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Two IVC filters made by Cordis have become the subject of a number of lawsuits. The Cordis TrapEase “permanent” IVC filter, and the Cordis OptEase “retrievable” filter, were supposed to stay safely in patients’ bodies for long-term and temporary use respectively. But patients are now saying the devices fractured inside the bloodstream, causing serious medical complications—and a growing body of medical evidence supports this. If you or someone you love suffered harm after receiving a Cordis IVC filter, or any IVC filter, you have legal rights. You need to talk to a lawyer who understands Cordis IVC filters.
We can help. John Foy & Associates is a leading personal injury law firm with over 20 years of experience in medical cases. We have fought and won lawsuits involving defective medical devices—and we always take the side of the victim, never the big medical corporations. Let us give you a FREE consultation with one of the top medical lawsuit lawyers in the country. We’re here to help—and we charge nothing if we don’t get you money. Call us at 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.
What do I need to know about Cordis IVC filters?
Cordis Corporation is one of several major manufacturers of IVC filters. These are tiny medical devices that get inserted into a blood vein known as the inferior vena cava, or IVC. Their purpose is to catch blood clots and hold them in place until they dissolve or break up, preventing the blood clots from reaching the lungs. A blood clot in the lungs can cause a condition known as pulmonary embolism, which can cause permanent lung damage or even death.
Thus, IVC filters are supposed to be life-saving devices.
Unfortunately, they don’t always live up to that hope. Cordis Corporation has manufactured two of the most prominent models of IVC filters:
- The TrapEase Vena Cava Filter. This was Cordis’ first entry into the IVC filter market, and was designed to be left in place permanently. Supposedly, it would function safely even if left in a patient’s body long-term.
- The OptEase Vena Cava Filter. This was also developed to be a permanent filter. However, perhaps due to growing worry in the medical community about long-term IVC filters, Cordis sought and received FDA permission to market the OptEase as a temporary or “retrievable” device.
Both of these devices have now been found to suffer potential fractures, failures or complications, even in the first few years of temporary use. The result is that the devices can cause serious safety risks of their own.
What complications have been reported with Cordis IVC filters?
According to court documents filed in existing Cordis lawsuits, both the TrapEase “permanent” filter and the OptEase “retrievable” filter have a tendency to fracture or break, tilt, come out of place, perforate surrounding tissue, or migrate. Migration can be particularly dangerous because it means that the device, or a broken piece of it, usually heads toward the lungs—and same sensitive area the IVC filter is supposed to protect.
Some preliminary studies seem to agree with these claims. For example, a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 50% of all the Cordis TrapEase filters in their study group had fractured. The rate rose to 64% in those left in the body for more than four years—in a device that was supposed to be “permanent.” This suggests that the risk goes up the longer the device is in the body.
What are the safety risks?
IVC filters that don’t function properly can cause serious harm, potentially including:
- The device may embed in the walls of the blood vein or even puncture through them and damage surrounding tissue
- It may cause bleeding
- It can lead to infection
- If the IVC filter comes out of place, it could potentially fail to stop the blood clots it was designed to catch
- The device or pieces of it could reach the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism
- Reaching the lungs could also mean permanent organ damage to the lungs themselves
- In some cases, it could result in death
However, you may have a case whether you experienced these conditions or not. If a medical device is defective, every patient who has that device in their bodies is at risk. And it could be connected to medical conditions you suffered even if you don’t know it.
How do I know if I have a Cordis IVC filter lawsuit?
You could have grounds for a lawsuit if:
- You received either a Cordis TrapEase or Cordis OptEase IVC filter
- You received an IVC filter, but you don’t know what make or model it was
- You may have a claim whether you experienced obvious complications or not
- You may have a claim whether the device has already been removed or is still in place in your body
A successful lawsuit for a defective medical device can provide money for medical costs, lost work time, loss of earning potential, and the personal losses you’ve suffered. It can also include money for wrongful death of a loved one. This money can help an individual or a family rebuild a life and recover financially.
In some cases, a settlement could be $1,000,000 or more.
If you or someone in your family had a Cordis IVC filter, don’t miss out on your rights. Take the time to talk to a lawyer.
Talk to a Cordis IVC Filter Lawyer for Free
At John Foy & Associates, we have one mission: to help those who were wronged. We consider injuries caused by medical devices to be among the most serious cases, because they involve not just harm to your health, but a violation of your trust. Let us help you. We charge nothing if we don’t get you money—and we offer a FREE consultation. Contact us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to your right and get your FREE consultation today.
