IVC Filter Attorneys
Thousands of people across the United States trusted that an IVC filter would protect them from life-threatening blood clots. Instead, many have suffered complications from defective filters that have led to internal bleeding, organ damage, and even death. Because of this, there are ongoing lawsuits against the manufacturers of these devices, enough that they’ve been consolidated into multidistrict litigation.
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If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a defective filter, don’t wait to get the justice and compensation you deserve. We’re here to help you stand against the large corporation that prioritized profits over people and led to irreparable harm to the lives of thousands. Call us at any time or schedule a free consultation with us online.
What Is an IVC Filter?
An IVC filter is a small, cage-like device that is implanted into the inferior vena cava, which is the vein that carries blood from the lower body up to the heart. The filter is meant to catch blood clots before they reach the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism, which can be deadly.
Who Needs an IVC Filter?
IVC filters are prescribed for anyone who is at greater risk of blood clots and can’t take the blood thinner medication that would usually be prescribed to treat a blood clot issue. IVC filters are often seen as the backup treatment option for when medication either isn’t possible or hasn’t worked.
People who are in recovery from a recent surgery or who are on bed rest, for example, may be prescribed a temporary IVC filter because of the period of increased risk of blood clots. Others may be at higher risk on a more permanent basis because of a blood clot disorder, for example.
Temporary vs. Permanent IVC Filters
Not all IVC filters are the same. While they all do serve the same basic purpose (catching blood clots and preventing them from blocking the blood flow to the lungs), some are meant to be permanent, while others are designed to be inserted on a more temporary basis.
Permanent IVC Filters
Permanent IVC filters are meant for those whose risk of blood clots will remain high and who can’t take medication to treat their condition. These tend to be sturdier, and the materials used to make them are designed to withstand long-term usage, as they’re meant to remain in the body indefinitely. This doesn’t mean that there are no risks associated with them; migration, perforation, and fracture can still occur.
Temporary IVC Filters
As the name suggests, temporary IVC filters are designed to treat a temporary increase in the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism. For example, you may receive a temporary filter if you’re recovering from surgery or are otherwise immobile for a period of time, because of the temporary increase in blood clot risk.
Despite the intention for temporary filters to only be in the body for a shorter period of time, in reality, they are often never removed. Even though they aren’t made of the same sturdy materials as the permanent filters, they may end up becoming permanent, even though the temporary filters aren’t designed for indefinite use.
Temporary filters may be left in indefinitely for a variety of reasons:
- Missed appointments
- The clotting risk remains
- No one ever scheduled the retrieval
- Removal has become too risky
In some cases, the patient is given a temporary filter but is never told that it’s not meant to be permanent. Unfortunately, this could mean an increased risk of complications that could be completely unknown to a patient.
FDA IVC Filter Recommendations
Because of the risk of a temporary IVC filter fracturing or other risks, the FDA recommends that the filter be removed between 25 and 54 days of the initial implantation or as soon as the risk of a pulmonary embolism has passed. Unfortunately, this advice is followed much less frequently than it ought to be.
What Do IVC Filters Treat?
IVC filters are primarily used to prevent pulmonary embolisms, which occur when a blood clot travels up the inferior vena cava and blocks the blood flow to the lungs. These clots can be dangerous and often form from deep vein thrombosis, which involves the formation of blood clots in the deep veins, typically in the legs.
What Is a Blood Clot?
A blood clot is how the body naturally stops bleeding. When you cut yourself, a clot eventually forms to seal the wound and stop the bleeding. Scabs are essentially dried blood clots that form on the outside of the body. Most blood clots are perfectly normal and are just part of the body’s natural healing process.
Not all clots form where they should, however. If a blood clot forms inside your veins, for example, it can be very dangerous. Most commonly, these interior blood clots form in the deep veins in the legs and pelvis, leading to deep vein thrombosis.
What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, occurs when blood clots form in the deep veins of the body, typically in the legs. These clots can form either because of medical conditions like certain cancers, IBS, heart disease, or clotting disorders, or even just from sitting too long in one place. You can be at greater risk of developing DVT after a long flight, or if you’re on bed rest to recover from a surgery or an accident.
Symptoms of DVT can include:
- Swelling in the leg
- Leg pain
- Leg cramps
- Soreness in the leg
- Changes to the skin color on the affected leg
- A feeling of warmth in the leg
Sometimes, there are no noticeable symptoms of DVT, which can make the clots especially dangerous. They can travel and result in a pulmonary embolism without warning.
What Is a Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that blocks the blood flow to the lungs. Typically, these form in a deep vein as part of deep vein thrombosis and then migrate up the leg to the lungs. It’s much rarer, but these clots can also form elsewhere in the body. A pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening, so if you notice any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing blood
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Excessive sweating
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Leg pain
- Swelling in the leg
- Clammy skin
- Discolored skin
It’s not only important to treat a pulmonary embolism promptly but also just as important to prevent them in the first place. The areas of the lungs cut off from blood flow can die, reducing the lung capacity or causing them to cease functioning altogether, which is why they’re so dangerous. Plus, with deep vein thrombosis not always presenting symptoms, it’s possible for a pulmonary embolism to occur with no warning.
Preventing pulmonary embolisms is where medical devices like IVC filters come into play.
$2+ BILLION IN RESULTS
How Does an IVC Filter Work?
An IVC filter is a medical device implanted into the inferior vena cava, a vein that carries blood from the abdomen back up to your heart. It’s shaped like a small wire cage or umbrella and is designed so that it can catch any blood clots that form and prevent them from traveling to a position where they can block the blood flow to the lungs. Picture a coffee filter stopping the coffee grounds from getting into your mug. The IVC filter operates on the same idea, but in your vein.
Once the clot is trapped by the filter, the body can either dissolve it naturally or a doctor can treat it. In some cases, the IVC filter is meant to be temporary if there’s a short-term increased risk of blood clots. There are cases where the filter is meant to stay permanently as well. The longer an IVC filter is left in the vein, the more time there is for a failure or other complication to occur.
The Risks of Using IVC Filters
While IVC filters do play an important role in preventing pulmonary embolisms, they can also pose a risk themselves. Many patients have experienced painful, life-threatening complications as a result of a defective IVC filter.
Filter Migration
One of the most serious complications that can occur with an IVC filter is filter migration. This is when the device moves from its original location, either up or down the vein. This is dangerous because it can migrate into the heart or lungs. Even when it doesn’t reach a vital organ, the movement of the filter can damage blood vessels. This is a problem that can occur without any symptoms to let you know that it’s happening, until it suddenly becomes life-threatening, requiring emergency surgery to fix.
Device Fracture
Another dangerous complication that can occur is the fracture of the metal arms, or struts, of the filter. This is especially a risk with filters left in for longer periods of time, even if they were intended to be temporary. A large percentage of temporary filters end up being permanent for a variety of reasons, but temporary filters aren’t made of as strong a material as the IVC filters that were intended to be permanent from the beginning. This means that there’s a greater risk of the device simply breaking inside the patient the longer it remains.
Perforation of Veins or Organs
Even if the device doesn’t fracture, there’s a risk that a part of the filter could poke through the wall of the vein. The struts could then perforate a nearby organ, such as the intestines, kidneys, or the spine, causing internal bleeding and damage to the affected organ. A patient could experience chronic back or abdominal pain and not even realize that their supposedly safe IVC filter was the culprit.
Pulmonary Embolism
Another issue that defective IVC filters have caused is actually the very thing they were designed to protect against: pulmonary embolisms. If the filter breaks, tilts, migrates, or is otherwise compromised, it can fail to trap a dangerous clot, allowing it to travel and block the blood flow to the lungs. The defective filter itself may also increase the risk of clotting around it, creating a vicious cycle.
Inability To Remove the Filter
Many IVC filters are intended to just be temporary, and these temporary filters are not designed to be as sturdy as the ones intended to be permanent. The longer they’re left in, the greater the risk of a problem developing. However, sometimes these temporary filters are not possible to remove for a variety of reasons. Scar tissue can build up around the filter. The filter can migrate or become embedded in the wall of the vein. This could make removing the filter more dangerous than simply leaving it in, despite the risks.
Filter-Associated Thrombosis
Another complication that can arise from an IVC filter is clotting caused by the filter itself. The device is intended to stop blood clots, but it can also interrupt the regular flow of blood through the vein, which can result in clotting around or inside the filter. This could result in the same dangerous risk of a pulmonary embolism as if the filter weren’t there.
IVC Filter Recalls
The FDA has recalled a number of different IVC filters from different manufacturers over the years. The reasons for the recalls have ranged from design flaws to improper labels. If your IVC filter has been recalled, either by the manufacturer or by the FDA, contact your doctor if you haven’t already.
Greenfield Vena Cava Filter System (2005)
Greenfield voluntarily recalled its IVC filter in 2005 after reports of the carrier capsule detaching from the filter during implementation. This defect could result in an embolism of either the heart or the lungs.
OptEase Vena Cava Filter (2013)
OptEase’s IVC filter was recalled in 2013 because of labeling issues. The lack of clarity in the labels led to a risk of the filter being implemented backwards in the vein, and the device was recalled so that the instructions could be made clearer.
Bard Denali IVC Filter (2015)
In 2015, Bard’s Denali filter was recalled because contraindications were missing in the instructions for the device. The filter wasn’t supposed to be used with patients who had uncontrolled sepsis or nickel-related allergies, but that wasn’t included in the device’s instructions, leading to the recall.
Cook Celect Platinum Vena Cava Filter Set (2019)
Cook Medical Incorporated recalled its Celect Platinum filter for updates to the instructions. While this kind of recall may seem minor, incomplete or subpar instructions could be dangerous if doctors aren’t informed how to properly insert or use the filters.
Gunther Tulip Vena Cava Filter Sets (2020)
The Gunther Tulip IVC filter was recalled by Cook Medical Incorporated in 2020, also for updates to the instructions for use. This wasn’t the first time Cook Medical had to recall an IVC filter to update the instructions.
Option Elite Retrievable Vena Cava Filter (2023)
More recently, Argon Medical Devices recalled its Option Elite Retrievable filter out of concern that the device wouldn’t work properly and would instead cause the very pulmonary embolisms that the filter was meant to prevent.
What To Do if Your IVC Filter Has Been Recalled
Your IVC filter is meant to protect you from the danger of pulmonary embolisms. But throughout the years, a number of different filters by different manufacturers have been recalled for a variety of reasons, ranging from inadequate instructions and labeling that could result in a doctor inserting the filter improperly to defects that increase the risk of pulmonary embolisms.
If your IVC filter has been recalled for any reason, here are the steps you should take:
Confirm the IVC Filter Type and Model
The first thing you’ll need to do is confirm that your IVC filter is on the list of recalled devices.
Talk to Your Doctor
Next, speak with your doctor to discuss your options. It may be that simply swapping out the defective IVC filter for a different one isn’t the best option for you. Your doctor can do an assessment to determine whether removing it is a less dangerous option than leaving it where it is.
Document Symptoms and Complications
Keep careful and detailed records of all symptoms and any health complications that may occur because of the defective filter. If you have any health concerns, make sure to see your doctor as soon as possible so there are medical records detailing what’s going on.
Speak With an Experienced Defective Medical Device Attorney
Just because your device was recalled doesn’t mean that the company that manufactured it is prepared to admit fault or provide compensation, even if you’ve been harmed by the defective IVC filter. An experienced IVC filter lawyer can determine whether you’ve got a case against the medical device company that put profits over people and sold defective products.
Act Quickly
Most states have a statute of limitations that limits how long you can take to file a claim or lawsuit. If you wait too long, it may be too late to file, even if you contact an attorney.
IVC Filter Lawsuits
If you’ve been harmed by a defective IVC filter, you’re not alone. There are thousands of people across the country in the same situation. Many of them have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of the defective devices. Some are ongoing, while others have been concluded and settled. The cases that have already closed were settled confidentially.
Cook Medical Multidistrict Litigation
There are 6,980 cases pending out of an original 11,400 filed against Cook Medical in multidistrict litigation based in Indiana. Settlement discussions are, as of August 2025, still ongoing for these remaining cases.
Bard Multidistrict Litigation
C.R. Bard faced lawsuits because several of its IVC filter models broke down within patients’ bodies, leading to severe injuries and, in some cases, death. The MDL against Bard closed in July of 2024; individual cases may still be filed.
Other Ongoing IVC Filter Lawsuits
There are other lawsuits ongoing against the following IVC filter manufacturers:
- ALN
- Argon
- Boston Scientific
- Cordis
- Rex Medical
However, these are individual lawsuits rather than multidistrict litigation.
IVC Filter Lawsuit Verdicts
A number of IVC filter lawsuits have resulted in large settlements for those harmed by either IVC filter injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. For example:
- $926,000 (Bard, 2021)
- $33.7 million (Argon/Rex Medical, 2019)
- $3 million (Cook Medical, 2019)
- $1.2 million (Cook Medical, 2018)
- $3.6 million (Bard, 2018)
- $2.55 million (Bard, 2018)
Do You Have an IVC Filter Case?
If your or a loved one’s IVC filter was manufactured by Bard or Cook and it fractured or failed, you may have a case against the manufacturer of your filter. Contact us for a free consultation regarding your situation if your filter fractured or otherwise failed, and:
- It was removed or replaced.
- It was recommended to be removed or replaced, but it wasn’t possible due to the risk of injury.
- It migrated or became dislodged from its original placement.
Farah & Farah’s IVC filter attorneys have a lot of experience facing medical device companies that put profits over people. We want to stand by your side every step of the way as we work to make your life whole again with the justice and compensation that you deserve for your hardship. You won’t owe us a dime unless your case is successful.
We’re Here To Help. Reach Out to Farah & Farah Today
You can and should pursue justice through a defective medical device lawsuit. At Farah & Farah, we help you recover the maximum possible recovery or verdict from the people who caused your injury – so you can focus on recovering from what the defective device did to you without financial hardship.
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