What Does the MODULITH SLK »inline« Cost?

Price guidance for the STORZ MEDICAL compact integrated lithotripter — what public data shows, what drives variability, and what to budget beyond the capital line.

STORZ MEDICAL does not publish list prices for the MODULITH® SLK »inline«, and MedSource does not yet hold aggregate quote data for this specific model. This article is therefore built from manufacturer technical documentation, secondary market listings on DOTmed, and broad ESWL category benchmarks. This article will be updated as verified procurement quotes accrue. Based on what is publicly traceable, buyers should budget in the range of $300,000–$700,000+ USD for a new, fully configured system — a spread driven primarily by C-arm pairing, remote-control package selection, regional distributor margin, and service contract bundling. Used units from the 2015–2020 vintage currently appearing on secondary markets carry asking prices that are not publicly disclosed but are consistent with the 40–60% depreciation typical of integrated ESWL platforms in this class.

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What the Typical Range Is

No publicly verifiable GSA schedule entry or manufacturer list price exists for the MODULITH® SLK »inline« as of the date of this article. The broadest relevant benchmark comes from secondary market aggregators: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters are reported to carry new prices ranging from $500,000 to $1 million across the category. The MODULITH SLK »inline« sits in the mid-tier of STORZ MEDICAL's ESWL portfolio — above the modular-only »intelect« variant (marketed explicitly as "conveniently priced" ) and below the fully fixed-room SLX-F2 FD21 platform. A working estimate for capital planning purposes:

Configuration	Estimated Range (USD)
New system, base (lithotripter unit + integrated table)	$300,000 – $500,000
New system, fully optioned (remote control, motorized C-arm, DICOM)	$500,000 – $700,000+
Used/refurbished, 2015–2020 vintage	$100,000 – $250,000 (ask; unverified)

These figures are estimates derived from category benchmarks, not confirmed quotes. Request itemized pricing from Karl Storz Lithotripsy-America Inc. (U.S. distributor) or STORZ MEDICAL AG directly.

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What Pushes Price Up — Features, Certifications, Support Tier

The MODULITH® SLK »inline« with a penetration depth of up to 175 mm can be used as a fully integrated lithotripter; all essential components including the patient table and the X-ray system are fully integrated and can be operated with motorized movements using the touch screen panel at the lithotripter and/or in the remote control room. Each of those features carries an incremental cost:

• Remote control package: Remote control of the lithotripter and X-ray from behind lead-glass windows provides radiation protection; the remote control option enables 100% control and surveillance of all movements, therapy parameters, and X-ray functions. This is an optional add-on, not standard — expect a meaningful capital premium plus room-side lead-glass infrastructure costs.
• Motorized C-arm pairing: Remote controllable with motorized C-arm is listed as an optional feature. Pairing a new motorized C-arm (e.g., Ziehm, Siemens) adds $80,000–$200,000 depending on the unit selected.
• Endourological accessories: The MODULITH® SLK is designed for all stone therapies, including placing a double-J stent before SWL or performing URS or PCNL on the table; Trendelenburg tilt and a removable insert plate make the integrated table suitable for endourological procedures. Endourology accessory kits are priced separately.
• Dual-use clinical complexity: The MODULITH SLK inline is a modular shock wave system with on-board patient table and electromagnetic shock wave source for the fragmentation of urinary stones — the integrated table differentiates it from the »intelect« and commands a higher base price.
• IEC 60601-1 / FDA Class II compliance overhead: As a Class II medical electrical device requiring 510(k) clearance and IEC 60601-1 conformance, U.S. market units carry regulatory compliance and documentation costs embedded in the sale price.

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What Pushes Price Down — Refurbished, Older Generation, Lease, GPO

• Used market: A Storz MODULITH SLK inline (year of manufacture 2017) with Ziehm Solo C-arm is currently listed for sale on DOTmed , among other pre-owned SLK units. Asking prices are not publicly listed; request quotes directly. Pre-owned units require independent biomedical inspection and coil service-hour verification before purchase.
• Coil lifecycle: The relatively low running costs and the service life of the electromagnetic cylinder source are decisive factors. A used unit with a recently replaced or low-hour coil retains significantly more value — and clinical risk — than one near end-of-coil-life. Always request shock wave count logs.
• GPO contracts: Membership in a Group Purchasing Organization (e.g., Vizient, Premier, HealthTrust) may unlock pre-negotiated pricing on STORZ MEDICAL capital equipment. Verify whether the SLK »inline« appears on your GPO schedule before direct negotiation.
• »intelect« as a lower-cost alternative: If a fully integrated on-board table is not required, the MODULITH® SLK »intelect« represents a generation of lithotripter that can be customised to various demands and adapted to urological workstations or combined with C-arcs — at a meaningfully lower capital outlay per STORZ MEDICAL's own positioning.
• Operating lease / per-procedure model: Some U.S. distributors offer per-procedure or revenue-share arrangements for ESWL platforms. This shifts capital cost to operating budget but typically costs more over a 7–10-year horizon at moderate case volumes (>200 cases/year).

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Hidden Costs — Install, Training, Calibration, Consumables, Service Contracts

Budget these line items separately from the capital price; they routinely add 20–35% over a 5-year ownership period:

Cost Category	Notes
Delivery & installation	Crating, rigging, floor reinforcement if required.
Prices are pre-tax and exclude delivery charges, customs duties, and additional charges for installation or activation options.
Budget $5,000–$20,000.
Lead-glass shielding (if remote control selected)	Room modification for radiation protection. Site-dependent; $20,000–$80,000 range is typical for urology suites.
Coupling cushion / water cushion consumables	Per-procedure consumable. Negotiate per-unit pricing at point of purchase.
Coil replacement	The electromagnetic cylinder source has a finite shock-wave-count lifespan. Replacement cost is not publicly listed; budget a reserve fund.
Annual service contract	Full-service contracts on ESWL platforms typically run 8–12% of purchase price per year.
Clinical training
The operation of the MODULITH® SLK is intuitive and simple, with a short learning curve guaranteed
— but initial on-site training and application support should be contractually defined at sale. Verify whether initial training is included or billed separately.
DICOM / EMR integration	If ordering DICOM connectivity, confirm interface licensing fees with the distributor.

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How to Negotiate — Concrete Tactics

1. Request a line-item quote, not a system price. Separate the lithotripter generator, the patient table, the C-arm (if bundled), software licenses, training, and first-year service. Bundled pricing makes year-over-year cost comparisons impossible.
2. Benchmark against the »intelect«. The MODULITH® SLK »intelect« is described as conveniently priced and flexible. Use it as a floor reference in negotiation: ask the rep to quantify exactly what the »inline«'s premium buys in clinical throughput terms.
3. Negotiate coil life guarantees. The electromagnetic cylinder source's longevity is a key long-term cost driver. The relatively low running costs and service life of the electromagnetic cylinder source are cited as decisive factors. Contractually define minimum guaranteed shock-wave counts before coil replacement is required.
4. Tie service contract price to capital discount. Distributors often have more flexibility on service contract terms (multi-year rate locks, response time SLAs) than on hardware pricing. A 3-year service contract commitment can unlock a 5–10% hardware discount.
5. End-of-quarter timing. STORZ MEDICAL, like most capital equipment manufacturers, has quarterly sales targets. Orders signed in the final two weeks of a fiscal quarter frequently carry better terms.
6. Evaluate total cost of ownership, not capital price. At 300+ SWL procedures/year, a $50,000 capital premium paid for the »inline«'s integrated table is recovered in room-turn efficiency within 18–24 months versus a non-integrated workflow requiring patient transfer.

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When the Price Feels Off — Red Flags

• A new-unit quote below $200,000 for a fully configured system with integrated table and C-arm should trigger verification. This is below the plausible cost floor for a new Class II ESWL with these integrated components.
• No itemized accessories list on a used unit. A used STORZ Medical Modulith SLK listing should include documentation of accessories such as ultrasound scanner and probe specifications. Any used system offered without full accessory and service-log documentation warrants independent biomedical inspection.
• C-arm "included" without model specification. A 2017-vintage C-arm has a different residual value and parts-availability profile than a current-generation unit. Always confirm make, model, and manufacture year separately.
• Service contract terms not in writing before purchase. A verbal commitment to "full coverage" is not a contract. Define response times, parts coverage, and coil replacement terms in writing.
• No FDA 510(k) documentation available. Any U.S. distributor offering a new ESWL unit should be able to produce the applicable 510(k) clearance number on request.

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Sources

1. STORZ MEDICAL AG — MODULITH® SLK »inline« product page (storzmedical.com): Technical specifications including penetration depth, shock wave source type, integrated table features, and optional remote control. storzmedical.com

2. Karl Storz Lithotripsy-America Inc. — MODULITH SLK »inline« product page (karlstorzlitho.com): U.S. market feature listing including C-arm compatibility and endourology accessories. karlstorzlitho.com

3. DOTmed.com — Lithotripter secondary market listings: Used MODULITH SLK and SLX series listings; category-level ESWL pricing benchmarks. dotmed.com

4. Sarica et al., World Journal of Urology (February 2025) — "Impact of advanced lithotripter technology on SWL success: insights from Modulith SLK inline outcomes": Peer-reviewed outcomes data for the MODULITH SLK inline at a single center (n=208). DOI: 10.1007/s00345-025-05517-4.

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This article reflects publicly available information as of May 2025. MedSource has not yet collected aggregate quote data for the MODULITH SLK »inline«. Pricing estimates will be revised as verified procurement data is received. Contact your STORZ MEDICAL regional representative or Karl Storz Lithotripsy-America Inc. for a current, itemized quotation.