Implanted medical devices are one of the most profitable businesses of the U.S. healthcare industry. While many devices help extend and improve quality of life, a great many others may not be necessary. In some cases devices such as stents, screws, and artificial joints do not work well or are not any better than a cheaper procedure; in others, the risks may not be worth the benefits. All of the devices place a large cost-burden on U.S. medical spending, whether entirely effective or not.
