COOK IVC FILTER LAWSUIT

Cook Medical is one of the main companies involved in the production of IVC Filters, also known as “blood clot filters.” These devices are used to prevent a life-threatening blockage of an artery in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). Unfortunately, the filters themselves are potentially life-threatening and many patients were not aware of risks prior to implementation. As a result, anyone with an implanted with a Cook IVC Filter may be able to seek compensation.

Di Pietro Partners is a South Florida based law firm that’s pursuing claims against Cook Filters all over the United States. Our law firm has board certified, medical professionals on staff and works remotely with clients anywhere in the U.S. If you, or someone you know received a Cook IVC Filter, contact the law firm of Di Pietro Partners right away.

IVC Filter Wrongful Death

Many people implanted with an IVC Filter are at risk for several adverse consequences. One of these risks involves the filter migrating into the heart. This migration led to the death of some patients. In fact, the FDA recognizes these risks and encourages immediate follow-up and IVC Filter removal after the risk of pulmonary embolism has passed. Unfortunately, removal surgery may also involve significant risks. If you’ve experienced the wrongful death of a loved one resulting from an IVC Filter, or believe there’s a risk, it’s important you know your legal options.

Background And Devices

Cook is an American based private company with over $2 billion in annual revenue. The company is primarily involved in the manufacturing of medical products all over the globe and was one of the major players in production of IVC devices. Unfortunately, many of their devices have unexpectedly failed resulting in serious patient injury. Despite numerous reports of failure, warnings from the FDA, and over 4,000 Cook IVC Filter Lawsuits, the company has not recalled their problematic blood clot filters. The specific IVC devices by Cook Medical that have been linked to serious injuries include the following:

Celect – The Celect Inferior Vena Cava Filter was designed as retrievable and was approved by the FDA in 2008. Unfortunately, many problems have occurred regarding the retrieval of the Cook Celect, and in some cases, it’s become impossible to remove due to the retrieval hooks getting stuck within the lining of a patient’s’ vena cava. In other words, a device that was intended as temporary, may unexpectedly become “permanent” and lead to serious complications such as fracture, migration, and more.

Celect Platinum –  The Cook Celect Platinum IVC Filter was another retrievable device designed as a temporary preventative measure for pulmonary embolism. Unfortunately, this blood clot filter experienced several production errors; therefore, this device is prone to failure. The Celect Platinum was designed by Cook as an “upgrade,” of the previous Cook Celect. Unfortunately, studies conducted on the Celect Platinum showed essentially the same type of complications in comparable numbers as the original. As a result, the Celect Platinum carries a high risk of fracture, migration, and other potential serious consequences.

Günther Tulip – Another retrievable device manufactured by Cook is the Gunther Tulip IVC Filter. The device has been used in the United States since 2003 and is designed with 12 wires and 4 legs. Unfortunately, this device has a high risk of perforation. In other words, it carries a very high risk of pieces breaking off and migrating into various parts of the body. Other notable risks include: device tilting, perforation, and fracture. These risks can ultimately lead to fatality.

Birds Nest – The Bird’s Nest is one of the more recent iterations in Cook’s design of blood clot filters. The device actually uses strands of wires to hold the device in place unlike previous designs which use legs. The thought was that these wires would prevent the device from tilting or migrating into vital organs. Despite the new design, the Bird’s Nest by Cook has been shown to carry a high risk of fracturing and many complications such as device fracture have still occurred in patients.

Other Manufacturers and Devices

Several other manufacturers are involved in an IVC Filter Lawsuit resulting from their defective blood clot filters. These manufacturers/devices include:

C.R. Bard IVC Filters – Simon Nitinol, Recovery, G2, G2 Express, Eclipse, Meridian, and Denali.

Cordis IVC FiltersOptEase, and TrapEase.

Cook IVC Filter Removal

Generally speaking, there’s two categories of Inferior Vena Cava Filters: permanent, and retrievable. Retrievable IVC Filters are designed with a hook located at the end of the device. This allows doctors to insert a catheter-like device into the vein, attach it to the hook, and remove the filter. Unfortunately, this process remains dangerous as IVC removal complications can occur. These complications may involve: blood vessel perforation, damage to the device, and more. If you or a loved one has to undergo IVC Filter Removal Surgery, or have been injured as a result of the procedure, you should seek legal advice immediately.