides were defined as anatomic models or guides that consistent of one segmented and printed part, one material, and one color. Example: femoral head model. | ||
Material cost/case | Segmenting time/case | Interacting with printer and model processing/case | |||
$5 | 101 min | 55 min | |||
“Complex” models or guides, n=4 | $320 (mean of 4 cases; calculated from cost of material and period of allocated time) | “Complex” models or guides were defined as anatomic models or guides that consistent of more than segmented and printed part; alternatively more than one material or color. Example: renal mass model consisting of tumor, renal parenchyma, renal artery, renal vein, and collecting system. | |||
Material cost/case | Segmenting time/case | Interacting with printer and model processing/case | |||
$31 | 143 min | 149 min |
Highlighted column = new in revision