Patients With Cook Medical IVC Filters That Broke Apart or Moved May Be Owed Money After Device Failures

An IVC (inferior vena cava) filter is a small, cage-like metal device placed inside the large vein that carries blood from the lower body to the heart. These filters are designed to catch blood clots before they travel to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. For some patients, they are a lifesaving precaution.

But for thousands of patients who received Cook Medical’s IVC filters — including the Celect and Günther Tulip models — the filters themselves became the source of serious injury. The metal struts can break off, puncture the wall of the vein, travel toward the heart or lungs, and cause internal bleeding, organ damage, or death.

The FDA issued safety warnings in 2010 and again in 2014 urging doctors to remove these filters as soon as the patient no longer needed clot protection. (FDA, 2014.) Many were never removed — and some that needed removal could not be taken out at all.

What the Cook IVC Filter Lawsuit Is About

IVC filters were originally designed to be either permanent or temporary (retrievable). Retrievable filters — including Cook Medical’s Celect — were supposed to be removed once the clot risk passed, typically within weeks or months. In practice, many stayed in far longer than intended, and that’s when problems began.

According to thousands of FDA adverse event reports and lawsuits, Cook Medical’s filters have been linked to:

• Strut fracture (pieces breaking off inside the body)
• Filter tilt (shifting out of position)
• Filter migration (moving toward the heart)
• Vein perforation
• Filter that could not be retrieved without dangerous surgery

Cook Medical has faced more than 7,000 lawsuits consolidated in federal court in Indiana (MDL 2570, S.D. Indiana).

Who May Qualify

You may qualify if both of the following apply to you:

1. You had a Cook Medical IVC filter implanted — including Celect, Günther Tulip, or another Cook model.
2. You experienced any of the following: a strut or piece of the filter broke off; the filter tilted or moved; the filter perforated the vein wall; the filter could not be retrieved when attempted; or you suffered injury, surgery, or hospitalization connected to filter complications.

What Could This Mean for You?

If you qualify, you may be owed money for surgeries related to the filter, medical costs, pain and suffering, and other harm caused by the device failure. Cases are evaluated individually — we will not quote you a number, and anyone who does at this stage is guessing.

Filing Deadline

Statutes of limitations vary by state. In many cases, the clock starts from when you first experienced or were told about complications — not when the filter was placed. Don’t wait. Checking takes two minutes and costs nothing.

How the Process Works

Step 1 — Fill out the free form

No cost, no commitment. Takes about two minutes.

Step 2 — A lawyer reviews your medical history and filter details

Our team checks every submission and evaluates what device you received and what complications arose.

Step 3 — If you qualify, attorneys work on contingency

You pay nothing unless you win. There are no upfront fees of any kind.

Step 4 — Your case is filed in the MDL or appropriate court

Your case joins the ongoing federal proceedings in Indiana. Most clients do not need to appear in court.

Common Questions

What if the filter was eventually removed?

You may still qualify. If there were complications or injury during the filter’s time in place, or during retrieval surgery, you may have a case.

I don’t know what brand of filter I have — how do I find out?

Your implant records or hospital records will show the device. A lawyer can help you obtain these records.

My filter was placed years ago — is it too late to file?

Statutes of limitations vary. The key date is often when you first knew about complications — check as soon as possible.

Does this apply if I live outside Indiana?

Yes. The MDL is a federal case — it covers patients across all 50 states.

What is the worst that can happen if a filter strut breaks off?

A loose strut can puncture the heart, lungs, or surrounding blood vessels — causing life-threatening complications including cardiac injury and internal bleeding.