Dr. Herman later suggested they have catheters installed in their chests, despite the risk the devices posed to their immune-deficient bodies.

Despite their popularity with some patients and plastic surgeons, breast implants have come under increasing attack from consumer groups who say the devices pose serious health risks.

Plaintiffs advance four theories pursuant to which hand-held devices pose a platform threat to the Windows operating system.

An intentionally limited devices poses it's own usability issues the moment the end user gets the least bit creative with what they want to do.

Last week, Guidant urged physicians not to replace the units because it said the risks of doing so outweighed any dangers the device may pose.

Most nuclear-weapon analysts agree that "building such a device would pose few technological challenges to reasonably competent" terrorists.

"The problems these devices pose are not limited to Westchester," Mr. Ryan said.

The company's general manager, Chet Friday, said the device had posed none of the problems raised by its detractors.

Because removing a device also poses risk.

"We believe many medical devices simply don't pose a sufficient risk to be reviewed by F.D.A. prior to marketing," he said.