WASHINGTON--Consumers injured by medical devices approved by federal regulators cannot file product liability suits against the makers in state courts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday.

In a 8-1 decision, the court ruled that manufacturers of medical devices are not liable for personal injuries under a 1976 law as long as the Food and Drug Administration approved the device before it was marketed and it meets the agency's specifications.

These devices include heart valves, implantable defibrillators or breast implants, for example.

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