** Shares of medical device makers fall after U.S. government announces probes into medical technology imports

** Shares of GE Healthcare GEHC.O down 4.3%, Illumina ILMN.O slides 1.9%, Baxter BAX.N falls 3.2%, Intuitive Surgical ISRG.O slips 1%, Medtronic MDT.N declines 1.6%, Stryker SYK.N retreats 1.8% and Dexcom DXCM.O moves down 1.7%

** The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday it has opened new national security investigations into the import of personal protective equipment, medical items, robotics and industrial machinery

** The probe also covers pacemakers, insulin pumps, coronary stents, heart valves, hearing aids, prosthetics, blood glucose monitors, orthopedic appliances, computed tomography scanners and magnetic resonance imaging machines

** Shares of Abbott ABT.N dips 1.4%, Insulet PODD.O weakens 2.3%

** The Section 232 investigations could be used as a basis for even higher tariffs on a wide swath of medical and industrial goods

** Including session moves S&P 500 Health Care Equipment sub index .SPLRCMED is up 3.1% so far this year

(Reporting by Sneha S K)

((Sneha.SK@thomsonreuters.com;))