Despite the past few years’ product recalls and safety controversies, The Freedonia Group, Inc. estimates the demand for implantable devices will increase 9.3% annually in the US. Sales will reach $43.6 billion in 2011.

Driving the increased demand are shortcomings in existing drug therapies. In their place is a resurgence of cardiac and orthopedic implants; estimated to grow in demand at 9% and 8.8%, respectively. Cardiac implants represent the top seller of implantable medical devices, due to the prevalence of heart disease in the United States, and the extremely life-threatening nature of the disease itself.