Prices paid in the U.S. for medical devices, including those that regulate the heart's rhythm and replacements for hips and knees, have plunged as much as one-third since 2007 as hospitals clamped down on spending. The average inflation-adjusted prices for seven of the largest categories of medical devices fell through 2011, according to a study released today from the Advanced Medical Technology Association. Drug-coated stents used to prop open arteries sold by Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Medtronic Inc. (MDT) had a 34 percent decline. Artificial knees from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH) and Stryker Corp. (SYK) fell the least at 17 percent.
