In Asia, sales of color television sets and electronic devices were brisk," the company said.

Under federal legislation passed in the early 1990s, the recording industry receives a royalty on sales of certain audio devices like digital-audio tape machines.

The company's health care division increased sales of body-scanning equipment and other devices by 33 percent, to $3.32 billion, while profit jumped 21 percent, to $409 million.

The cumulative sales of protective devices utilizing this material have run into several billions of dollars.

The sharp increase in popularity comes when sales of other devices have suffered.

Driving demand will be sales of personal computers, communications products and a variety of hand-held devices, including new digital audio products, the association said.

Mr. Gelb said sales of prescription drugs and medical devices were particularly strong.

Now Wall Street analysts say some of the biggest growth in sales of devices for interventional cardiology will come from doctors using them outside the heart.

Lilly said sales of medical devices and animal health produces also increased.

Local retailers say they have seen a run on sales of hands-free devices, first when the county law was enacted, and now for the state law.