The largest CPAP recall in history affected millions of Philips Respironics devices starting in June 2021, and it remains the recall most likely to affect your machine. A smaller recall also covers certain ResMed masks containing magnets. Checking whether your specific device is affected takes just a few minutes if you know where to look.
The Philips Recall: What Happened
Philips Respironics recalled millions of CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator devices because of a sound-dampening foam inside the machines that can break down over time. This polyester-based polyurethane foam (called PE-PUR foam) can degrade into small black particles that get inhaled or swallowed during use. The breakdown also releases invisible chemical gases, including volatile organic compounds that may cause cancer.
The health risks aren’t hypothetical. Inhaling degraded foam particles can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, and may harm the kidneys and liver. Users have reported headaches, coughing, chest pressure, sinus problems, and worsening asthma. The chemical gases released during foam breakdown can cause dizziness, eye and nose irritation, and additional toxic effects. Heat and humidity inside a CPAP machine accelerate the foam’s deterioration, which is why these devices are particularly vulnerable.
How to Check if Your Device Is Affected
Start by finding your machine’s serial number. On most CPAP devices, including Philips DreamStation models and ResMed AirSense units, the serial number is printed on a label at the bottom of the back of the machine. You may need to unplug and flip the device over. Write down the full serial number and the model name.
For Philips devices, go to the official recall lookup page at philips.com/src-update. Enter your serial number there to confirm whether your specific unit is part of the recall. If you can’t access the site, call Philips directly at 1-877-387-3311 or email [email protected].
If your CPAP was made by a manufacturer other than Philips, such as ResMed, Fisher & Paykel, or DeVilbiss, your machine is not part of the PE-PUR foam recall. That recall is specific to Philips Respironics products.
The ResMed Mask Recall
ResMed issued a separate recall for several CPAP mask models that contain magnets in their headgear clips. The affected models are the AirFit N10, AirFit F20, AirTouch F20, AirFit N20, AirTouch N20, AirFit F30, and AirFit F30i. These masks aren’t dangerous for most users, but the magnets can interfere with implanted medical devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, and certain metallic implants.
If you use one of these masks and have any implanted medical device, keep the mask’s magnetic clips at least six inches away from the implant. For most people without implants, these masks remain safe to use.
What to Do if Your CPAP Is Recalled
If the Philips lookup tool confirms your device is affected, Philips has been contacting owners and shipping replacement devices. When your replacement arrives, you’ll receive prepaid return labels and instructions for sending back the recalled unit. If you received a recall notification letter but haven’t been contacted about a replacement, call 1-877-387-3311 to follow up.
The question most users struggle with is whether to keep using a recalled machine while waiting for a replacement. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that your doctor prescribe an unaffected device from a different manufacturer if possible. If no replacement is available, the decision to continue or stop using the recalled device should be made with your doctor based on your individual situation. Factors that matter include how severe your sleep apnea is, whether you have heart disease or other conditions that worsen without treatment, and whether you work in a safety-sensitive job like driving or operating heavy equipment where untreated sleep apnea poses its own serious risks.
Stopping CPAP therapy abruptly can be dangerous for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea, so this isn’t a decision to make on your own. Some users have more to lose from going without treatment than from continued short-term exposure to a potentially degrading foam.
Staying Informed About New Recalls
The FDA maintains a searchable database of all medical device recalls at fda.gov. You can search by manufacturer, product type, or date to check for any new CPAP-related safety actions. Registering your device with the manufacturer when you first receive it ensures you’ll get direct notifications if a recall is issued later. Your durable medical equipment supplier (the company that originally provided your CPAP) is also required to notify you about recalls affecting devices they sold, so keeping your contact information current with them adds another layer of protection.