An online cost per image and savings calculation can be made using the below link. The following variables can be customised in the calculation:
initial investment value of digital and analogue systems
number of images made per day
number of working days per week
readability factor of analog and digital images
film and developer costs
chemical waste handling cost
image archiving and storage cost.
Link to Customise Savings online.
Assumptions for the cost comparison of a digital system versus an analog one are given below. Most of this data is self-explanatory.
On the basis of studies published by specialists (including Dr. Ikushi Onozaki of the WHO/StopTB), it is assumed in below calculation that 35% of these images taken by analog X-ray are substandard or unreadable due to many factors including the wrong positioning of the patient, under and over exposure, inadequate developing (due to erroneous techniques, poor films or substandard chemicals) and wear and tear of stored images.
Using a direct digital X-ray, the positioning of the patient is practically the only thing that can go wrong. While a small percentage of the images may therefore have to be retaken, with a digital camera this can be done immediately, without having to wait for the developing process to culminate and without any additional expenses.
| Initial investment assumptions | |||
| Direct Digital X-ray | € 145,000 | ||
| Analog Camera (incl. developer) | € 25,000 | ||
| Depreciation period (years) | 10.00 | ||
| Variable cost per image | |||
| Direct Digital X-ray memory per image: |
€ 0,01 | ||
| Analog Camera: | |||
| Film per sheet 35x43 cm | € 1.6 | ||
| Developer | € 0.3 | ||
| Chemical waste handling | € 0.2 | ||
| Archiving & Storage of films | € 0.4 | ||
| Maintenance life cycle (over 10 years) | High | Medium | Low |
| Direct Digital X-ray | € 60,000 | € 55,000 | € 30,000 |
| Analog Camera | € 25,000 | € 20,000 | € 15,000 |
| Readability & image availability factor | |||
| Direct Digital X-ray | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Analogue Camera | 0.65 | 0.65 | 0.65 |
| Throughput per day per system | High | Medium | Low |
| Direct Digital X-ray | 300 | 120 | 50 |
| Analogue Camera | 300 | 120 | 50 |
| Working days (per year) | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| Direct Digital X-ray (number of units) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Analogue Cameda (number of units) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Result with these assumptions
| High | Medium |
Low |
|
| Annual cost |
|||
| Direct Digital X-ray | € 24,150 | € 21,216 | € 18,835 |
| Analogue Camera |
€ 257,692 |
€ 128,846 |
€ 46,154 |
| Savings |
€ 233,542 | € 107,630 |
€ 27,319 |
| Cost per image | |||
| Direct Digital X-ray |
€ 0.32 | € 0.57 |
€ 1.51 |
| Analogue Camera |
€ 3.44 | € 3.44 |
€ 3.69 |
| Payback Period | 0.8 years |
1.7 years |
6.8 years |
