Cook Medical IVC Filter Lawyers
New Jersey Law Firm for Product Defect Victims
The inferior vena cava filter, known as the IVC filter, is used to prevent blood clots from traveling into the lungs or the heart, which can cause life-threatening blockages like a pulmonary embolism. This medical device is implanted in the inferior vena cava, the large, tube-like vein that brings blood from the legs and lower torso of the body into the chambers of the heart. Radiologists or surgeons implant the filters in patients after blood thinners or anticoagulants have not effectively reduced the patient’s risk of developing blood clots in the lower body.
However, certain types of product defects can make these filters dangerous instead of beneficial. Some IVC filters, such as those sold by Cook Medical, may break apart, causing internal damage to blood vessels and organs, which could result in wrongful death. Nevertheless, Cook has not issued any product recalls for these defective medical devices. If you or a loved one sustained injuries as a result of a product defect in a Cook implant, our New Jersey IVC filter lawyers are here to help. We have represented several clients injured by IVC filters in the past. As a result, we understand how to investigate the manufacturer of your device and can explain your legal options.
What Injuries Can Result from Defective Cook IVC Filters?
Cook IVC filters were developed to protect at-risk patients from serious complications related to blood clots. However, product defects in the filters can result in serious injuries instead. In many cases, the filter fails and migrates from the site of implantation. This migration causes serious problems, including:
- Perforations, tears or holes in the vena cava and sometimes the aorta.
- Movement of the metal device to the heart, which ultimately requires that patients undergo open heart surgery.
- Embolization, the spread of filter pieces throughout the body, which then embed themselves in the intestines, abdominal organs, or even the heart.
On August 9, 2010, the FDA released the article, “Removing Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters: Initial Communication.” This release warned doctors to be prompt in removing IVC filters from patients after their risk of clotting passed. According to the article, when left in the body for too long, the filters pose life-threatening risks to patients. The report included information from medical studies that found that prolonged use of these devices is not safe because they often erode.
Which Cook Medical Devices May Cause Serious Injuries?
Although Cook has issued no product recalls for IVC filters, several of their products are the subject of ongoing litigation. The affected Cook products are:
- Celect IVC filters
- Gunther Tulip IVC filters
- Platinum IVC filters
The company Cook Group Incorporated is a privately-held business based in Bloomington, Indiana, which primarily manufactures medical devices. On October 15, 2014, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) centralized 27 cases filed against Cook Medical in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. These cases allege that Cook’s IVC filter warnings are defective as well as the design.
The courts will hear the first cases starting in 2017. However, patients across the nation continue to file dozens of complaints against Cook Medical. If you sustained serious injuries as a result of a product defect in a Cook IVC filter, you may still have a personal injury claim.
Injured by a Defective Cook Device? Call Our New Jersey IVC Filter Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one was harmed by an IVC filter from Cook Medical, please contact our office today. Our IVC filter lawyers can investigate your circumstances and advise you on your legal options for a personal injury claim. We accept cases nationwide from our offices in New Jersey, including locations in Red Bank as well as New Brunswick, Newark, and Point Pleasant. All consultations are free of charge. Contact us online or call our offices to schedule a meeting or get more information about IVC filter lawsuits.