A Pennsylvania couple has filed an IVC blood clot filter lawsuit against Cook Medical claiming that wife’s IVC filter was defective.

Plaintiffs Niculina C. and Mihai C. have filed this IVC blood clot filter lawsuit after Niculina was implanted with the Gunther Tulip Vena Cava Filter in February 2007. She claims she experienced unexpected complications thereafter.

The couple has filed this IVC blood clot filter lawsuit on multiple counts including failure to warn, design defect, negligence, negligence per se, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty and loss of consortium.

This IVC Blood Clot Filter Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-00437-JMS-MPB in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.

What is an IVC Blood Clot Filter?

An IVC blood clot filter is a tiny device shaped somewhat like a collapsible umbrella that is placed within the inferior vena cava in order to catch blood clots in a person that is prone to developing them.

Some people are in danger of their blood clotting under dangerous conditions. For example, patients recovering from lower body surgery like a joint replacement or recovering from an accident are at a greater risk of forming blood clots in their lower extremities. A blood clot that forms deep in the legs is called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT.

A blood clot that forms in the lower extremity can loosen from where it has formed and travel throughout the body. If such a clot reaches the heart, lungs or brain, it can result in a life-threatening condition.

The IVC blood clot filter is placed in the inferior vena cava. This main vein of the body primarily returns blood from the body back to the heart. A IVC blood clot filter is designed to catch these potentially dangerous blood clots before they reach the brain, heart or lungs.

An IVC blood clot filter is intended to be used in patients for whom blood thinning medication is not able to be used. Approved for use in 1979, the use of IVC filters has steadily increased since their approval. In fact, some have wondered if they have been overused.

Even though an IVC blood clot filter can be permanent or temporary, it is recommended that an IVC blood clot filter be removed as soon as the danger for blood clots has passed to avoid exposing the patient to an unnecessary risk of IVC filter complications.

Many patients who have received an IVC blood clot filter have suffered dangerous complications. These complications include device migration, filter fracture or breakage, device infection, perforation of organs, blockage and detachment of device components. Other complications include blood vessel perforation, difficulty in retrieval and large clots that prevent removal.

In the five years that spanned 2005 and 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received nearly 1,000 adverse event reports regarding inferior vena cava blood clot filters made by different manufacturers. Cook is not the only IVC blood clot filter manufacturer that has had problems with their devices. Bard, another manufacturer, has received complication reports regarding their Recovery filter and their G2 filter.

Filling an IVC Blood Clot Filter Lawsuit

Many patients have resorted to litigation in search of compensation for the costly and dangerous complications they experienced. It is important to note that even if an individual has not experienced complications with their blood clot filter, they may be able to file an IVC blood clot filter lawsuit. Speaking with an experienced attorney can help you determine the best options for you.