Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Last month, Philips issued a huge recall of many of its ventilators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines meant to help those struggling with sleep apnea. The company has issued the recall with no answers as to when the products will be fixed and available again, leaving many people feeling lost without an alternative. People with sleep apnea need these machines to get a good night’s sleep and ensure their safety during the night. Untreated sleep apnea can result in a slew of health problems; everything from anxiety and tiredness to high blood pressure, heart attacks, or strokes. Leaving people without treatment for their sleep apnea is potentially dangerous. However, the problems with these machines need to be resolved before they are safe to use.
What is the Problem with Phillips’ CPAP Machines?
The issue with these devices is the foam that is inside of them, a polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR). This foam is meant to reduce the sounds and vibrations that come from the device, but it has recently been discovered that this foam also has the potential to break down inside the device and enter the air pathway of the machine, leading to the possibility of being inhaled or swallowed by the person using it. The foam also may release chemicals into the airway of the device, which would then be inhaled by the user.