Recall Alert! Philips CPAP Devices, Cancer Link?

Jul 13, 2021 | Blog, Dangerous Household Product, Mass Torts

Recall Alert! Philips CPAP Medical Devices, And The Link to Cancer?

One of the world’s largest manufacturers of medical devices, Philips, has now issued a voluntary recall for millions of pieces of equipment. They’re focused on recalling their CPAP and ventilator devices because of a link to cancer, discovered during routine checks for quality.

At this time, it’s estimated that Philips has recalled between three and four million devices that are used to help those with sleep apnea.

As has become all too normal with these types of situations, Philips failed to disclose the details of any potential problems with the products to those who use/used them, but have circled back to reveal a link between the polyester-based polyurethane and cancer.

Here’s a list of the recalled devices from Philips:

CPAP and BiLevel PAP

Continuous Ventilator / Non-Life Supporting:

DreamStation ASV, DreamStation ST, DreamStation AVAPS
SystemOne ASV4
C Series ASV, C Series ST, C Series AVAPS
OmniLab Advanced Plus In-Lab Titration Device

Non-Continuous Ventilator:

SystemOne Q-Series
DreamStation CPAP, DreamStation Auto CPAP, DreamStation BiPAP, DreamStation Go CPAP, DreamStation Go APAP
Dorma 400, Dorma 500 CPAP
REMStar SE Auto CPAP

Continuous Ventilator, Minimum Ventilatory Support, Facility Use:

Mechanical Ventilators

Continuous Ventilator:

Trilogy 100 Ventilator, Trilogy 200 Ventilator
Garbin Plus, Aeris, LifeVent Ventilator

Continuous Ventilator, Minimum Ventilatory Support, Facility Use:

A-Series BiPAP V30 Auto Ventilator

These new problems have already led to a 4% fall in the value of Philips stock.

What Are the Risks? What is Actually Happening?

Philips has started reporting the problems with their CPAP and ventilator machines were initially caused by attempts to reduce noise.

Sleep apnea patients frequently use these machines to assist them in breathing properly while sleeping. The noise of the machines was in theory able to be reduced by the use of polyester-based polyurethane foam.

An article from The Hill reported that some of the users spotted black particles and/or black dust inside of the airways of their CPAP devices, which were thought to be caused by the disintegration of the aforementioned foam. Sadly, what has now occurred is that those who actually depend on these devices to breathe while they sleep are fearful that they may be inhaling these particles/dust while asleep.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released information detailing how these foam particles have been identified in bi-level positive airway pressure machine pumps. These machines provide users with a higher pressure when breathing in, instead of when breathing out.

Other machines affected by this foam issue are the Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) and Continous Ventilator devices.

“As foam degrades over time, the small particle-like dust components ultimately pass into the airway of the air pump, and are inhaled by users.”

How Do I Know if I’ve Been Exposed? What Are the Symptoms?

The recall from Philips has now been accompanied by a release of possible symptoms due to exposure to these foam particles.

According to WebMD and Philips themselves, the symptoms of exposure to these particles can include headache, irritation, inflammation, respiratory issues, and possible toxic and cancer-causing effects, the company said.

Sadly, any continued exposure to these particles and any of the associated chemicals are believed to actively increase the potential for users to develop certain forms of cancer.

The best thing to do at this time, for any individuals who use these devices from Philips is to speak with their primary care physician or your healthcare provider and ask them if it’s safe to continue using them. With that said, some health experts are debating whether or not these machines are even necessary anymore, and if these symptoms and breathing inefficiencies can be conquered with long-term therapy.

Did You Know: Weight loss and quitting both alcohol and cigarettes can benefit all sleep apnea patients.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today! Sign Up Below!

If you or a loved one has been hurt by a Philips CPAP Medical Device and has contracted cancer as a result, please use the form below to sign up for a free consultation with our law firm.

We thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your exposure and aggressively pursue the maximum compensation possible for your injuries. Call us today at (855) 435-7247 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

You can also contact us by filling out the form below. Once you’ve filled it out, and we’ve received it, we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as we possibly can. We look forward to hearing from you!