Recalled Sleep-Apnea Machines Pass Key Safety Tests, Philips Says
By Denise Roland
Although a battery of safety tests conducted on Royal Philips' DreamStation One CPAP machine have produced favorable results, the manufacturer still plans to repair or replace millions of devices under a June 2021 recall. The equipment relieves sleep apnea, which occurs when an individual periodically stops breathing while asleep. Customers began reporting last year that foam inside of the DreamStation One and other CPAP and BiPAP mask devices made by Philips had deteriorated and expressed concern that the material might create additional health problems — including cancer — by emitting harmful gases or particles into users' airways. Emissions and particle tests have upheld the safety of the devices. Separate assessments do indicate that degraded foam could present a risk; however, few of the tens of thousands of devices tested that had been properly maintained showed signs of degradation. "For the large base of patients, we now know that there is no issue as long as the foam doesn't degrade," said Philips CEO Frans van Houten. "Even if there is the remotest chance that foam degrades, we don't want patients to have that doubt."
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