R&D Expenses
R&D expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing R&D activities, including new product development, continuous product improvement, investment in clinical trials and related clinical manufacturing costs, materials and supplies, salaries and benefits, consulting fees, patent procurement costs, and occupancy costs related to R&D activity.
For the three months ended December 31, 2021, R&D expenses were higher by $2,185 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2020. Materials, share based compensation, salaries and benefits and travel increased by $948, $435, $699 and $89, respectively. The increases were due to increased spending on R&D initiatives for new designs, technology improvements and different magnet compatibility, options awarded to employees, additional headcount and increased travel for off-site MRI testing.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, R&D expenses were higher by $5,365 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Materials, consulting fees, share based compensation, salaries and benefits, travel, rent and other expenses increased by $1,228, $173, $1,242, $2,296, $218, $27 and $179, respectively. These increases were due to increased spending on materials and R&D projects for technology improvements and upgrades, new system designs and MRI usage related to different magnet compatibility. In addition, the increases were also driven by options awarded to employees, additional headcount, increased travel due to restrictions being lifted, additional lab area rentals in Germany for design improvements, and overall increase to general expenses.
G&A expenses
G&A expenses are comprised of management costs, including salaries and benefits, various management and administrative support functions, insurance and other operating and occupancy costs.
G&A expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2021 increased by $1,434 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2020. Consulting fees, share based compensation, software and other expenses increased by $240, $806, $167 and $97, respectively, due to increased legal and accounting fees, options awarded to employees, increased license costs for the enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) and customer relationship management (“CRM”) software and an overall increase to general expenses as offices continue to reopen from COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, amortization expense increased by $46 due to the capitalization of ERP costs. Offsetting these amounts were a decrease to salaries and benefits of $42 which were due to salary adjustments and lower bonuses awarded to management in 2021. Depreciation expenses increased by $107 due to depreciation related to leasehold improvement assets and right of use assets.
G&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $2,749 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020. Consulting fees, share based compensation, insurance, software and office expenses increased by $504, $1,690, $119, $193 and $204, respectively, due to increased legal and accounting fees, options awarded to employees, increased license costs for the ERP and CRM software and an overall increase to general expenses as offices continue to reopen from COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, amortization expense increased by $118 due to the capitalization of ERP costs. Offsetting these amounts were a decrease to salaries and benefits of $117 which were due to salary adjustments and lower bonuses awarded to management in 2021. Depreciation expenses increased by $49 due to depreciation related to leasehold improvement assets and right of use assets.
Selling and distribution expenses
Selling and distribution expenses are comprised of business development costs related to the market development activities and commercialization of the Company’s systems, including salaries and benefits, marketing support functions, occupancy costs related to marketing activity and other miscellaneous marketing costs.