CPAP machines can vastly improve your sleep health and physical health. They work by regulating your breathing in your sleep so that you can get proper rest and get the regular amount of oxygen you need. Typically, people with sleep apnea are the patients who use CPAPs, otherwise known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines.
These medical devices use pressure to keep your airways open so you continually breathe in your sleep. Previously, your airways would have been obstructed, and you would have had periods of time when you were not breathing. A CPAP fixes that depravation of oxygen and helps you get the oxygen and proper rest you need.
But are all CPAP machines safe? Let’s take a look at how you can tell if your CPAP machine is safe.
Recalled CPAP Machines
One of the most basic ways you can tell if your CPAP machine is safe is by checking the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall list for medical devices. By looking at this list, you can determine if the CPAP you’ve been using is facing any defects that could be making it unsafe and potentially causing you harm.
Of recalled machines, Philips Respironics CPAP machines have been recalled for patients who previously used them. When a product is recalled, it means a part or function of the device has been deemed not only unsafe, but also potentially harmful to patients who continue to use the product. Here are the devices listed from Philips that have been recalled:
- E30
- DreamStation ASV
- DreamStation ST, AVAPS
- SystemOne ASV4
- C-Series ASV
- C-Series S/T and AVAPS
- OmniLab Advanced+
- SystemOne Q-Series
- DreamStation
- DreamStation Go
- Dorma 400
- Dorma 500
- REMstar SE Auto
- Trilogy 100
- Trilogy 200
- Garbin Plus, Aeris, LifeVent
- A-Series BiPAP Hybrid A30
- A-Series BiPAP V30 Auto
- A-Series BiPAP A40
- A-Series BiPAP A30
If you recognize the CPAP you’ve been using in this list, then you should speak to your doctor immediately to determine if you should stop using it. It could be dangerous to stop using your device, which is why you’ll need your doctor’s consultation about what this recall means for you.
Let’s take a look at what specifically makes these recalled devices unsafe.
What Are the Dangers of Recalled Machines?
You might think that a recall doesn’t mean much, but when it comes to medical devices like CPAPs, a recall typically means you don’t want to use that device anymore because it could be causing you serious harm. For the devices listed above, this is the case. The reason these are all recalled is because they could seriously damage your lungs and respiratory system as well as your overall health.
In these devices, the foam used to quiet the CPAP could break down and enter a person’s airways, or it could break down and create toxic gases. The foam is comprised of polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR), which reduces noise during use since the patient needs it to help them sleep.
This foam is where the problem lies. PE-PUR foam has been found to degrade over time of use, which creates toxic gases and causes particles of the black foam to enter the respiratory and digestive systems of the device user. Both of these problems are especially nerve-racking because you likely wouldn’t know you were inhaling the gases or particles until your health was negatively affected down the road.
The gases cause liver and kidney damage and have the potential to cause cancer in these organs as well. The particles can be even more harmful, as they could attach to the linings of your respiratory system and encapsulate in tissue to form mesothelioma-like symptoms. Once it’s attached to your tissue, the PE-PUR foam breaks down even further and releases toxic chemicals into your bloodstream.
This is why it’s so important to stay up to date on recalls and register your devices so you receive recall notices as soon as they’re released. When you have used an unsafe CPAP and your health has been harmed, you could use the help of a CPAP machine lawyer from our firm. At Frost Law Firm, PC, we’re dedicated to victims of unsafe devices.
Cleaning Your CPAP Machine for Safety
Another way to ensure your CPAP machine is safe is to keep it clean. While recalls and those side effects are considered much more serious in nature, keeping your machine clean can be just as important. A dirty machine means you’re inhaling dirt, bacteria, and other potentially harmful compounds all through the night, which isn’t safe and can make you sick.
Here are some tips for cleaning your CPAP machine that you likely already know as a CPAP owner, but it’s always helpful to have reminders:
- Wash the mask, water chamber, and tubing every morning
- Wash the headgear and filter once a week
- Use hot, soapy water
- Air dry
- Use white vinegar once a week on the water chamber
- Change a disposable filter every month
There are other ways to clean your CPAP other than by hand, but these methods are more expensive. However, they could save you some time and effort. There are cleaning systems you can buy that do the work for you, and use ozone, ultraviolet light, or other methods to clean and sterilize your device.
Keeping your CPAP clean can help you stay as healthy and safe as possible in the long run.
Frost Law Firm, PC Will Help You
A CPAP machine can be a great device for you that allows you to be fully rested and feel better throughout the day. However, when they’re unsafe, they can cause you serious harm. Once you identify an unsafe CPAP machine, you could use help taking action against the company who was negligent in selling their defective product.
That’s where our CPAP machine lawyer comes into play. At Frost Law Firm, PC, we understand how devastating it can be when a device that should help you ends up harming you. We’ll investigate your device to know if it’s recalled so we can get you justice.
Reach out to our firm today so we can get started working for you.
