Posted 8/14/2017 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting article but not surprising after a moment's thought. Two points come to mind.
First, when there is a single copy of a complex machine that has a high cost for down time *, preventive maintenance and inspections are the norm. The supplier (Intuitive) provides the maintenance contract as a way to do this. In turn the customer can focus on it's core competency and not have to develop a new in house support capability. Sure, it is a profit center; that is a given part of a service sector economy.
Second, medical instruments are wear items and can break. Both situations require replacement.
* Down time cost is not just lost billable revenue for the robotics. It also includes the cost to convert a procedure from robotics to an open surgery, since any failure during a surgery has to be worked around to finish the patient's case.