Since their introduction in the 1970s, IVC filters—small implants designed to prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart or the lungs—have been used in medical procedures to treat patients at risk for pulmonary embolisms. While the cage-like filter is intended to trap clots and enable blood flow, design flaws ultimately led to hundreds of personal injuries and several wrongful deaths.
If you or your loved one has sustained an injury due to a medical manufacturer’s reckless, negligible, or willful misconduct, contact the award-winning attorneys at the Shiner Law Group to review your legal rights and options in a free, confidential case review. We provide aggressive legal representation to ensure your health is prioritized over at-fault manufacturers’ financial performance.
Understanding IVC Filter Application
Patients at risk for developing blood clots may experience adverse side effects from anticoagulants, such as bleeding complications, due to the drugs’ ineffectiveness; however, anticoagulants may be substituted for IVC filters, which are implanted in the patient’s deep veins.
Approximately 200,000 cases of pulmonary embolism result in death each year in the United States: the third-leading cause of hospital-related death. The IVC filter prevents clots from reaching major organs and allows for the clot to break down over time. IVC filters can be surgically implanted as a permanent or temporary solution.
Risks Associated with IVC Filters
In 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a report that identified 1,000 complications caused by IVC filters:
- Device fracturing and migration;
- Damage to the vena cava;
- Internal organ damage;
- Inability to surgically remove devices;
- Pulmonary embolisms;
- Infections;
- Clogged filters.
One of the most damaging complications associated with IVC filters occurs when a piece of the device fractures. The fractured piece, which is typically sharp, is transported throughout the body and can puncture tissue. In some incidents, victims sustained damage to the heart and lungs.
Known IVC Filter Manufacturers
The personal injury attorneys at the Shiner Law Group list the manufacturers of IVC filters:
- ALN Implants Chirurgicaux;
- Boston Scientific;
- Braun Medical;
- Cook Medical;
- Cordis Corporation;
- Crux Biomedical;
- Johnson & Johnson;
- R. Bard;
- Rafael Medical Technologies;
- Rex Medical;
- Volcano Corporation.
Why Hire an Inferior Vena Cava Filter Attorney?
Recovering from a medical injury can be a stressful and financially crippling experience. Having the right legal team by your side can give you peace of mind you need to move beyond this ordeal. At the Shiner Law Group, we have successfully litigated thousands of personal injury and product liability cases throughout Florida, recovering millions of dollars in fair settlements and verdicts, because we are committed to holding negligible manufacturing companies accountable for their behavior.
Our law firm provides you with the resources to navigate Florida’s complex legal system by advising you of your rights and responsibilities, identifying the appropriate defendants, and initiating the lawsuit. The statute of limitations to bring a legal cause of action against an at-fault party is two years in the state of Florida and two years in cases of wrongful death. Do not delay in pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to.
Speak with a Shiner Law Group Personal Injury Lawyer
Have you or someone you love been injured because of the negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct of another? Call us at (561) 777-7700 or contact us online for a free case review.
