The price on an ultrasound quote is only the first of several costs a San Antonio practice will pay over the life of the system. Probes, software options, maintenance, repairs, disinfection supplies and eventually disposal can add up to a significant share of the purchase price over the years you own it. Comparing quotes on the total cost, rather than the sticker price, is how practices avoid the system that looked like a bargain and turned out to be the expensive one. Systems are part of our new and refurbished medical equipment for sale.
The full cost, line by line
| Cost | When you pay it | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| System (console) | Purchase | New or refurbished, generation, form factor |
| Probes | Purchase, and again when one fails | Number and type of probes; specialty probes cost the most |
| Software options | Purchase or later upgrade | Cardiac, vascular, 3D/4D, elastography, DICOM packages |
| Installation and training | Purchase | Network setup, presets, applications training |
| Preventive maintenance | Every year | Contract or per-visit; number of probes |
| Repairs | Unplanned | Probe damage, monitor, power supply, trackball |
| Disinfection | Every day | Disinfectants, covers, high-level disinfection equipment for internal probes |
| Downtime | When it fails | Lost exams, rescheduling, rental cost |
| Disposal or resale | End of life | Data clearing, resale value, recycling |
Where refurbished saves the most
The biggest saving from buying refurbished is usually on the console and standard probes. A mid-life cart-based system from a well-supported family can cost a fraction of the new price while producing images that suit most general, OB and vascular work. The saving shrinks if the system needs several new probes or software options that are no longer sold for that model, so price the complete configuration you need, not the base unit.
Probes: the cost most likely to surprise you
Probes are the most frequently damaged part of any ultrasound system, typically from drops, cable damage or incompatible cleaning chemicals. Before you buy, ask:
- What does a replacement for each probe cost, new and refurbished?
- Can the probe be repaired, and roughly what does a lens or cable repair cost compared with replacement?
- Does the warranty or service plan cover probes, and does it cover accidental damage?
Our ultrasound probe buying guide explains which probes you actually need, which is the easiest way to keep this cost down.
Maintenance: contract or pay per visit?
Every system needs regular checks. Practices accredited by AIUM, for example, must document equipment quality assurance testing at least annually, according to the AIUM accreditation standards. You can cover maintenance in two ways:
- Per-visit service: you pay for each preventive maintenance visit and each repair. Lower fixed cost, less predictable.
- Service plan: a fixed annual cost covering scheduled maintenance and agreed repairs. More predictable, and worth it when a failure would stop a busy schedule.
Whichever you choose, ask what is excluded, especially probe damage and parts for older systems.
Downtime is a real cost
If ultrasound is central to your schedule, a week without it means cancelled exams and lost revenue. Plan for it: know how quickly service will respond, whether a loaner or rental is available, and whether a second system can absorb the work. Our engineers respond to service requests in under 8 business hours, Monday through Friday, and rental systems are available through our ultrasound repair, sales and rental page.
Questions that reveal hidden costs in a quote
- Which probes and software options are included, by name?
- Is installation, network setup and applications training included, or quoted separately?
- Is the operator documentation included for this model and software version?
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and does it include probes?
- Are parts and software support still available for this system, and for how much longer?
- What happens to the system you are replacing, and is there a trade-in or disposal cost?
A simple five-year comparison
- Write down the purchase price of each option with the full probe and software configuration.
- Add installation, training and any network or disinfection equipment.
- Add five years of maintenance, using the contract price or an estimate for per-visit service.
- Add an allowance for at least one probe repair or replacement.
- Subtract the expected resale value at the end, which is higher for systems from well-supported families.
The option with the lowest total, not the lowest price, is usually the right one. If a new system's total is close to a refurbished system's total, the newer software and longer support may tip the decision; our guide to new vs pre-owned medical equipment covers that trade-off.
Buying and service in San Antonio
San Antonio is about 275 miles from our Garland headquarters. We confirm delivery and installation dates when you order, and service visits are scheduled in advance. Reconditioned systems come with our 90-day warranty, and we provide the probe and system test report with every refurbished unit.
To get a quote that shows the full configuration and service options, call (469) 767-8853 or send us a request with the exams you perform.
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