Vena cava filter was widely used in clinic to prevent pulmonary embolism in treating lower extremity deep venous thrombosis（DVT）. In this paper, application status of vena cava filter was reviewed, including the way of vena cava filter implantation, filter classification, indications of filter implantation and existing problems (contraindications and complications). The frontier issues concerning study on novel filters, such as the degradation filter and drug coated filter was also analyzed, and the hemodynamic research progress from domestic scholars in recent years about filter structure was briefly summarized. The research findings provide references for further optimization of filter structure and clinical application of vena cava filter.