Three recent lawsuits filed in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas all name the manufacturers of Option retrievable inferior vena cava filters in their personal injury lawsuits.

Charles M., Martha S. and Geraldine J. (filing as the personal representative of the Estate of Robert J.) all claim in their lawsuits that defective IVC filters were the cause of injury that led them to file their respective claims.

IVC filters are medical devices designed to prevent blood clots from traveling from the lower parts of the body back to the heart and lungs.

IVC filters look like small cage-like devices with finger-like projections that trap blood clots while allowing the blood to flow through freely. Eventually, the blood clot dissolves on its own.

Pulmonary embolism, a condition where a blood clot travels to the lungs, can be fatal and are one of the conditions that IVC filters are designed to prevent. IVC filters also prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart where they can cause a stroke or heart attack.

All of the conditions that IVC filters are designed to prevent are potentially fatal, so these medical devices can be life-saving.

However, there have been problems reported with allegedly defective IVC filters, and these problems can lead to allowing blood clots to pass and wreak havoc in the body, or the devices can cause injuries themselves.

Geraldine states that Robert was implanted with an Option retrievable inferior vena cava filter in January 2013. Two years later, Robert suffered from a pulmonary embolism while his filter was still in place, and ultimately died as a result.

The lawsuits filed by the other plaintiffs do not indicate the extent of the injuries, but raise claims that because of the nature of the allegedly defective IVC filters these patients are at risk of developing problems.

Charles had his IVC filter implanted in his body in April 2014 and Martha’s Option retrievable inferior vena cava filter was implanted in December 2014, according to the defective IVC filters claims.

“As a result of the malfunction, plaintiff has or may suffer life-threatening injuries and damages and require extensive medical care and treatment. Plaintiff has or may suffer and will continue to suffer significant medical expenses, extreme pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, and other losses,” both lawsuits state.

The lawsuits go on to say regarding the defective IVC filters, “Plaintiff will require continuing monitoring of the filter to eliminate the risk of creating new clots. Plaintiff will also require anticoagulation medications. Plaintiff had an Argon filter placed to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.”

The lawsuits bring forth allegations of strict products liability for failure to warn, design defect and manufacturing defect, negligence and fraudulent concealment, among others.

The plaintiffs are seeking economic and noneconomic damages, exemplary damages punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, pre-and post-judgment interest and any additional relief deemed just and proper by the Court. All are seeking a jury trial.

The Defective IVC Filters Lawsuits are Case No. 170104248, 170104277 and 170104222, in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.