Demand for implantable medical devices is projected to increase 9.3 percent annually to $43.6 billion in 2011. Although weakened over the past few years by product recalls and safety controversies, especially in the cardiac implant segment, growth will remain strong. The development of next generation devices based on new technologies and improved materials will rectify recent performance problems experienced by implantable cardiac rhythm devices and lessen the thrombosis risk of drug-eluting coronary stents. Shortcomings in existing drug therapies will promote the increasing use of implantable devices in the treatment and management of cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurological, ophthalmic and various other chronic disorders. These and other trends are presented in Implantable Medical Devices, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Based on the prevalence and mortality risk of heart disease, cardiac implants will remain the top-selling group of implantable medical devices, with demand expanding 9.0 percent annually to $19.6 billion in 2011. Cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRT-Ds), carotid and drug-eluting coronary stents, endovascular stent-grafts, implantable heart monitors, and tissue heart valves will post the strongest gains. Outcome advantages over drugs in the treatment of congestive heart failure will boost the patient base for CRT-Ds. Carotid stents will build up demand due to new, improved product introductions and effectiveness in stroke prevention. Next-generation devices composed of thinner struts will enhance the safety and performance of drug-eluting coronary stents, revitalizing their growth opportunities in the treatment of arterial blockage. Demand for endovascular stent-grafts will advance rapidly based on life-saving benefits in treating aortic aneurysms.

Demand for orthopedic implants is forecast to exceed $19 billion in 2011, up 8.8 percent annually from 2006. Bone cement, based on the availability of new, high value-added formulations and breadth of applications served, will record the fastest gains. Tissue and spinal implants will also post strong growth in demand as advances in fusion, fixation and neurological stimulating technologies promote their increasing use in the treatment of spinal and various other orthopedic conditions. Other implantable medical devices demand will increase more than 13 percent annually from 2006. Growth will be led by implantable stimulators for neurological conditions, brachytherapy for prostate cancer indications, cochlear devices for restoring hearing loss, and gastric bands for obesity intervention.