A couple from New York has recently filed a blood clot filter lawsuit within the Cook Medical multidistrict litigation (MDL) underway in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Patient Penelope A. and spouse Raydon A. have named Cook Incorporated, Cook Medical LLC and William Cook Europe ApS as the defendants in their lawsuit over the Cook blood clot filter.

According to court documents, Penelope had the Gunther Tulip vena cava filter implanted into her body on March 30, 2007 in a New York hospital. The short form complaint does not detail her specific situation, but many blood filter complications may arise after placement.

A blood clot filter, also known as an IVC filter, is a medical device that is implanted into the patient’s inferior vena cava, the body’s largest vein that allows blood to travel from the lower body back to the heart.

Blood clot filter placement is recommended for the prevention of blood clots traveling to the lungs and heart in patients who cannot tolerate oral anticoagulant medications. It is also used when there is a risk of a blood clot, such as with a hip replacement or knee replacement surgery.

The blood clot filter looks like a tiny spider-like cage with a number of projections. It is placed in the vein essentially to “catch” blood clots there and allow the blood itself to pass right through.

Although this device has been helpful for many, some have experienced blood clot filter complications. Common complications include:

• Filter fracture, with pieces breaking apart from the filter and traveling throughout the body
• Perforation of the aorta or duodenum
• Filter tilting that makes the device less effective
• Filters dislodging from their original location and migrating to other parts of the body.

In her lawsuit, Penelope along with her husband have brought forth a total of eight counts against Cook Medical including strict products liability for failure to warn and design defects, negligence, breaches of express and implied warranties, loss of consortium (spousal companionship), and punitive damages.

While the specified damages were not spelled out in the court documents, plaintiffs who file a blood clot filter lawsuit often seek compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and emotional, mental and physical pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one has suffered from blood clot complications, a consultation with a blood clot filter attorney is free and confidential and can assist you in exploring your legal options.

The Cook Celect Blood Clot Filter Lawsuit is Case No. 1:14-cv-01183 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.

It is part of the larger Cook Blood Clot Filter MDL In Re: Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales, Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2570 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division.